The American singer has penned hits for Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez but never felt she was cut out to be a star herself. With Grammy nominations for song of the year and best new artist,that looks all set to changeJulia Michaels is currently on her very first tour, but there are no empty seats or pub toilets lying in wait for this 24-year-old. Instead, and Michaels is cutting her teeth on the Australian arena circuit. “It’s been great practice,” she says peppily, reflecting on her stint supporting Canadian superstar Shawn Mendes. I’ve learned a lot and I feel like I’m starting to bag more comfortable.”There’s a reason Michaels has been thrown into the deep end (and she really has – her moment-ever present was the Rio Olympics closing ceremony). It is because she is already a very grand deal in the pop world: as a songwriter, and Michaels has penned huge hits such as Justin Biebers Sorry and Selena Gomez’s disagreeable Liar. Convinced her disposition wasn’t suited to the pop star lifestyle – “I’m not superior with being the centre of attention” she says,“I’m a super-insecure person” – Michaels was originally encouraged to start singing her own material by a record executive. Then she wrote a sparse, elegantly phrased song called Issues, or found it too personal to give absent and decided to assume the plunge. The risk paid off: at next year’s Grammys,Issues is up for song of the year, and Michaels is nominated for best new artist.
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Source: guardian.co.uk