PHOTO BY HANNAH COOPER
Juliet McConkey is a singer- songwriter originally from Nelson County, Virginia, in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains. Now based in Austin, Texas, Juliet has been writing and performing music for well over a decade. Her folk-driven, country leaning compositions have attracted listeners and audiences irrespective of genre boundaries. With a voice as singular as they come, her songwriting possesses a deep understanding of nature and interpersonal relationships informed by her rural upbringing.
Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, Juliet released her debut record in August of 2020, Disappearing Girl. Produced by Austin multi-instrumentalist and esteemed songwriter Scott Davis, the album was well-received both locally and abroad, establishing McConkey as an artist to watch. “Disappearing Girl, the debut LP from Juliet McConkey, reveals an old soul in the understated beauty arising from earnest observation of quiet moments and lives. McConkey lets the stories gracefully bloom, her no-frills, gorgeous vocals ringing with a calm hearkening to Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith. Narratives of domestic struggle, abuse, endurance, and want flow behind characters drawn in tragedy and hope with a rich lyrical detail and emotional depth. Consider Disappearing Girl the most promising introduction by a local songwriter since Carson McHone.” —Doug Freeman, Austin Chronicle
In 2025, Juliet signed with Los Angeles based indie label Soggy Anvil Records, and released her much anticipated sophomore record Southern Front. Recorded in Nashville, TN at Rancho Deluxe Studios, the album features compositions by both McConkey and her longtime partner and fellow artist James Steinle. What emerges is a uniquely collaborative album centered around themes of uncertainty, change, and the unknown. The rich and explorative production style marks a sonic distinction from Juliet’s previous record, while staying true to the lyrical focus that her work is rooted in. “Here’s a heart that beats with the pulse of the Blue Ridge Mountains. But it’s Juliet McConkey’s songwriting connecting to the universally heartfelt emotional roller coaster that pierces right through.”—Laurie Gallardo, KUT Austin