Before The Voice Turned Its Chairs, She Was Already Putting in the Work | Julia Golden
Long before Julia Golden turned two chairs on NBC's The Voice, she was already spending years doing the less glamorous part of becoming an artist: playing shows, writing songs and making long drives between North Carolina and Nashville.
Julia joined Heart of the Gulch at just 17 years old to talk about her debut EP, Everywhere I've Been — six songs written between the ages of 15 and 18 that captured exactly what the title promised: the experiences that made her who she was becoming.
Julia Golden during her Heart of the Gulch interview about her debut EP Everywhere I've Been.
Since our conversation, that journey has taken Julia to her biggest stage yet.
Inside Julia Golden’s Heart of the Gulch Interview
Welcome to Heart of the Gulch, a Nashville-based interview show and country music platform featuring artists, singer-songwriters and personalities shaping music and entertainment. Host and creator Tony Mendoza sat down with North Carolina country artist Julia Golden to discuss Everywhere I've Been, growing up in music, balancing school and songwriting, and being told she wasn't ready for certain stages.
Heart of the Gulch host Tony Mendoza interviewing North Carolina country artist Julia Golden.
Everywhere She’d Been at 17
Most debut projects look backward over years of adulthood.
Julia didn't have that luxury.
Recorded entirely in Nashville, Everywhere I've Been features six original songs written between ages 15 and 18, including “Smoking Gun,” “Talking to Heaven” and “Rearview.” The EP was released May 2, 2025.
During our conversation, Julia talked about the vulnerability behind those songs and trying to figure out who she was while simultaneously growing up in the music industry.
Too Young for the Room? She Kept Showing Up.
Country singer-songwriter Julia Golden during her Heart of the Gulch studio interview.
Julia was performing long before she was old enough to get into some of the venues hosting her.
Growing up in North Carolina meant balancing school with songwriting, gigs and repeated trips to Nashville. Being told she “wasn't ready” only gave her another reason to keep working.
That persistence eventually led to hundreds of live performances, sold-out shows, opening for artists including Chris Lane and Alexandra Kay, and becoming increasingly active in Nashville's songwriter scene.
Then The Voice Turned Around
Julia Golden discussing her songwriting and debut music during her Nashville interview.
The story became considerably bigger after our interview.
Julia earned a spot on Season 29 of NBC's The Voice, where her Blind Audition turned chairs from both Kelly Clarkson and John Legend. She ultimately chose Clarkson and joined Team Kelly.
For an artist who spent years hearing that she wasn't ready for certain stages, watching two superstar coaches turn around feels like a pretty damn good response.
Watch Julia Golden on Heart of the Gulch
Watch our full conversation with Julia Golden as she discusses Everywhere I've Been, “Smoking Gun,” growing up in the music industry, her North Carolina roots and the work that eventually helped carry her to The Voice.
Tony Mendoza is the Nashville-based host and creator of Heart of the Gulch, featuring conversations with country artists, singer-songwriters and personalities from Nashville and beyond.
