Julia Jacklin is back with “The Hardest Thing” and it’s a brilliant preview of what’s to come on her upcoming fourth album, The Gem (out via 4AD). If you’ve followed her work from Crushing to PRE PLEASURE, you already know her superpower: she writes lyrics that feel like a gut-punch of raw honesty, delivered with a voice that stops you dead in your tracks.

On this new single, she keeps that emotional depth while leaning into a breezy, classic-rock-inflected sound that feels a bit more open-air.

Why “The Hardest Thing” Works

The track balances a driving, effortless instrumental feel with lyrics that dig straight into the messy reality of relationships. The standout chorus line—“The hardest thing to do is believe it when you say ‘I love you'”—sums up that exhausting push-and-pull between craving closeness and protecting your own independence. It’s vulnerable, sharp, and totally unfiltered, proving once again why Jacklin is one of the most vital songwriters working right now.

The Rooftop Music Video

Directed by Danny Cohen, the visual accompaniment is just as striking as the song. Shot entirely in one continuous take from a helicopter sweeping over the Melbourne skyline, the video features Jacklin performing solo on a rooftop. It’s a gorgeous, slightly dizzying metaphor for isolation and artistic growth that fits the track’s cinematic swell.

What to Expect from The Gem

Recorded at Rat Shack—a creative hideout above Melbourne’s legendary Collingwood pub, The Gem—this upcoming record leans heavily into themes of community and rediscovering yourself. Following earlier cuts like “I Wish” and “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon),” “The Hardest Thing” makes The Gem one of our absolute most anticipated releases of the year.

• Release Date: September 25

• Label: 4AD

• Available Formats: Digital, CD, cassette, and limited-color vinyl (Turquoise, Green Opal, Ruby, and Rose Quartz)

Give “The Hardest Thing” a spin, and let us know what you think of Julia Jacklin’s sunnier new direction in the comments below.