SS: Hello Julia! How are you doing?
JF: Great! Didnt I just meet you? I recognize your name from the card you gave me.
SS: Yes, we did meet, right at the end of your performance here in Seattle. I actually get to see you again in New York; Im coming for Fashion Week and you happen to be there at the same time. But until then, I want to thank you so much for chatting with us. So, Collins going step in here as well; weve got some questions for you, and I think wed just like to chat for a few minutes if thats okay. Im going to hand it off to Collin to begin with; hes been listening to all of your records non-stop, and has memorized all of your lyrics.
JF: Good, I will be testing you at the end of this, and I want to hear Collin sing and I need to hear dancing as well.(laughs)
CD: Oh man. (laughs) Ill do my best. First off, wed just like to congratulate you on the release of your eighth album.
JF: Thank you.
CD: Thats Life has been very well received by critics thus far. For example, Ill quote metroG.com: ŽIf Thats Life does not push her to the forefront of L.A. singer songwriters, something is terribly wrong, or horridly unfair. Easily, this is one must own CD.
JF: Oh, how nice. Who wrote that? Was that my mother? (laughs)
CD: (laughs) The St. Louis Dispatch said 'That's Life is another sparkling effort from an often overlooked singer. How does it feel to read all these great reviews on something you worked so hard with?
JF: Well, you know, I only read the good ones, and there are occasionally horrible ones, but I dont ever see those. If someone says, ŽOh, it wasnt so good, then I never read it. Basically, its wonderful to hear those things, because its a great source of support, in a way, for what youre doing. Ive always been very fortunate that, predominately, Ive always been what they call a Žcritically-acclaimed artist. I mean, Ive always just had that. Billboard just did a fantastic review; I mean, I just couldnt believe it. Its just perfect; Ill like print it off and frame it. Its wonderful, because I think that it does fuel a certain amount of interest. I dont know that it helps you proceed to that next level, and that first quote said it was going to be a Žhorrible, horrible thing if Im still under the radar, I think that seems to be my destiny and Ive just kind of graciously accepted that now, because to break into the mainstream just seems to be almost impossible for me now. I basically now just go along with what Ive got, which is that its great to be critically acclaimed, great to be on an independent label that allows you to make the kind of music and record that you want, and great to have a loyal fan base who come out to all the gigs and continue to buy the records. It would be fantastic if I could smack one out of the park and go to that next level, but, for some reason, that continues to elude me. I think you need youth on your side for that, for one, and I think it also helps if you have a ton of cash behind you, or you have a video, or whatever it is that kind of propels the very small percentage of artists who make it into the stratosphere, so to speak. Its not a bad place to be, really, being me. Its not so bad.(laughs)
SS: Well, you actually did very well with the song ŽHappy Ever After, a while back.
JF: Thats true, and I think thats also indicative of where I was; I was sort of the Žyoung, hot thing of the moment, and, also, I think its easier since I was out on a major label, and had a fabulous video, which was picked up by VH1. There was an incredible amount of exposure around that time. Its so hard to sustain that level of success; very few people do that. Ive been fortunate that the success of ŽHappy Ever After and the album Porcelain, and Ž(Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways from my third album have really enabled me to continue to do what I do, because I sort of set some kind of blueprint in motion that people can refer to and remember. I think thats great; if I didnt have that, I think Id be out in the garden right now.
SS: I remember seeing the video for the single ŽManhattan Skyline on VH1 a lot as well.
JF: Yes, ŽManhattan Skyline was also really big here in America. Ive also been really lucky that ŽHappy Ever After was such a big smash hit in Japan; it was number 1 for weeks on end, and Ive also had an incredible amount of success in the Philippines, of all places, where Ill be going in November. Its been great; Ive had this very unusual trajectory, in a way, where Ive managed to be giant in other parts of the globe, and have barely registered on the barometer in other places. But America just seems to be a good place for me. I seem to do consistently well here.
SS: Definitely. So is L.A. treating you right?
JF: Im lovin it! I just bought a house up in the Topanga Canyon Hills, and Im a southern California babe now.
CD: Im glad Sean mentioned ŽHappy Ever After – Id like to go back to that just for a second. You wrote it in 1988, and then rewrote it after apartheid was lifted in South Africa. Tell us the story of how that happened.
