New Orleans singer and songwriter Julie Odell has released her latest project, Disappearing Act, out now through Frenchkiss Records, and it feels like a heartfelt homecoming in more ways than one.

After her stunning 2022 debut Autumn Eve, Odell returns with a four-track EP that captures the raw emotion, resilience, and creative spark that could only come from an artist shaped by the Crescent City. Recorded at Marigny Studios in the heart of New Orleans, Disappearing Act reflects not only Odell’s growth as a songwriter but also the city’s unique spirit of reflection and renewal.

In a statement, Odell explained that the EP came from an unexpected creative period during the pandemic. What began as a casual collaboration between two best friends, Odell and local engineer Tif “Teddy” Lamson, became an intimate collection of songs born from stillness. “No band, no plan, just two best buds making art in a bubble,” she recalled. That kind of freedom and trust, so familiar to New Orleans artists, can be felt in every note.

The title track, “Disappearing Act,” shimmers with melancholy while remaining buoyed by Odell’s distinctive and expressive voice. The FADER once described her sound as “nimble vocals that flit above and below the surface,” and this release continues that tradition. The rest of the EP, including “Signs of Spring,” “Orioles Eating Oranges,” and “Human As Hell,” highlights her gift for turning quiet reflection into something cinematic and deeply emotional.

Odell’s art feels tangible and sincere, which makes sense given her artistic roots. Raised by a painter mother and a potter father, she spent much of her childhood traveling the country in the back of a van to art festivals and craft fairs. That free-spirited upbringing nurtured her gift for sensory storytelling, earning her recognition from Pitchfork, Flood Magazine, and BrooklynVegan.

Her connection to New Orleans is not just a setting, it is the pulse of her music. Disappearing Act captures that rare New Orleans blend where emotion, community, and creativity meet, reminding listeners that even in moments of solitude, beauty can still grow.

Julie Odell’s Disappearing Act EP is available now on all major streaming platforms through Frenchkiss Records.