Indie music in 2026 exists in a strange space between challenge and therapy. Monica Sorenson and Rick Walker, recording as Sometimes Julie for two decades now, have spent five albums establishing themselves in classic and alternative rock. Now, on the six-track EP Transition, the North San Diego County duo is doing what typically terrifies musicians with an established reputation—completely changing course.

Recorded at three different North San Diego County studios (Bigrock Studios in Escondido, Treehouse Studios in San Marcos, and Esperanza Studios in Carlsbad), the release appears to be a conscious attempt to find a new identity. Sorenson and Walker wrote and produced the material themselves, with Andy Machin, Dave Fuller, and Walker himself serving as engineers, while mixing and mastering were entrusted to Dave Trumfio of Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles. The result is intimate—so much so that it raises the question: are listeners ready for this level of candor?

Sorenson says she poured her heart and soul into these songs over two years of work. The lyrics are indeed the most open of Sometimes Julie‘s entire career. Everything here is quite frank, and there’s absolutely no ironic distance on the record. The human experience of love, loss, and the struggle for authenticity unfolds directly, as is, without filters. Sorenson wears her heart on her sleeve—a worn phrase, but accurate here.

The opening “Carry Her” sets the tone for the entire release. A lyrical track with country-rock roots that invites contemplation, a meditation on the moment. Sorenson‘s vocals sway in a soft melody, creating a cozy, captivating mood. Walker‘s acoustic guitar, synthesizers, and backing vocals form the foundation. The arrangement is dense, but it breathes.

The title track “Transition” leaves you in complete tranquility. Sorenson‘s utterly soft and welcoming voice captivates with its depth and lightness, while the melody creates a cinematic atmosphere that holds until the song’s last measure. Walker and Sorenson‘s production choices work precisely here—they understand when to add and when to subtract. The cinematic quality emerges from balance: Sorenson‘s piano, Walker‘s acoustic guitar, synthesizer beds create volume. This is the centerpiece of the release—yes, you’re witnessing an absolutely new Sometimes Julie.

“Before” immerses you in a deep story—the lyrics give you chills, and the atmosphere is filled with the aesthetic of warm romantic films with warm filters and film grain. You can simply close your eyes and feel like a movie character under “Before“. Flawless. You feel analog warmth, even though the production is technically modern. Sorenson and Walker know the value of nostalgia, but use it smartly—through sound design, through choice of instruments, through dynamics.

At the EP’s midpoint, “I Dreamed of You” discharges the atmosphere with gentle blues piano and Sorenson‘s soft, contemplative vocals. The track tells a wonderful story that slowly unfolds into a powerful and dramatic performance. The melody’s development with orchestral strings and powerful dramatic drums amplify this atmosphere, creating a light musical theater feel. Truth be told, “I Dreamed of You” is the favorite song on the release. Here Sometimes Julie shows the widest dynamic range and most ambitious arrangement. Fuller on drums does phenomenal work—he understands when to stay in the shadows and when to explode the track. The orchestral strings could have sounded pretentious, but they fit organically.

The release concludes with tracks “Shooting Star” and “Finally the Rain“, revealing a new sound for Sometimes Julie. In “Shooting Star“, remarkable harmonies and a light gothic rock atmosphere act like a cool wind and a moment of solitude with oneself. The gothic element is barely perceptible, but it’s there—in the harmonies, in the choice of chords, in the overall mood. Sometimes Julie takes risks, and the risk pays off.

The final “Finally the Rain” complements the created atmosphere with a grounded sound. Deep lyrics offer hope and the feeling of a long journey completed, ending with the warmth of home and love. This is a logical conclusion—after all the emotional ups and downs of the release, after exploring pain and beauty, Sometimes Julie returns the listener to earth. There’s no need for complex arrangements here; the story has been told.

Six tracks—six stories, united by one impulse and one love that gets under your skin, into your thoughts, into your heart and becomes a beacon in life’s darkest periods. Offering salvation and warm embrace, Sometimes Julie has created a release that opens a new, promising, meaningful chapter.

The release works best where Sometimes Julie trusts simplicity. “Carry Her“, “Transition“, “Before” rest on the strength of melodies and sincerity of delivery. “I Dreamed of You” shows that the duo is capable of more complex arrangements without losing focus. “Shooting Star” and “Finally the Rain” conclude the EP worthily, adding variety to the sound.

Weaknesses exist too. Sometimes the intimacy borders on sentimentality. Some of Sorenson‘s lyrical lines balance on the edge of banality—saved only by the honesty of her delivery. The cinematic quality of the sound sometimes seems too calculated, too calibrated. Sometimes Julie clearly wanted to create atmosphere, and in places this task becomes more important than musical spontaneity.

The transition from rock to indie singer-songwriter sound is risky. Sometimes Julie spent two decades building a reputation in one genre; now they’re starting practically from scratch. I won’t argue—Transition proves that Sorenson and Walker are capable of working in a new format. Soul, pop, and country influences that were previously background in the rock sound now come to the foreground. It comes off convincingly, though not perfectly.

The main question about Transition is: why? Why does a duo with an established reputation in rock retreat into intimate indie sound? The answer, it seems, is in the music itself. Sorenson wants to talk about the personal—about love, loss, searching for oneself. The rock loudness and energy of previous albums simply got in the way of this conversation. Transition provides space for reflection. This is a release for listening alone, with headphones, when you can focus on the lyrics and emotional delivery.

Sorenson says the Sometimes Julie family was there at every stage of creating the release, that it was a labor of love. You can hear it. The release sounds like collaborative work, where each musician made a contribution. Two years for six songs is a lot of time, but the result shows the time was well spent. The production is calibrated, the arrangements considered, the performance professional.

Transition is an honest attempt by Sometimes Julie to reinvent themselves. Did it work? Partially. The release shows new facets of the duo, demonstrates the ability to work in a different genre, reveals Sorenson as a lyricist. Musically, the EP is solid, the production quality, the performance sincere. Whether this is enough to find a new audience and retain the old one—time will tell. For now, Sometimes Julie has proven the main thing—they’re capable of change. And that’s already worth something.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub