In Julia’s case, she was writing songs for other artists at the time, so the concealed face represents her feeling of being invisible. The following is what she told Vevo:

I have this faceless woman here. It kind of, at the time, was describing my anonymity in the music industry…I’ve always kind of felt like this is who I am on the inside. Everything’s just kind of changed so much this year that I feel like this is me, this is me showing myself, this is me at my most vulnerable.

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It wasn’t until she wrote her breakout hit, “Issues,” a song that was so personal, she couldn’t imagine anyone else singing it, that she transitioned to becoming an actual performer.

“I’m a very nervous person, and I’ve never really been much of a confident person. I think it took a song like ‘Issues’ for me to realize that [being a singer] was something that I wanted, and something that I’ve suppressed because I’m so fearful of it,” she told Jimmy Fallon.

Since she was under a lot of stress, she had been hiding her face from the world. A piece she wrote for Glamour described her journey towards overcoming the anxiety that she had suffered from since the age of 18 and was experiencing panic attacks. Putting her face in the public eye had been difficult for her, but she is happier now that she has accomplished it. Her writings are as follows:

I was scared of not hiding anymore. I was scared of reaching a level of potential I had never reached.

When I see people sing “Issues” with me, it’s the most incredible feeling in the world…This is what I’ve always wanted. To be understood, to be heard. To be seen.

• Lena Dunham Traditional Tattoo Design On Arm

“Finally had my first ever tattoo touched up. This little lady needed some love. Thank you @rbrtbnhm for correcting Eloise’s two left thumbs and scarred skirt. Ah, to be 17 and trust absolutely anyone wielding a tattoo gun.”