Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Julien Baker

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Julien Baker made an impact.

Julien Baker is an acclaimed American indie rock singer-songwriter and guitarist recognized for her emotionally resonant music. Baker's work is characterized by its introspective and often melancholic tone, exploring themes such as Christianity, addiction, mental health struggles, and the complexities of human experience through candid and confessional lyrics. She has achieved significant critical acclaim and has garnered six Grammy Award nominations and three wins as a member of the indie supergroup Boygenius, highlighting her influence and contributions to contemporary indie music.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2010: Co-founding The Star Killers

In 2010, while in high school, Julien Baker co-founded the band The Star Killers.

October 2015: Release of "Sprained Ankle" by 6131 Records

In October 2015, 6131 Records released Julien Baker's album "Sprained Ankle". The album topped many year-end lists, leading to features in The New Yorker and The New York Times.

2015: Release of "Sprained Ankle"

In 2015, Julien Baker released "Sprained Ankle," featuring only her voice, guitar, and occasional piano.

2015: The Star Killers Renamed Forrister

In 2015, Julien Baker's band The Star Killers renamed themselves Forrister.

March 2016: NPR Tiny Desk Performance

In March 2016, Julien Baker gave her first NPR Tiny Desk performance.

October 2016: Contribution to Elliott Smith Tribute Album

In October 2016, Julien Baker contributed to "Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith", covering "Ballad of Big Nothing".

October 27, 2017: Release of "Turn Out the Lights"

On October 27, 2017, Julien Baker released her second album, "Turn Out the Lights", which was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis with Calvin Lauber.

2017: Release of "Turn Out the Lights"

In 2017's "Turn Out the Lights", Julien Baker's music saw the addition of occasional violin, as well as organs and cavernous-sounding production.

2017: Signing with Matador Records and Release of "Turn Out the Lights"

In 2017, Baker signed to Matador Records and released her second studio album, "Turn Out the Lights", to further critical success.

2017: Signing with Matador Records

In 2017, Julien Baker signed with Matador Records and released a 7-inch single featuring "Funeral Pyre" and "Distant Solar Systems."

July 2018: Performance at Eaux Claire with Hanif Abdurraqib

In July 2018, during Eaux Claire, Julien Baker performed "Claws in Your Back" from "Turn Out the Lights" with a poem from Hanif Abdurraqib's "How Can Black People Write About Flowers at a Time Like This" poems.

October 2018: Boygenius Debut EP Release

In October 2018, Boygenius, the indie supergroup featuring Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus, released their debut eponymous EP.

October 26, 2018: Release of "Boygenius" EP

On October 26, 2018, the band Boygenius, consisting of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, released their self-titled EP, "Boygenius", to widespread critical acclaim.

2019: Release of Two 7-inch Singles

In 2019, Julien Baker released two 7-inch singles, one featuring "Red Door" and "Conversation Piece," and another featuring "Tokyo" and "Sucker Punch" as part of the Sub Pop singles series. She also covered "The Modern Leper".

October 21, 2020: Announcement of "Little Oblivions"

On October 21, 2020, Julien Baker announced her third album, "Little Oblivions", accompanied by the lead single "Faith Healer" and an essay by Hanif Abdurraqib.

2020: Collaboration on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher

In 2020, Julien Baker provided backing vocals on two songs from Phoebe Bridgers' Grammy-nominated album, Punisher.

February 26, 2021: Release of "Little Oblivions"

On February 26, 2021, Julien Baker released her third studio album, "Little Oblivions". It was preceded by the singles "Hardline" and "Favor."

2021: Release of "Little Oblivions"

In 2021, Baker released her third album, "Little Oblivions", which embraced a more full-band sound and became her first top 40 album on the Billboard 200 chart.

2021: Release of "Little Oblivions" with Full Band Sound

In 2021, Julien Baker experimented with a more full-band sound for her release "Little Oblivions", featuring drums, bass, keyboards, mandolin, and banjo, all played by Baker on the recording.

2021: Collaboration on Lucy Dacus' Home Video and Baker's Little Oblivions

In 2021, Julien Baker lent backing vocals to "Please Stay" from Lucy Dacus' album, Home Video, and "Favor" from her own album, Little Oblivions.

2022: Release of "Guthrie"

In 2022, Julien Baker released a B-Side EP to Little Oblivions and shared the single "Guthrie".

January 2023: Boygenius Reunion Announcement

In January 2023, Boygenius announced their reunion.

March 2023: Release of "The Record"

In March 2023, Boygenius released their debut studio album, "The Record", to universal acclaim.

June 2023: Boygenius Performs in Drag in Tennessee

In June 2023, Boygenius performed in drag in Baker's home state of Tennessee in protest of anti-drag legislation that was blocked in federal court.

October 2023: Release of "The Rest" by Boygenius

In October 2023, Boygenius released their newest EP, titled "The Rest".

October 2023: Release of "Thick Skull" (Re: Julien Baker)

In October 2023, Julien Baker released the track "Thick Skull" (Re: Julien Baker) on "Re: This Is Why", a remixed version of Paramore's "This Is Why".

November 2023: Premiere of Orphan Black: Echoes

In November 2023, Julien Baker composed the opening theme to the television series "Orphan Black: Echoes", which first premiered.

February 2024: Boygenius Hiatus

As of the 1st of February 2024, Boygenius is on hiatus, describing the situation as 'going away for the foreseeable future'.

2024: Duets and Announcement as Joint Act with Torres

After dueting a couple of songs together at Baker's 2024 New York shows, she and musician Torres were announced as a joint act.

2024: Debut as Country Duo with Torres

In 2024, Julien Baker debuted in a country duo with Torres.

2024: Performance at the Kennedy Center

In 2024, Julien Baker performed at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra as part of the Declassified series and debuted the new songs "Middle Children" and "High in the Basement".

January 29, 2025: Release of "Sylvia"

On January 29, 2025, the duo Julien Baker and Torres released their second single, "Sylvia", and announced their debut album, Send a Prayer My Way, set to be released on April 18th, 2025.