Julia Holter
{{short description|American singer-songwriter}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Julia Holter
| image = Julia Holter @ Getty Center 07 27 2024 (53885698262) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Holter in 2024
| image_size =
| birth_name = Julia Shammas Holter
| birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|12|18}}
| employer = Occidental College
| alma_mater = University of Michigan (BA)
California Institute of the Arts (MFA)
| module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background = art_pop_musician
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|keyboards|organ|harpsichord|drums}}
| genre = {{hlist|Art pop|chamber pop|ambient|modern classical}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|composer|producer}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{hlist|Leaving|RVNG|Domino}}
}}
| website = {{url|juliaholter.com}}
}}
Julia Shammas Holter (born December 18, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, composer, artist, and academic, based in Los Angeles. Her work has received critical acclaim and incorporates elements of art pop, chamber pop, baroque pop and ambient. Following three independent album productions, Holter released Tragedy as her first official studio album in 2011. Ekstasis followed in 2012. After signing with Domino Records in 2013, she released the albums Loud City Song (2013), Have You in My Wilderness (2015), the live-in-the-studio album In the Same Room (2017) and the double album Aviary (2018).
Holter composed the score for the 2020 film Never Rarely Sometimes Always and released Behind the Wallpaper (2023) in collaboration with Spektral Quartet and Alex Temple. Her most recent studio album is Something in the Room She Moves, released in 2024.
Holter has also collaborated with other musicians, including Nite Jewel, Laurel Halo, Ariel Pink, Ducktails, Linda Perhacs, Michael Pisaro, and Jean-Michel Jarre.
Biography
Holter was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At age six her family moved to Los Angeles, where she later attended the Alexander Hamilton High School. She studied music at University of Michigan for four years, graduating with a degree in composition.{{cite web|last1=Nite Jewel|title=JULIA HOLTER|url=http://issuemagazine.com/julia-holter/#/|website=Issue Magazine|access-date=10 March 2017}} After seeing Michael Pisaro perform an avant-garde composition in Michigan, she was inspired to study with him at CalArts, where she graduated from another composition program.{{cite news
| last=Ratliff
| first=Ben
| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804EEDC1630F937A35750C0A9649D8B63
| title=Week Ahead - Pop
| newspaper=The New York Times
| date=2012-03-04
| access-date=2012-03-30}}
Holter contributed songs to multiple compilation albums in 2008.{{cite web | url=http://www.laroadconcerts.org/washington.htm | title=LA Road Concerts website | publisher=Los Angeles Road Concerts | date=September 17, 2009 | access-date=November 20, 2012 | author=LA Road Concerts | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212165831/http://laroadconcerts.org/washington.htm | archive-date=December 12, 2012 | url-status=dead }} In 2010, she began playing with Linda Perhacs' band and released a CD-R titled Celebration and a collection of live recordings.{{cite web
| last=Phares
| first=Heather
| url=http://allmusic.com/artist/julia-holter-p1105030/biography
| title=Julia Holter - Biography
| website=Allmusic
| access-date=2012-03-30}}
Following three independently produced albums – Phaedra Runs to Russia (2007), Cookbook (2008), and Celebration (2010), Holter's official debut album, Tragedy, was released in August 2011 on Leaving Records. Inspired by Euripides' Greek play Hippolytus,{{cite news
| last=Wappler
| first=Margaret
| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2012/01/in-rotation-julia-holters-tragedy.html
| title=In rotation: Julia Holter's 'Tragedy'
| newspaper=Los Angeles Times
| date=2012-01-06
| access-date=2012-03-30}}{{cite web
| last=Powell
| first=Mike
| url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15932-julia-holter/
| title=Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Tragedy'
| publisher=Pitchfork Media
| date=2011-10-19
| access-date=2012-03-30}}
the album received generally favorable reviews and was named one of NPR's "Best Outer Sound Albums of 2011".{{cite web
| last=Gotrich
| first=Lars
| url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/11/30/142900901/the-best-outer-sound-albums-of-2011
| title=The Best Outer Sound Albums of 2011
| publisher=NPR
| date=2011-11-30
| access-date=2012-03-30}}
Holter released her second album, Ekstasis, in March 2012 on the RVNG Intl. label. The album drew comparisons to works by such artists as Laurie Anderson, Julianna Barwick, Kate Bush, Joanna Newsom, Grouper, and Stereolab, and received many positive reviews.Ekstasis reviews:
- Pitchfork: {{cite web
| last=Richardson
| first=Mark
| url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16352-ekstasis/
| title=Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| publisher=Pitchfork Media
| date=2012-03-02
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- NME: {{cite magazine
| last=Donahue
| first=Anne T.