JF: I dont think I would have ever rewritten it if we hadnt decided to do a Žbest-of record at Virgin Records. We were looking at the record, and I sort of thought the original production of that song sounded a little bit dated, and I glanced at the lyric and thought, ŽHow amazing that, in that time, that there has been this incredible shift in South Africa, and apartheid has crumbled, and Nelson Mandela has been released. Originally, when I was writing that song, I had started off writing and when into the front room to have my tea-and-cake break, and I saw a piece about Nelson Mandela in South Africa on TV, and that really struck me. I mean, there I am, sitting in my little room, writing this love song about how Žwed be happy ever after, and there are so many people in the world that never get to know that luxury of pondering a great love life because theyre too busy trying to survive, and have some kind of decent life. So thats how it got woven into the song in the first place. Then (at the re-recording) I thought it was such a–not an opportunity, but almost a responsibility, really, to acknowledge the changes that had happened in those fifteen years, from writing the song until the Žbest-of record came out. So thats really why I re-did it; we went back in and re-sang it and re-mixed it and we put both versions on the record. I thought it was a subtle, but relevant, reference to the fact that things can change over time, and that they have.
SS: Thats really great. I dont know if its made it to you, from the email that Id sent, but I was just graduating from high school, when that cam out, and it was a total inspiration for me, to say ŽHey, look what a powerful force pop culture can be to help change things out there.
JF: Really? Thats wonderful. Well, Ive been away, on the road, as you know, so Im going through all my emails now, and Ive got about fifty, so it might take a while to go through them all.
SS: If you ever need any more praise, just go find that email.
JF: I will just ring you boys regularly. You know, like, ŽIm a little flat. Can you help?
SS: (laughs) Good deal! Were there for you. I think Collin had this question planned for later, but since were talking individual songs and their messages right now, we want to talk about your song 'Genius.' You wrote, 'I know that in South America, they're burning down the trees / stoking up the fires of Western industries...' Its great, again, that youre talking about change, and where the world is and those sorts of things.
JF: In my earlier work, there were a few more of those references, but, there were kind of subconscious, and I think the minute you try to contrive them into something, it isnt quite so potent. But, when I was, you know, Žthe young rebel, going ŽTheyre burning down the trees!! Whats going on in the world?!? It just sort of ended up in that song.
CD: Okay, lets pretend, just for a second, just for fun, that Im 17 and an aspiring musician and singer-songwriter. I need some advice. Tell what I need to do to have the kind of success that youve had.
JF: Hmm. Well I think there are a few things. Firstly, I think you have to be really good, and you have to just practice. A lot. I think you have to be able to produce your own CDs, the same way people used to make cassettes to send to record companies. I think the stakes are a lot higher now and getting to the standard takes much more work; I think you almost have to be able to release your own record or be selling it at shows. So, if I was 17, Id be out, playing all the local open-mic nights; Id be writing like a crazy fool, Id be finding like-minded musicians who might want to demonstrate their skills, and Id find a local engineer and producer who wanted to have their names and credit on your record. And Id just start my own little fire, in hopes that I could get the record companies to come sit around it and warm themselves.
CD: Hmm. I like that image.
SS: Collin is only 24, by the way, so hes not so far off. Hes a bit of a budding musician as well.
JF: Are you really?
CD: Um, sort of. I played my first wedding a few weeks ago, but I just play for fun. Im not nearly as good as you are.
JF: Well thank you. You know, it takes an incredible amount of tenacity and resilience and hard work to keep it going. Its very hard to finish anything; its very hard to finish a song, finish a demo, craft a demo into an actual CD.
CD: So lets change gears here. Youve been compared to and connected with artists like Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin, and, more recently, mentioned in the same breath as Norah Jones. Do you like being compared to other artists, or would you prefer just to be known as yourself?
JF: I dont mind at all. I mean, when people say to me, ŽWhat are you like? I sort of make it easy for them: ŽIm not like Metallica. ŽIm not really PJ Harvey. When people ask me that, I say, ŽWell, I did the Lillith Fair. ŽPeople sometimes say Im kind of a cross between Sade and Annie Lennox. I love Joan Armatrade, and Ricky Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell, so I sort of make it easy for people who ask. In this day and age, people need to have things spelled for them, more than they ever did. I think were all a little like the lazy consumer, and I sort of give them a good ballpark. I dont mind when people do it about me, because when people ask me, I do the work for them. All those artists you mentioned are pretty fabulous, though, so I certainly cant complain.
