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Photo: Caity Krone

Juliet Ivy is part of season two of the Mastercard x OnesToWatch Artist Accelerator program. To learn more about the Mastercard x OnesToWatch Artist Accelerator program, visit here. 

Juliet Ivy dissects the facets of girlhood in her new introspective single, “is it my face?” The first follow-up from her 2023 debut EP, the track ushers in a new era for the 23-year-old rising star. Hot off the heels of a viral moment with “we’re all eating each other,” Ivy’s knack for relatability continues to connect with fans around the world. She was also recently featured as one of Mastercard’s Artist Accelerators, announced last month in collaboration with OnesToWatch.

“is it my face?” explores the deep and complex journey of being a woman, specifically the lifelong fight against toxic comparison. The track’s sound is intimate, with Ivy’s soft angelic vocal performance accompanied by a simple guitar strum melody to highlight the depth of this authentic take on femininity. Off the bat, she cues listeners into her own self-awareness, starting off with lyrics, “I know I’m not supposed to say it / But I’m not like other girls.” Instead of using the polarizing phrase as a way to differentiate yourself from being “basic,” Ivy makes it clear that she would love to be like other girls, but can’t help from feeling like a true outsider.

How is the feeling of being an outsider measured? By desirability. In “is it my face?,” Ivy captures the age-old question in a modern light; what is it about me that makes romantic love so hard to find? The pre-chorus shines because it reflects Ivy's urgency as she declares how she feels unwanted. Although the track is deep and overall heartbreaking for anyone who relates, the production is light and nostalgic in a way that elevates the intimate pop experience.

The simple chorus holds weight as she questions, “Is it my face? Is it my clothes?” and ultimately ends with the scariest question of all, “Is it my fate to end up alone?” With insecurity comes comparison and although it might not be popular to admit, Ivy pens a candid expression of jealousy that’s admirable in today’s society. Although her feelings are rooted in the misogyny of our world, she can’t help but feel them as she watches other girls be hit on and fights the urge to “rate them”, an instinctual act women are taught from an early age.

On the inspiration behind the vulnerable track, Ivy shares, “We’re just girls with so many different emotions, personalities, and sides to us and we wanna feel loved and wanted and good enough.” In “is it my face?,” this notion shines through in a way that feels truthful, poetic, and most importantly, nuanced.

Ivy is a curious artist, writing songs that are born from the deeper moments in life. In this single, she’s tackling the complexities of being a woman and fighting your biases, but being honest enough with yourself to know sometimes you can’t control comparison. She went viral with lyrics that remind listeners we’re all gonna die, and with this new era it’s clear that her existential analyses are far from over.

Ivy just wrapped her first headline tour in the US and plays her first sold-out headline show in the UK next week. Things are just getting started for this profound young singer-songwriter and we can’t wait to watch as she continues to connect with audiences for years to come.

Watch the "is it my face?" video below: