Denise Julia has quite the hell of a year so far, and it all started with a viral song on TikTok. 

Her single 'NVMD' blew up, soundtracking millions of videos across the social media platform. It catapulted her career to new heights and brings her closer to her dream of bringing her 90s-inspired R&B music to the global stage. 

The Filipino singer-songwriter started making music at a young age, having spent most of her childhood listening to R&B's greatest stars like Beyoncé, Aaliyah and Tamia. Today, she combines her deep-rooted sonic influences with the sounds of modern R&B and delivers feel-good tunes you can't help but vibe to. 

Bandwagon recently caught up with Denise Julia to talk about what it's like blowing up on TikTok, her creative process, and what else she has in store. 

What first drew you into music?

I grew up listening to music a lot, my family's very into music. They love 90s R&B women, like Beyoncé, Aaliyah, Tamia so I grew up listening to them. And by the time I had my own mind and could think of what I wanted to do, I wanted to be just like them. That's kind of how I started and that's what got me into music

How did that then inspire you to try out songwriting and make music of your own?

Naturally, I'm an achiever, in the sense when I want to do something, I really try my best to achieve that or get that goal. So in music, it's the same way. I want to make my own songs. and I want to be like all of those 90s R&B women that I used to listen to so I did everything in my power to do that. To create my own music and just start jumpstart my whole career.

How would you describe your music?

it's a combination of my old roots and, of course, modern R&B like Ariana Grande, Summer Walker, SZA. It's mainly a fusion of those worlds, like the 90s and early 2000s and right now. Especially in a fashion sense, and how I carry myself, it's really just a fusion of those two worlds.

A lot of your fans actually say that you sound similar to Ariana Grande, how have you been taking that?

I always say that I take it as a compliment. because she's my idol, she's one of my greatest influences. So, of course, when somebody says that you sound like your idol, it's very fulfilling. But at the same time, I want to be known for my own name and my own sound so that's kind of where I am at right now. I'm really just finding my own sound and my own flow as an artist but I take it as a compliment, for the most part.

Your song 'NVMD' has become a viral hit on TikTok, what was your initial reaction to the track blowing up?

I actually have a love hate relationship with virality—it does good for some artists but for others, you're just like a one-hit wonder and all that. So I was scared actually when it started blowing up, I was wondering what if it's just a one-hit wonder and this is where my career stops? It's just like all those thoughts in your head.

But at the same time, I'm just starting and I've barely shown what I want to show to my fans. Right now, they're really just excited for like future releases and what else am I going to do with the music so I'm also very excited for future projects that I would want to do.

Considering the success of 'NVMD', are you facing any pressures on how to follow it up? How are you dealing with that?

Of course! There's pressure because it's a very successful song. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to just releasing good music and hoping that the fans that have always been there and new fans that just found me like what I have.

I'm not really about the numbers. It's all about my connection with the fans and making sure I'm putting out great good music and good vibes.

What's your creative process like?

Most of the time, I start with a beat. My producers would send me a couple of beats then I would write over it and that's pretty much the whole process. I write about a certain emotion or my experiences or other people's experiences. 

I always have to have my mic with me and be alone in the room, I can't work with other people, it always has to be just me and the mic. That's kind of how everything comes to be.

What are some goals that you have for yourself and your music? Where do you hope to see yourself in the next couple of years?

I definitely want to be more international, that's always been my target. I really want to be known worldwide and reach more fans all over the world. That's what I really want and I'm taking it day by day, slowly getting there. But as of now, I'm very happy where I'm at.

What are some things we can expect from you for the rest of 2022?

An album or an EP, just like a full body of work—it's in the works right now. My next release is coming out very soon and everything is such a level up from 'NVMD', like vocal-wise, fashion-wise, personality-wise, it's all in there.

Hopefully, by the end of the year, I get to release a full body of work. I'm always working on it every day just perfecting it. I'm very excited about it and I hope people will be too. 

Listen to Denise Julia's viral hit 'NVMD' here.