Julie Ann Bertram is a singer/songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. She left her studies in theatre to hitchhike along the West Coast, crossing into the U.S., Mexico and back again. It is during this time she honed an artistry, melding her crafts of writing, music and performance into busking on street corners for money to continue the journey... "I came to understand much about the human psyche and my place in this world".
A couple of years later, the fruits of this edification were apparent in a newfound song writing career: winning first places from the Royal Conservatory of Music for guitar composition and the Sylvia Tyson Song writing Scholarship(CMPA). She released EP 'JAB' and was top finalist in the John Lennon Song writing Competition.
At 30 she sold her belongings and travelled to Denmark, expecting to drift through Europe as a troubadour. Unfortunately she found herself disillusioned and moved back home to Canada where she found a kindred spirit in Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, a 13th century Mystic Poet. Julie dove into translations of his work by Coleman Barks, and with Barks' blessing, added music and melody to ten favourite poems - the album 'Ecstatic Songs'.
Not long after, she won the title of "Best Acoustic Female Artist" at the Toronto Independent Music Awards and recorded 'Woe Is Me'. In the process of production, Julie gave birth to her first child... and not long after the CD release, she gave birth to her second. Her new family moved to the northern wilderness in Ontario, where they now reside.
It is here, in nature, that Julie is enlivened and truly inspired. She continues to write and perform while creating an artist retreat with her Partner, Chris Fisher, along the pristine Sturgeon River... they are hoping to set the stage for a new folk festival in the coming years.
