Australian indie singer-songwriter Julia Jacklin has announced her fourth studio album, ‘The Gem’, set for release on September 25 via the iconic label 4AD. According to Rolling Stone, she simultaneously shared the first single, “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon),” and a sweeping North American tour for fall 2026. This marks a significant new chapter, being her first album for 4AD following a departure from her previous label home.
The announcement matters as Jacklin solidifies her status as a leading voice in introspective indie rock. Her 2022 album ‘Pre Pleasure’ garnered widespread acclaim and numerous award nominations, making this follow-up a highly anticipated event. As Brooklyn Vegan reports, ‘The Gem’ represents both a personal and artistic excavation, recorded over nearly a year in Melbourne—a stark contrast to her earlier, quicker recording processes.
The Album’s Intimate Origins
Jacklin co-produced ‘The Gem’ with Robert Muinos at Rat Shack studios, a space located above a Collingwood pub also named The Gem. Per a detailed account in The Line of Best Fit, the bar was a foundational touchstone for Jacklin after her move to Melbourne in 2017. The recording sessions were intentionally communal and drawn-out, featuring a core band of friends: Jacob Diamond on guitar, Mimi Gilbert on bass, and Jess Elwood on drums. Sound bleed from neighboring businesses and live music from the pub below became part of the album’s texture.
“The Gem felt like a metaphor for the whole process, because a lot of it did feel like digging,” Jacklin said in a statement. “I felt like I was doing it almost in the dark, just trusting I was going to find something.” She described the album’s central tension as the push-pull between wanting “to love and be loved” and also wanting “to be free.” The band commemorated the sessions by getting matching opal tattoos from one of the pub’s bartenders.
A Major SoCal Stop on the Horizon
For Southern California fans, the news comes with concrete plans. As listed by Under the Radar, Jacklin’s extensive North American tour includes a Los Angeles show at The Wiltern on October 22, 2026, preceded by a San Diego date at The Observatory North Park on October 20. These venues are key stops for major indie acts, signaling Jacklin’s continued growth in drawing power. The LA music scene has long embraced her brand of nuanced, emotionally potent songwriting, making these fall 2026 dates among the most anticipated indie bookings on the calendar.
What Comes Next
Before the album release and full band tour, Jacklin will preview songs with a short solo tour of UK and Irish indie stores in late June and early July. The focus then shifts to the September 25 release of ‘The Gem’. The tracklist includes a feature with folk duo The Maes on the song “I Wish.” For SoCal audiences, the wait until October 2026 will be bridged by the steady rollout of singles and likely more intimate preview performances. Jacklin’s move to 4AD and the ambitious scope of this album cycle suggest a deliberate step into a broader artistic arena, with Southern California playing a pivotal role in her upcoming journey.
Last updated June 16, 2026.
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