Vienna-based musician and producer Lil Julez releases his new single Universe25 on 30 October through Fabrique Records. It follows his second album Pleasurecruise, and it marks a deliberate change of direction – the press notes describe a song driven by synths and big melodies, with his sound moving further away from its guitar-driven roots.
The title comes from the Universe 25 experiment, the well-known study of a colony of mice. Lil Julez says the song is about self-doubt, losing your sense of identity and the fear of losing control, and that "in times like these, I often feel like one of the mice in the experiment of the same name". Not many singles start from a rodent study, which is a big part of why this one caught my attention.
He explains the shift like this: "After Pleasurecruise, which we recorded together as a band for the first time, I knew I wanted to try something different musically. Universe25 felt like a fresh start in that sense, particularly in terms of production. I wanted to move away from guitars a little, work more with synths and write melodies that get straight to the point."
A musician who has just made a record with his band for the first time, and then immediately sets off in a new direction, is taking a proper risk. I'm happy to back that, and a song built around a real experiment about a society coming apart is a story I'm glad to pass on to Audio Addicts readers.
Lil Julez first attracted international attention with his debut album It Was A Hoax (2023). He has built a live reputation too, supporting Geese and The Godfathers and playing festivals including Lido Sounds and Waves Vienna.
Universe25 is out on 30 October 2026 on Fabrique Records. Lil Julez wrote both the words and the music.
Lil Julez online:
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lil_julezzzz/