Nervous System

"Nervous System" is the name of the third EP by Julia Michaels, while being her first EP under a major label, Republic Records. Although considered an EP, Julia likes to call it a "mini-album".

The mini-album includes Michaels' signature hit song "Issues", second single "Uh Huh" and other 5 new songs. The content of the work is described as "honest": “I hope people can find a little bit of themselves in the music,” she leaves off. “There’s nothing fake about this. Every word is part of my life. I hope you can find your own perspective in it.”

Background
The name of the EP is explained on Julia Michaels' official website: “A lot of my songs have to do with the nervous system and things that are stimulated by touch and emotion,” she explains. “One day, the title just popped into my head. It made sense with how emotional the songs I’ve written are and who I am. Of course, I personally am a fucking nervous system as well, so there’s that,” she laughs.

Before finishing the work on the EP, Julia stated that the two main subjects that she talks about are the emotional side of her and the sexual side of her, because those are the two that she knows best of herself and are the easiest to write about.

Content
As “Issues” achieved stratospheric success, she quietly assembled what would become the “mini-album,” writing and producing alongside frequent collaborators such as Mattman & Robin (Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Hailee Steinfeld), Justin Tranter (Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez), and more in L.A.

In addition to “Issues,” the follow-up single “Uh Huh”—which earned early praise from Time, V Magazine, and many others—paved the way for the release of Nervous System. Slipping from acoustic guitar into a rush of electronic production and a chantable chorus, the track captures a fleeting and fiery moment.

Delicate piano and skittering synths entwine with her soulful delivery on “Worst In Me.” Originally culled from a voice note on her phone, the song sees Julia open up about a failed relationship. “I wrote it about my ex-boyfriend,” she admits. “It chronicles our downfall and why we couldn’t work. Sometimes people are so afraid of something really good that they sabotage the relationship because they think it can’t be real. All of these little tiny things manifest into problems. You lose the bigger picture, which is that you love each other and genuinely care.”

Elsewhere, off-beat percussion drives “Make It Up To You” where she candidly confesses, “I wish I could be the tender stable girl that you want—but I’m not.”

Further exploring the dissolution of this pivotal relationship in her life, “Just Do It” discusses what the artist calls, “The moment you’re on the verge of a breakup, but just can’t end it.”

The clever and coy “Pink” showcases another side of Nervous System and Julia. Tempering a rich sonic backdrop with lyrical double entendre, you might find yourself smiling after each verse. “It’s pretty self-explanatory,” she grins. “I don’t know how to describe it without it sounding extremely sexual!”

Nervous System concludes with “Don’t Wanna Think.” Performed on piano and written solely by Julia, it stands out as a shining finale, conveying raw and real emotion over each chord between sips of tequila. “I wrote that one alone,” she recalls. “As you can see, my ex and I had a very toxic relationship. I was at the piano drinking tequila at Henson Studios in Hollywood. It’s going to sound crazy, but sometimes I feel like I write my future. I write about things as if they’re going to happen. When they happen, it’s a completely different perspective. What you hear is just me at the piano singing and crying. It’s the most special song I’ve written. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Critical reception
Jeff Nelson of People called the EP a "synthy, hook-filled seven-song set", as well as indicating that it showcases Michaels' songwriting strengths: "from her super-specific-yet-completely-relatable lyricism (“Worst in Me,” “Make It Up to You”) to a knack for making lascivious subject matter sound down-right playful ("Pink")."

Katherine St. Asaph from Pitchfork gave the EP a score of 6.6 out of 10, stating that "The songs are refreshingly unique but their impact is varied." and also compared "Issues" and "Just Do It" to Regina Spektor's 2006 album "Begin to Hope"; and "Don't Wanna Think" to "Higher" by Rihanna from her 2016 album "Anti".

Chris Willman of Variety reviewed the album, saying that "Her track record isn’t bad, but she’s even more promising than her resume."