Renowned British singer-songwriter Julia Fordham is set to release her profound new album ‘Earth Mate’ on 25th October. This eagerly anticipated collection showcases Fordham’s extraordinary vocal range and heartfelt songwriting, marking a significant milestone in her career spanning over three decades.
The 10-track record is a testament to Fordham’s artistic evolution, seamlessly blending her deep-rooted jazz influences with contemporary folk sensibilities. Recorded in a live setting, the album features collaborations with an impressive roster of acclaimed musicians, including master guitarist Gordon Giltrap and legendary bassist Leland Sklar, known for his work with James Taylor and Jackson Browne.
Musically, it is layered and organic. Beautiful arrangements, played by excellent musicians in an ensemble setting. Lyrically it is authentic and emotive. Packing a visceral punch with a velvet glove.
“It’s about pipe dreams that turned to smoke and ash” says Julia on the record, which represents a reflective stage of her life. “Being older but not necessarily wiser and still open and eager to crack the code of this complicated and ever evolving and unfolding life. Love and loss with a handful of hope tinged themes.”
“And at this time when the world is inundated with thousands and thousands of audio files every day, I felt I had a compelling story to sing and share. I think ‘Earth Mate’ deserves to be heard from start to finish as an album. I hope people will hear how much of my soul I have poured into these songs.”
The album opens with ‘Home (If This Is What Love Is)’, a song that came to Julia during a meditation where she felt she glimpsed into another realm. This track establishes the album’s underlying theme of finding one’s way back home, both physically and spiritually. The title track ‘Earth Mate’ offers insight into an idea Julia had –”Everyone talks about finding their soul mate but not everyone does. So sometimes folks give it their best shot with what I have named an Earth Mate. Whenever you hear people talking about breaking up they always tend to mention how they would not have it any other way, as otherwise they would not have the child or family that came from that union.
Autobiographical lead single ‘My Old Table’ paints a nostalgic journey through the romantic start to a relationship from “the roses in the candlelight through the thorn filled screaming fights.” Set around an actual table that has witnessed so many mixed memories and emotions. Another one close to Julia’s heart is ‘Everest’, inspired by the tragic story of the mountain climbers Francys and Sergei Arsentiev. A powerful anthem of human endurance and with Fordham’s research adding authenticity to the lyrics.
As refreshing counterparts, the whimsical ‘Circus’ andjazz filled ‘Minor Victories’ showcase Fordham’s ability to blend deep personal writing with more light-hearted themes, still urging the audience to get in touch with their innermost selves. Irish singer songwriter Ryan O’Shaughnessy provides a compelling male perspective of a relationship break down on the excellent, folk tinged ‘Done And Dusted’, and New Zealand’s Greg Johnson helps Fordhamconclude the album with the spirited ‘Smile or Frown’, which Fordham describes as a feelgoodpubsong. ”It’s about trying to either save a relationship or if you can’t, then least have a drink to it!”
About Julia Fordham:
Julia Fordham’s musical journey began at 14, writing and performing at local folk clubs on England’s south coast. Her talent led to an invitation to sing with the UK’s National Youth Jazz Orchestra, sparking a lifelong love for jazz. In 1988, Fordham signed with Virgin/Circa Records and released her self-titled debut album, which reached No.20 in the UK chart and earned her a platinum disc. Her single ‘Happy Ever After’ topped the charts in Japan, where she continues to tour regularly and has recorded TV adverts for Toyota.
1989 follow-up album ‘Porcelain’ became Fordham’s landmark work, charting in the UK, Japan, and Europe and the USA. It featured some of her most well-known songs, including the title track, ‘Girlfriend’, ‘Lock and Key’ and ‘Manhattan Skyline’. Her third album, ‘Swept‘ (1991), included her biggest hit to date, ‘(Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways’, which was the theme song for the Demi Moore film, “The Butcher’s Wife”.
Throughout her career, Fordham has collaborated with numerous acclaimed artists and producers. She was part of the 1997 Lilith Fair alongside Sarah McLachlan, Jewel and Sheryl Crow. Her first four albums all went Gold in Japan, and she has a significant following in the Philippines, where her song ‘Invisible War’ became an unofficial anthem during the Marcos regime.
In recent years, Fordham has continued to evolve as an artist. She embarked on sold-out UK tours with fellow singer-songwriters Judie Tzuke and Beverley Craven as part of the “Woman To Woman” project. Her 2020 album ‘Cutting Room Floor’ showcased songs written for films, and her greatest hits – ‘The Julia Fordham Collection’ has now garnered nearly 10 million streams. Now Julia is back doing what she does best, singing heartfelt songs in an honest and intimate fashion.
“Working with, Spencer Cozens, Miles Bould and Scott Firth, the musicians that have played with three of my favorite artists, John Martyn, Joan Armatrading and Deva Premal has reawakened my love for the singer songwriter genre” says Julia. “I am not trying to reinvent my musical wheel here, I am just continuing on the same path in a similar and familiar direction on a lovely brand new unicycle that has shiny silver spokes.”
‘Earth Mate’ will be released in late October, with Fordham’s UK tour the following month, offering fans the first opportunity to experience these powerful new songs live. Full dates can be found below and tickets are available HERE.
UK TOUR:
NOVEMBER
7 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
8 Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington
9 Leeds City Varieties, Leeds
11 The Fire Station, Sunderland
12 St. Luke’s, Glasgow
14 Waterside, Manchester
15 Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth
16 The Old Market, Brighton and Hove
19 Union Chapel, London
20 St George’s Bristol, Bristol
22 The Apex, Bury St. Edmunds
23 The Stables, Wavendon
24 Acapela Studio, Cardiff