The Musical Aftermath: 5 Shocking Revelations From JP Saxe And Julia Michaels’ 2025 Breakup

The highly-publicized, three-year romance between Grammy-nominated singer-songwriters JP Saxe and Julia Michaels has officially ended, but their story is far from over. As of late 2024 and throughout the first half of 2025, the former couple has taken the unprecedented step of chronicling the raw, painful, and complex aftermath of their separation not in interviews, but through deeply personal new music. This fresh wave of releases—including Michaels' fiery track "GFY" and Saxe's introspective album "A Grey Area"—offers a unique, dual perspective on their relationship's demise, turning their private heartbreak into a public, lyrical dialogue that has captivated fans globally.

The duo, who famously met and fell in love while writing their 2019 smash hit "If the World Was Ending," are now using their art to process the reality of a world that didn't, in fact, end, but simply changed. This article, updated with information current as of December 12, 2025, dives deep into the timeline, the lyrics, and the five most shocking revelations from the musical fallout that has redefined their careers and their relationship.

JP Saxe & Julia Michaels: Complete Biographical Profiles

The story of their split is best understood by appreciating the individual careers that brought them together—and ultimately, the careers that continue to drive them forward.

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JP Saxe (Jonathan Percy Starker Saxe)

• Full Name: Jonathan Percy Starker Saxe
• Born: March 23, 1993
• Birthplace: Toronto, Canada (though he briefly lived in Washington D.C.)
• Notable Family: Grandson of the renowned Hungarian-born cellist Janos Starker.
• Career Start: Dedicated his life to music, gaining major traction with the 2019 single "If the World Was Ending."
• Key Collaborations: Julia Michaels, Maren Morris, TINI.
• Major Works: EP Hold It Together (2020), Album Dangerous Levels of Introspection (2021), Album A Grey Area (2024).
• Awards/Nominations: Two iHeart Award nominations (Best New Pop Artist, Best Lyrics), Breakthrough Artist Award, Grammy nomination for Song of the Year ("If the World Was Ending").
• Streaming Milestone: Has amassed over 2.5 billion total streams to date.

Julia Michaels (Julia Carin Michaels née Cavazos)

• Full Name: Julia Carin Michaels (née Cavazos)
• Born: November 13, 1993
• Birthplace: Davenport, Iowa, U.S.
• Career Start: Began her career writing for other artists, contributing to hits for Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and Shawn Mendes. Her debut solo single was "Issues" (2017).
• Key Collaborations: JP Saxe, Clean Bandit, Kygo, Lauv.
• Major Works: EP Nervous System (2017), EP Inner Monologue Part 1 (2019), Album Not in Chronological Order (2021).
• Awards/Nominations: Six Grammy Award nominations, including twice for Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
• Industry Role: Widely regarded as one of the most influential songwriters of her generation, shaping the emotional core of pop music.

The Relationship Timeline: From "If the World Was Ending" to "A Grey Area"

The love story of JP Saxe and Julia Michaels began in a studio session in 2019, where they co-wrote the global hit "If the World Was Ending." The song, a poignant ballad about reaching out to a flawed ex in a moment of crisis, unexpectedly sparked a real-life romance.

They began dating shortly after the song's release in 2020. For three years, their bond was celebrated by fans, defined by their creative synergy, and often showcased in their joint performances. However, the pressures of maintaining a public-facing relationship alongside demanding music careers proved challenging.

The couple officially called it quits after about three years of dating. While the exact date remains private, the subsequent music has provided a clear, albeit painful, timeline of the emotional fallout. Saxe's 2022 release "When You Think of Me" was an early indication of the shift, but it is their 2024/2025 releases that serve as the definitive final chapters of their relationship.

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5 Shocking Revelations from Their Musical Dialogue

The most compelling part of the JP Saxe and Julia Michaels story is the way they've chosen to communicate post-breakup: through their respective discographies. The release of Saxe’s album A Grey Area and Michaels’ track "GFY" in 2025 has created a fascinating, painful, and surprisingly honest musical dialogue.

1. Saxe's Album is a Direct Breakup Concept Album

JP Saxe’s album A Grey Area (2024) is not subtly inspired by his breakup with Julia Michaels—it is a direct reflection of it. The album explores the complexities of a relationship’s end, focusing on the lack of clear-cut blame and the messy, undefined space between love and loss. The songs delve into the emotional depths of the split, with some tracks clearly and directly referring to their history. Saxe himself has described the album as an attempt to write a concept album on his belief that love is not binary, but exists in a "grey area."

2. Julia Michaels’ "GFY" is Her Rawest Post-Split Expression

Released on March 7, 2025, Julia Michaels' track "GFY" (which stands for "Go F—k Yourself") is a powerful and candid expression of her pain and frustration. The song is a stark contrast to the conciliatory tone of "If the World Was Ending." In "GFY," Michaels sings about trying to forgive and move on, but ultimately finding that the effort was futile, expressing a desire to mask the pain and reinterpreting her own songs to cope. It is an impactful track that openly expresses pain from a past relationship, marking a significant pivot to a more unvarnished, angry, and healing phase in her songwriting.

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3. The Pressure of Public Love vs. Private Reality

Both artists have hinted that the intense scrutiny and high-pressure environment of the music industry contributed to their split. Their relationship was a global narrative, intertwined with a massive Grammy-nominated hit. The breakup illuminates the delicate balance required to maintain love and a high-profile creative career. The lyrical themes in A Grey Area often touch on coping mechanisms, including references to alcohol and social media, highlighting the struggles they faced in their personal lives under the public eye.

4. Their Lyrical Themes Are a Direct Counterpoint

The former couple's music now acts as a call-and-response. Where "If the World Was Ending" was a plea for reconciliation and a testament to enduring connection, the new songs offer opposing views on the aftermath. Saxe’s work focuses on introspection, nuance, and the difficulty of defining the end, while Michaels’ "GFY" is a more aggressive, declarative statement of finality and self-preservation. This musical counterpoint provides fans with a complete 360-degree view of the emotional landscape of their breakup, a rare level of honesty in celebrity splits.

5. Both Artists Are Thriving Solo in 2025

Despite the heartbreak, both JP Saxe and Julia Michaels are using the pain to fuel significant creative output in 2025. Saxe has followed up A Grey Area with new music, including the gorgeously wistful single "STRANGERS" featuring Argentinian star TINI, released on May 16, 2025. Michaels has also used her newfound creative freedom—after being released from her label—to launch a new album cycle, with "GFY" being the powerful lead. This demonstrates that while their romantic collaboration is over, their individual artistry is entering a fresh, bold, and creatively uninhibited new phase, rewarding fans with some of the most emotionally resonant music of their careers.