New digital EP release: Source to Sea

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Julie is delighted to release new music today.  Composed for the radio and podcast series Source to Sea, this three-track digital EP leads with the single ‘Silver in the Blue’ a song which Julie wrote for Lee Craigie and Jenny Graham’s journey to COP26, following the River Clyde.
Inspired by water journeys and nature’s rhythms, this particular track features Éamon Doorley, Kris Drever and Euan Burton.  You can purchase the digital EP (MP3s or high def audio) directly from Julie at https://www.juliefowlis.com/product…/digital-downloads/ or you can listen through this link https://smarturl.it/SourceToSeaEP
The beautiful artwork was created by Seth Tinsley Illustration ✨ www.sethtinsleyillustration.com
Thank you to Tandem Productions, Lee Craigie, Jenny Graham and the The Adventure Syndicate and of course to  the #AudioContentFund for commissioning this and supporting the creation of new music.

Julie to play Cambridge Folk Festival 2022

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Julie is absolutely delighted to be returning to the Cambridge Folk Festival 2022, for not one but two performances – one with her own band and another with the incredible Spell Songs crew.  It’s promises to be a cracker of a weekend, with some brilliant names on the bill and more to be announced.  For line-up and ticketing information, see here.

 

‘Spell Songs II: Let The Light In’

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We’re delighted to let you know that the much anticipated Spell Songs follow-up album is available to pre-order now and will be officially released into the wild on December 10th.

Spell Songs II: Let The Light In is born out of the same heartfelt concerns that informed the artwork and poetry within these two books, namely, the loss of our natural world, the need for a more compassionate view of the wild and a determination that there is still hope.

Reunited in April 2021, after multiple pandemic postponements, the Spell Singers eagerly joined Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane at Greta Hall (once home to Samuel Taylor Coleridge) in the heart of the Lake District to begin their second collaborative residency. Each song may have originated within the hearts of one or two of the musicians, but through communal creative respect and generous musicianship these acorns of ideas were soon turned into truly collaborative works resulting in a stunning and unique album.

Andy Bell, the producer for both albums, witnessed the creation of each song during both residentials. This gave him a unique understanding of their origins. When it came to the recording process at Rockfield Studio and for the second album, Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, he was ideally placed to express the true beauty of all of the songs. The finished albums are timeless and accomplished and have a deep presence that will soar straight to your heart and stay there.

These songs are infused with folk, world, experimental, rock, alt-country, classical and traditional elements which capture the essence of the ‘Lost’ books. Spoken voice, whispers, accents, dialects, native languages, birdsong, the bark of foxes, the soft sound of a moth’s wing, the sound of a children’s climate strike; all increase the intimacy and power of the musical world conjured by the Spell Songs band.

Describing the collaborative process Rob and Jackie write:

“We feel lucky beyond words to have been given the chance to work with such astonishing people…. with the musicians each bringing strands of word and song and image, then weaving them together by ear, in the air . . . it all seemed a profound gift to us both…’
Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

The Spell Songs ensemble will be on tour in January and February 2022, with festival appearances in Summer also.

Kings Place Artist in Focus 2022: Voices Unwrapped

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Following a year when choirs fell silent, Kings Place in London celebrates the power and the joy of singing in Voices Unwrapped, their 14th Unwrapped series. Featuring solo voices to vocal ensembles to large choruses, they plan to fill their halls with Renaissance masterworks, close harmony a cappella, folk song, jazz vocalisation, lied, throat singing, gospel, electronically-enhanced contemporary voices to Baroque passions.

As part of this year long celebration of voice, Kings Place have invited two individuals to take on the role of artists in focus throughout 2022: Gaelic singer & musician Julie Fowlis and baritone & composer Roderick Williams. Julie is thrilled to be involved as a co-curator and artist-in-focus, and her first performance has been announced – with the Allt ensemble (featuring Zoë Conway, Éamon Doorley and John Mc Intyre) on January 14th. Tickets are available here.

Assassins Creed Valhalla

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Announcing Julie’s involvement in the new expansion to the Ubisoft game Assassins Creed Valhalla, Wrath of the Druids, which has just been released. Julie spent time last year collaborating with renowned musician and composer Einar Selvik to create songs for the game soundtrack.

You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhdnos2tPYI

and the full album soundtrack has also been released worldwide on Lakeshore Records

Full Album: https://youtu.be/wTAvdXlUcwc

Buy link: https://smarturl.it/ACV-WOD

Announcing new collaboration with Hawktail

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Julie is thrilled to announce a musical collaboration with the incredible band Hawktail
as part of the new Folk Alliance International Artists In (Their) Residence project in partnership with Chris Thile.
This project matches ten US based artists with musicians from Australia, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, Scotland and Spain to raise awareness for The Village Fund, a grant program for artists and industry members in need.
The collaboration will be shared in the summer, but in the meantime have a listen to the first release in this series – the gorgeous sounds of Rose Cousins and John Paul White

‘A musician in her landscape’: An interview with Julie Fowlis

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Julie was delighted to chat to Steve Gladwin over at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure  recently – here’s the blog, ‘A musician in her landscape’.  Hope you enjoy.
 

Julie performing at Celtic Connections 2021

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From Julie:
“It had been one full year since I last stood on a stage, at Celtic Connections 2020. Fast forward twelve months and it’s actually difficult to put into words how it felt to take to the stage with some of my favourite people on the planet at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall recently to perform for

Celtic Connections 2021. So, so emotional. I hadn’t realised just how much I missed it.
Despite the hall being empty, there was a special energy in the room and it was such a privilege to be part of the festival – especially knowing how much everyone is missing Glasgow and this event right now. HUGE applause to Donald, Lesley, the entire CC team and first class crew who have taken this iconic international festival online ❤️“
The festival started last Friday night and you can still watch the entire programme if you grab a festival pass ticket (which are amazingly priced, and you can watch from anywhere in the world) – here is the link for more info and to buy tickets:
Julie will be performing as part of the Transatlantic Sessions concert on January 29th & for the

Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum and Arts Centre Ceòl Uibhist a Tuath / North Uist night on Monday February 1st.
There is so much amazing music happening at this festival – get your tickets now if you haven’t done so already!

New merchandise range announced

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Julie has launched a new range of merchandise today! Cosy organic hoodies, ocean blue organic and vegan friendly t-shirts and funky retro ringer tees – all of which have the ‘alterum’ insignia.  All garments have been carefully and ethically sourced, and there is also now an opportunity to purchase a high-definition download of alterum with an item of clothing at a special bundle price.

All garments are unisex, and sizing guides can be found on the shop.  Thanks for supporting independent musicians!

An Gealladh / The Promise

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Julie is delighted to be involved in this beautiful project – The Promise.  Written by Nicola Davies, with illustrations by Laura Carlin, Julie was invited to read the Gaelic version of this powerful story which examines our connection to nature and the importance of green spaces in our urban landscapes.  It is a story of hope for change, and also includes readings of the Acorn poem by Robert Macfarlane with accompanying music from the Lost Words Spell Songs.

For educators – there are resources available here: https://www.thepromise.earth/screening

A’ Ghàidhlig le Raghnaid Sandilands.  Nach sgaoil sibh an naidheachd?

The thoughtful Gaelic translation is by Raghnaid Sandilands. Please share the story, and enjoy!