Country pop music is alive and thriving within our neighbors to the north.
Making waves in the genre is Canadian born and bred artist Julia Vos, who is still riding the high from her latest singles, “Jesus Drank Whiskey,” and “Cigarette Sundays.”
Growing up in Alberta, Canada, Vos creates music that is deeply rooted in the tradition of family-band bluegrass and shaped by the catchy hooks of modern country. She impresses with her sense of charm mixed with strong vocals and catchy hook-driven lyricism.
We got to chat with Vos to learn more about her roots, her latest songs, and much more.
So how did growing up in Alberta shape and inspire your artistic pursuits?
Growing up in Alberta definitely shaped my artistry. There’s just something about Alberta that naturally lends itself to country music. I grew up in the small town of Mulhurst, out by Pigeon Lake, and being out on an acreage and living at a slower pace gave me a lot of time to write when I was young.
Alberta also seems to be an incubator for country artists. Some of my favourites growing up were Terri Clark and Paul Brandt, and now there’s so much incredible talent coming out of the province. I really look up to artists like Tenille Townes and Noeline Hofmann because they write straight from the heart and are such strong storytellers.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences and how might they inspire you?
Dolly Parton has got to be number one for me. Not only because of her songwriting and storytelling, but because of the way she always led with kindness in everything she did. She was such an incredible example of using your platform for good while still staying true to yourself.
I don’t know a single Canadian girl who didn’t grow up idolizing Shania Twain. She broke barriers and completely changed country music. She was such a trailblazer, especially for women in the genre.
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Lainey Wilson and Ashley McBryde. They’re all strong women making music they’re proud of, and I really admire how authentic and grounded they are in their artistry.
This spring you released your single “Jesus Drank Whiskey.” What might make this song stand out from others you’ve released previously?
For starters, I think the title alone catches people off guard hearing “Jesus” and “whiskey” in the same sentence. But the song was never really about drinking. At its core, it’s about humanity, kindness, and connection. It’s written from the perspective of an everyday person thinking, “If Jesus walked into my house today and asked me about the state of the world, I’d probably tell him to take a seat and pour him a drink.”
When I first wrote it, I knew it could be seen as a risky or unconventional idea, especially in country music. But I also felt like it was a conversation worth having. There’s so much division in the world right now, and the song really comes from a place of wanting people to lead with a little more compassion and understanding toward each other.
I think that honesty and willingness to tackle something deeper is what makes this song stand out from some of my previous releases.
Your latest single, “Cigarette Sundays,” has been out for a little bit now. What’s the backstory and influence behind this track and what makes it special to you?
My husband and I had a roommate for a while to help cut down on rent, and when I tell you I had never smoked a day in my life, that was genuinely true. But every once in a while, we’d find ourselves walking to the casino for a night out and, well… you know the saying, drunk cigs don’t count.
At the time, all three of us were grinding away at multiple jobs trying to make ends meet. I was teaching, bartending, and heading out of town almost every weekend to play shows. By the time I rolled back home on Sunday, we usually had a pretty good case of the Sunday scaries. Our roommate started saying to my husband and me, ‘I think we need a Ciggy Sunday.’ I would only participate if I could share one with my husband, and somehow it became this funny little tradition that really meant: we’re home, the week is over, let’s slow down for a minute.
Later, I was in a co-write with my friend Kyle McKearney, and he asked what life had been like for me. I told him how hectic everything had become, but mentioned that when I was actually home, my husband and I had this little tradition we called ‘Cigarette Sundays.’ We both immediately knew that was the hook.
From there, we started talking about leaving my job to pursue music full-time, constantly being on the road, and how much I found myself yearning to get back home to the farm and just slow down. That became the heart of the song. It’s not really about cigarettes at all. It’s about finding those little moments that make you stop, be present, and appreciate the life and people you’ve been working so hard for. After that, the song pretty much wrote itself.
Can fans expect these songs on an upcoming EP or album? And if so, what else can you tell us about it?
“Cigarette Sundays” and “Jesus Drank Whiskey” are both really important songs to me for completely different reasons, and they definitely feel like pieces of a bigger story I’ve been working toward. There are a lot more sides of that story that I’m excited to share. Some heartbreak, some honky-tonk, some faith, and just real life in between.
I’ve been working on a larger project that brings all of those sides together, so there’s definitely more coming. I think these songs give a pretty good little taste of where I’m headed, without giving too much away just yet.
What does a dream collaboration look like for you? Maybe a co-write, duet, opening for a certain artist on tour, etc.
Well, she only just passed away, so my ultimate answer would have been Dolly Parton. I guess now I’ll just have to keep being inspired by her and everything she gave to country music.
I’m a traditional country gal at heart, so if we’re dreaming big, I’d love to open for someone like Zach Top. I think what he’s doing for traditional country music right now is so exciting. And a co-write with Ashley McBryde would be an absolute dream. I love how honest, clever, and unapologetically country her songwriting is. Basically, put me in a room or on a stage with a great storyteller and a whole lot of country, and I’m happy.
What might be one or two pinnacle moments in your career that you’re most proud of and why?
Honestly, every time we get to play a bigger stage, I try to stop for a second and really take it in. My brother and sister both play in my band, and we always laugh because half the time we’re looking at each other thinking, “Who the heck let us play here?” There’s still a part of us that feels like the same kids messing around with music back home, so those moments always feel really special and surreal.
Another moment I’m really proud of was winning the Country Music Alberta Award for Music Video of the Year for “I Only Kiss Cowboys.” That one meant a lot because of how many friends and people I love were involved in making it happen, especially my partner, who starred in the video and was such a good sport through all of our ridiculous ideas.
Honestly, I’ve never had more fun working on something. The whole shoot was basically us laughing nonstop, shooting the shit, and coming up with funny little moments to throw into the video. It really felt like a win for all of us, not just me, because it was such a collaborative effort. And of course, huge credit goes to Chris Doi, who took every crazy idea we had and somehow made it all work.
What else can fans expect from Julia Vos as we wind down the year?
Continuing the grind and loving life along with the ride. New music, bigger shows, and probably some chaotic surprises along the way.
Featured photo by Chris Doi