SS: I noticed on your website that you have your 'My Recommends' section. Who are some of the artists that youve seen that youre really into these days?
JF: Well, its hard for me to break out. I always get stuck in my old favorites, but I absolutely love Rufus Wainwright. Hes one of my total favorites, though he isnt exactly Žup and coming. I love k.d. langs new record. Generally, on my website, I tend to put people that I know, who Ive met, who I like, who Im trying to help. So I dont even know who the hot, new thing is.
CD: We were also browsing around your website when we found Base, the store in Miami Beach, listed under the favorites as well. How did you find them, living all the way across the country in L.A.?
JF: My very best friend in England is a woman called Angie Giles, whos a fantastic singer. She does all the backing vocals on the Concrete Love’ album. Her brother, Steven Giles, is one of the most gifted clothes designers, and has this exquisite store called Base in Miami. Basically, I got to know him through her. He sent me many absolutely perfect and beautiful clothes and items for my last tour, so I really wanted to bring attention to his work, because I think its something thats absolutely top-notch and inspired. He also gave me the shirt that Im wearing on the cover of the Concrete Love album.
CD: What do you think of what they call 'environmental retailing?' Theyve also got a bamboo CD-listening station, patchwork carpet, and more recycled stuff throughout their store...
JF: You should contact them and do a piece on them, because theyre perfect for you.
SS: We always say Žstyle is our middle name.
JF: Yeah, and style is their first name, let me tell you. Those two guys, Steven and Bruce, they are the kings. Contact them and theyll tell you where theyre at with doing good by the world.
CD: So whats next for you, Julia? I know youre touring right now, and you mentioned being headed to the Philippines in a couple of months. What else?
JF: Basically, Im promoting this record for the next little while. Ill be doing my east coast dates in September, and coming out to New York, and you guys are coming, and Im doing a bunch of other dates. Ill be back in L.A. in October, headed out to the Philippines in November and then Ill release my DVD in December – I recorded it in July at the House of Blues – and thats going to be coming out, and were also hoping to broadcast it on DirecTV in January. So thats the rest of the year, all mapped out for me.
After that, Im really thinking about changing direction and making a jazz record. Ive been writing jazz songs my whole life and theyve never fit perfectly on the records. So Im going to put them all together and move in a slightly different direction; I feel like I cant take the singer-songwriter genre any further than I have, especially being the great, waiting-to-be-discovered bracket that I seem to perpetually be in. So Im thinking Im going to make a new move.
SS: Thats great. You mentioned that at your concert, and I was really excited and thought it was a great idea.
JF: Yep, a new direction. Im making a bold step.
SS: Okay, how about one last question, since I know you have to move on. Its come up a couple of times already, some of the issue-oriented things that youve mentioned in your songs. I was just wondering if you have any big things now that youre passionate about, that youre trying to do?
JF: I eally try to do my part. I recycle. My boyfriend is a complete vegan; I mean he is the Right-On Police, my God. (quoting herself) ŽBaby it doesnt matter that the chickens not organic – it's in front of me, and I have to eat it! Hes much more into it than me, and very aware of all these things. I go alternative where I can, and play my small part. Ive got my membership to all those right-on groups, and I let them do their work. Im conscious of not eating crap food or making too much waste, and I try to play my small part. But Im not perfect.
SS: Were big fans of that attitude – nobody is perfect, and all we can do is our best.
JF: I truly do believe that every small amount counts. I mean, people go, 'Oh, well you dont eat meat but you do eat fish! What about those fish?' Well, it makes a difference; it does help to conserve the land. I mean, we dont need to use every bit of greenery to feed the cows, you know. Whatever small things that you do has an effect, so even a small amount of people can make a change. That is so evident in so many things in the world.
SS: Yeah, we try to avoid that 'the sky is falling' message. It is way more fun when its positive and hip. The more we hear stories about you and other people doing the great things you are, it just totally inspires other people to go out and make their own little changes.
JF: Thats right! Every small little lifestyle is significant. Its the acorn and the tree, and right here are three acorns and on we go.
SS: Yeah! You go girl!
JF: Yes, I shall. (laughs)
CD: Julia, thank you so much for chatting with us.
JF: My pleasure guys. Ill see you in New York.

Julia Fordham will be touring the United States through September. For those who miss her on the road, keep your eyes peeled for her DVD, scheduled for release in December. For more Julia, including tour dates, song samples, lyrics and more, click on over to her website