| url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/julia-holter/12891
| title=Album Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| magazine=NME
| date=2012-03-16
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- BBC: {{cite web
| last=Ashurst
| first=Hari
| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/mf4z
| title=Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis' Review
| publisher=BBC
| date=2012-03-08
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- The Quietus: {{cite magazine
| last=Martin
| first=Erin Lyndal
| url=http://thequietus.com/articles/08130-julia-holter-ekstasis-review
| title=Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| magazine=The Quietus
| date=2012-03-02
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- PopMatters: {{cite magazine
| last=Alford
| first=Robert
| url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/155449-julia-holter-ekstasis
| title=Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| magazine=PopMatters
| date=2012-03-09
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- Consequence of Sound: {{cite magazine
| last=Trunick
| first=Austin
| url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/03/album-review-julia-holter-ekstasis/
| title=Album Review: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| magazine=Consequence of Sound
| date=2012-03-06
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- Beats Per Minute: {{cite web
| last=Ryan
| first=Will
| url=http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/album-review-julia-holter-ekstasis/
| title=Album Review: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| publisher=Beats Per Minute
| date=2012-03-09
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
- Drowned in Sound: {{cite web
| last=Skinner
| first=James
| url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16903/reviews/4144686
| title=Releases: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| publisher=Drowned in Sound
| date=2012-03-05
| access-date=2012-03-30
| archive-date=2012-03-29
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329035756/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16903/reviews/4144686
| url-status=dead
}}
- musicOMH: {{cite web
| last=Paton
| first=Daniel
| url=http://www.musicomh.com/albums/julia-holter_0312.htm
| title=Album Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| publisher=musicOMH
| date=2012-03-12
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522072543/http://www.musicomh.com/albums/julia-holter_0312.htm
| access-date=2012-03-30
| archive-date=2012-05-22
}}
- FACT: {{cite web
| last=Shaw
| first=Steve
| url=http://www.factmag.com/2012/03/10/julia-holter-ekstasis/
| title=Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'
| publisher=Fact
| date=2012-03-10
| access-date=2012-03-30
}}
Holter spent three years making the album, whose title comes from the Greek word meaning "outside of oneself."{{cite news
| last=Pizzicarola
| first=Elano
| url=http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/03/julia_holter_ekstasis_india.php
| title=Julia Holter Talks Ekstasis and Recording Stuff Like Chatter and Fireworks
| newspaper=LA Weekly
| date=2012-03-06
| access-date=2012-03-30
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310004230/http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2012/03/julia_holter_ekstasis_india.php
| archive-date=2012-03-10
| url-status=dead
}}
The music video for album track "Moni Mon Amie", directed by Yelena Zhelezov, was also released in March.{{cite magazine
| last=Cooper
| first=Duncan
| url=http://www.thefader.com/2012/03/27/video-julia-holter-moni-mon-amie-2/
| title=Video: Julia Holter, 'Moni Mon Amie'
| magazine=The Fader
| date=2012-03-27
| access-date=2012-03-31}}
In addition to collaborating with other California-based musicians like Nite Jewel (Ramona Gonzalez), Holter released her third album, Loud City Song, in August 2013 on Domino Records. It was universally acclaimed by critics and Unlike her preceding albums, which were recorded mostly alone in her bedroom, Holter recorded Loud City Song with an ensemble of musicians.{{cite web
| last=Fitzmaurice
| first=Larry
| url=http://pitchfork.com/features/rising/8769-julia-holter/
| title=Rising: Julia Holter
| publisher=Pitchfork Media
| date=2012-02-12
| access-date=2012-03-30}}
In 2015, Holter released the album Have You in My Wilderness, which was acclaimed by critics and became her most successful charting release to date. She also contributed to Ducktails' fifth studio album, St. Catherine, with her bandmates Chris Votek and Andrew Tholl.{{cite web|url=http://www.thereprise.org/interview/2015/10/23/ducktails-interview |title=Knowledge & Virtue: Ducktails + Real Estate's Matt Mondanile |first=Andrew |last=Lindsay |work=thereprise.org |access-date=2 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119112955/http://www.thereprise.org/interview/2015/10/23/ducktails-interview |archive-date=19 November 2015 }}
Holter collaborated with Jean-Michel Jarre on a song for the second part of the Electronica double album, released on July 18, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/09/22/jean-michel-jarre-interview/|title=A rendezvous with electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre|publisher=Fact Magazine|last=Allen|first=Jeremy|date=2015-09-22|access-date=2015-09-23}}
In November 2016, she curated her own program during the tenth-anniversary edition of Le Guess Who? Festival in Utrecht. This program included performances by Laurel Halo, Josephine Foster, Maya Dunietz, Jessica Moss and other artists.
