News

GIGs:

Julie Jams at Little Montreal (182 Elgin St.) in Sudbury Every Thursday Nite!

 Mattawa Voyageur Days Festival on Friday July 25th!

Moonshine Cafe, 137 Kerr St. Oakville - Wednesday July 30

The VERY Long BIO:

After leaving theatre studies at a University in Ontario, I moved to Vancouver where I began the journey - hitchhiking along the West Coast with a tent and guitar, crossing into the U.S., Mexico and back again.  Though many days were tough and nearly unbearable, alone in strange woods and stranger cities, I honed an artistry- melding my crafts of writing, music and performance art into busking on street corners for money to continue the journey. 

It is during this time that I came to understand much about the human psyche and my place in this world.

A couple of years later, in home town Toronto, the fruits of this edification were apparent to my newfound songwriting career: winning two first-place medals for guitar composition from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Peel Music Festival), and the Sylvia Tyson Songwriting Scholarship (CMPA).  I released EP JAB, was top finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and Lilith Fair's Talent Search.

In my mid-20's I worked in various bars, cafes and speaks while performing with a revolving door of local talent.
 

At 30 I sold my belongings and moved to Denmark where I expected to begin a career as a drifting troubadour throughout Europe... I found that this fantasy was not as wonderful as I had played in my head.  After a few months I was dejected and moved back to Toronto to figure out something else!

While working in a metaphysical bookstore, I came across the poetry of a 13th century mystic poet named Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi.  The timeless sentiments of this Poet inspired me to write music and melody to the translations written by Coleman Barks - that album is called "Ecstatic Songs".

A little while later I was top finalist in the Q107 Radio talent search, and won the title of Best Acoustic Female Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards...

Since becoming pregnant I decided to move to the wilderness with my new family, to interact with nature and write and record in a truly influential environment!  I now live in Northern Ontario with my family (partner Fisher, 1 year old daughter Linden and 3 month old Paulie.  We are building off-grid cabins and campsites along the majestic Sturgeon River;  a retreat for artists and nature lovers called "Fishers' Paradise" - visit us sometime for a beautiful getaway in the wild.  We are 30 Km north of highway 17 between North Bay and Sudbury.  Contact me for directions! 

Where I'm At...

As I get to different stages in life, my ideals re-configure.  The sense of self is adjusted to suit it, and I’m in for a lifestyle change. This last change has simultaneously incorporated some drastic stages; as in, pregnancies, childbirths, and a move from the downtown urban rat-race to extreme rural and green living…  It is a shock to my system on many levels.  At the same time, it releases a lot of metaphysical burdens; like, feeling that I had not been fully living according to my own deep beliefs.  There is a huge toll, mentally/emotionally/physically – planning around less consumption and waste, withdrawing from the conventional (and unsustainable), actually tilling, planting and harvesting a garden of sustenance, researching off-grid power…  All this while trying to stay connected and relevant in the global society,  as an artist and promoter of sustainable living...

That’s where I’m at.

Woe is me was officially released on Thursday, September 27th at Stone's place, 1255 Queen St. W in Toronto.  Thanks again for all the support!

"Woe is me is the realisation of Julie’s love of music, love of words, love of people and love of life… Passionate lyrics and dramatic sound are combined to express joy within dark experience. The dynamic range of her voice and rawness of sound, allow the listener to become the focus of each song and embrace an archetypal passage throughout the album." ....Lorette C. Luzajic

Copyright © Songmuze 2007