Filipina singer Denise Julia inks deal with major US record label

Filipina R&B singer-songwriter Denise Julia has reached a major career milestone after officially signing with EMPIRE, a US-based record label founded by Ghazi Shami whose roster includes Anderson .Paak, Bebe Rexha, and 50 Cent.

Denise shared the news on social media, posting photos from her contract signing.  She also reflected on her journey from the Philippines to the global music scene. “(not so) secret’s out. I’ve officially signed to a US label thank you, @empire.”

She recalled spending years writing songs in her bedroom, recording until sunrise, and continuing to believe in her music long before gaining mainstream attention.

“Coming from Tondo, Philippines, I never imagined the little girl making music out of instinct and pure love would one day find herself here. No shortcuts, no easy path… no nepotism (lol) just years of choosing to create through every high and low.”

Denise also described becoming one of the few homegrown Filipina artists signed to a major US label as a significant moment for Filipino artistry.

During times of self-doubt she said, “there were moments where being misunderstood could’ve made me less sure of myself,” but added that staying committed to her craft allowed her music to eventually speak louder than the noise around it.

She also took a moment to thank the people who supported her throughout her career, including her team and the executives at EMPIRE, for believing in both her music and the potential of Filipino artists worldwide. “This is only the beginning. WE JUST MADE HISTORY BABYYYY.”

The 24-year-old singer first gained attention after her song NVMD went viral on TikTok in 2022. She is also known for tracks like “Butterflies,” “B.A.D.,” “Sugar n’ Spice,” and “Lackin.”

In December 2024, Denise held her first major solo concert, “Sweet Nothings: The Denise Julia Experience,” at the New Frontier Theater.