In September 2017, she performed a world premier of her scoring of the 1928 silent French film The Passion of Joan of Arc on September 29 at the FIGat7th in downtown Los Angeles.{{cite web | url=http://www.artsbrookfield.com/event/unsilent-cinema-2017/ | title=Julia Holter | work=artsbrookfield.com | date=29 September 2017 | access-date=29 December 2017 }}
In September 2018, Holter announced her fifth commercially released album, Aviary, and released the lead single "I Shall Love 2". She followed it with another single, "Words I Heard", before the album's release on October 26. The record was praised for its scope and ambition and appeared on multiple year end lists for the best albums of 2018.{{cite web |last=Rettig |first=James |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2013042/julia-holter-i-shall-love-2-video/video |title=Julia Holter – "I Shall Love 2" Video |work=Stereogum |date=September 6, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Slingerland |first=Calum |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/julia_holter_shares_new_song_words_i_heard |title=Julia Holter Shares New Song "Words I Heard" |work=Exclaim! |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=October 22, 2018}}
In 2021, Holter was appointed the Johnston-Fix Professor of the Practice in Songwriting; Visiting Assistant Professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=https://www.oxy.edu/academics/faculty/julia-holter|title=Julia Holter|work=Occidental College|date=8 November 2021 |accessdate=21 May 2022}}
On January 9, 2024, Holter announced her sixth studio album, Something in the Room She Moves, which was released to critical acclaim on March 22 by Domino.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Tyler Damara |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Julia Holter announces new album, Something in the Room She Moves |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/julia-holter-announces-new-album-something-in-the-room-she-moves |access-date=January 9, 2024 |work=The Line of Best Fit}} In June 2024, Holter appeared throughout her partner and longtime bandmate Tashi Wada's studio album, What Is Not Strange?.
Style
The Guardian wrote that "Holter's vocal register [...] faintly recalls Siouxsie Sioux or Nico".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/15/julia-holter-joanna-newsom-review-islington-hammersmith|title=Julia Holter – review|first=Kitty |last=Empire |work=The Guardian|date= 15 November 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015}} Under the Radar similarly compared her to other female artists saying; "Holter is Siouxsie Sioux meets Kate Bush, with a matchstick intensity, relighting her own wick by the conversation in her voice, her diaphragm shifting between instruments".{{cite web|first=Lauren|last=Hardy|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/julia_holter_in_the_same_room |title=Julia Holter In the Same Room|publisher=Under the Radar|date=31 March 2017|access-date=10 March 2019}}
Personal life
Holter was previously in a relationship with former Real Estate guitarist and Ducktails frontman Matt Mondanile.{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/music/517056/ducktails-draws-you-different-sonic-world/|title=Ducktails draws you into a different sonic world|publisher=Straight|last=John|first=Lucas|date=August 26, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2015}} In 2015, she contributed to his Ducktails album, St. Catherine. In the wake of sexual misconduct allegations against Mondanile, Holter divulged that Mondanile was "emotionally abusive to the point where I had to have a lawyer intervene and was afraid for my life."{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/news/music/julia-holter-details-emotional-abuse-ex-real-estate-guitarist-matt-mondanile-2153178|title=Julia Holter details emotional abuse from ex-Real Estate guitarist Matt Mondanile|last=Connick|first=Tom|work=NME|date=2017-10-25|access-date=2017-10-26}}
Holter is married to musician Tashi Wada, son of the sound artist Yoshi Wada.{{Cite web |last=Doherty |first=Kelly |date=2024-02-13 |title=The Records That Made Me: Julia Holter |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/features/the-records-that-made-me-julia-holter/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The Vinyl Factory |language=en-US}} They have been in a relationship since 2015, and they have a daughter together who was born during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |last=Pedder |first=Alan |date=15 March 2024 |title=Julia Holter's Favorite Songs |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/nine-songs-julia-holter |access-date=March 17, 2024 |work=The Line of Best Fit}} Holter and Wada first met in 2007 when they both played in a harmonium ensemble organized by their friend James.{{Cite news |last=Kim |first=Joshua Minsoo |date=March 20, 2024 |title=Tone Glow 135: Julia Holter |url=https://toneglow.substack.com/p/tone-glow-135-julia-holter |access-date=March 21, 2024 |work=Tone Glow}} Holter collaborated with Wada on his 2024 studio album, What Is Not Strange?.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | US Heat
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | BEL ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | NLD ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | NOR ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | SWI ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | UK |
|---|
| scope="row"| Phaedra Runs to Russia
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Eating the Stars
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Cookbook
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Celebration
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Tragedy
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Ekstasis
|
| 49 || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Loud City Song
|
| 19 || 60 || 140 || 91 || 20 || 88 || 103 |
| scope="row"| Have You in My Wilderness
|
| 3 || 56 || 107 || 36 || — || — || 29 |
| scope="row"| Aviary
|
| 16 || 81 || — || — || — || 99 || 73 |
| scope="row"| Behind the Wallpaper {{small|(with Spektral Quartet)}} |
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| Something in the Room She Moves
|
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — |
=Live albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of live albums, with selected chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" | BEL (FL) |
|---|
| scope="row"| Live Recordings
|
| — |
| scope="row"| In the Same Room
|
| 126 |
=Singles=
- "Maria" (2011){{cite web |title=Julia Holter - Maria |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/maria-mw0002189247 |website=Allmusic.com |access-date=20 November 2022}}
- "Marienbad" (2012){{cite web |title=Julia Holter - Marienbad |url=https://www.factmag.com/2012/01/10/julia-holter-marienbad/ |website=factmag.com |date=10 January 2012 |access-date=17 November 2022}}
- "In the Same Room" (2012){{cite web |last1=Fitzmaurice |first1=Larry |title=Tracks: Julia Holter - In The Same Room |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/13089-julia-holter-in-the-same-room/ |website=Pitchfork.com |access-date=17 November 2022}}
- "Goddess Eyes" (2012){{cite web |title=Releases: Julia Holter - Goddess Eyes 12" |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/julia-holter/goddess-eyes/12 |website=dominomusic.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "World" (2013){{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Julia Holter announces new album Loud City Song, streams first single "World" |url=https://consequence.net/2013/05/julia-holter-announces-new-album-loud-city-song-streams-first-single-world/ |website=consequence.net |date=22 May 2013 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "In The Green Wild" (2013){{cite web |last1=Mike |first1=Powell |title=Tracks: In The Green Wild - Julia Holter |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15711-in-the-green-wild/ |website=Pitchfork.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Maxims I" (2013){{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Ian |title=Tracks: Julia Holter - Maxim's I |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15839-julia-holter-maxims-i/ |website=Pitchfork.com |access-date=17 November 2022}}
- "Don't Make Me Over" (2014){{cite web |title=Releases: Julia Holter - Don't Make Me Over/Hello Stranger 7" single |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/julia-holter/dont-make-me-overhello-stranger/7-single |website=Dominomusic.com |access-date=20 November 2022}}
- "Feel You" (2015){{cite web |last1=Leight |first1=Elias |title=Watch Julia Holter's "Feel You" Video |url=https://www.thefader.com/2015/07/09/julia-holter-feel-you-video |website=thefader.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Sea Calls Me Home" (2015){{cite web |title=Julia Holter releases new song, announces tour (dates, stream) |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/julia-holter-re-1/ |website=brooklynvegan.com |date=26 August 2015 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Condemnation", with Romona Gonzalez and Nedelle Torissi (2017){{cite web |title=Releases: Julia Holter, Romona Gonxalez and Nedelle Torissi - Condemnation |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/julia-holter/condemnation/limited-edition-vinyl |website=dominomusic.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "I Shall Love 2" (2018){{cite web |last1=Rettig |first1=James |title=Julia Holter - "I Shall Love 2" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2013042/julia-holter-i-shall-love-2-video/music/ |website=Stereogum.com |date=6 September 2018 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Words I Heard" (2018){{cite web |last1=Minsker |first1=Evan |title=Julia Holter shares new song "Words I Heard": Listen |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/julia-holter-shares-new-song-words-i-heard-listen/ |website=Pitchfork.com |date=18 October 2018 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "So Humble the Afternoon" (2018){{cite web |title=Releases: Julia Holter - So Humble the Afternoon |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/julia-holter/so-humble-the-afternoon/download |website=dominomusic.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Les Jeux to You - Edit" (2019){{cite web |last1=Holter |first1=Julia |title=Les Jeux To You (Edit) - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/les-jeux-to-you-edit-single/1451900176 |website=music.apple.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Gold Dust Woman" (2020){{cite web |title=Releases: Julia Holter - God Dust Woman |url=https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/julia-holter/gold-dust-woman/download |website=dominomusic.com |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Heloise", with Harper Simon and Meditations On Crime, feat. Geologist (2022){{cite web |last1=Brodsky |first1=Rachel |title=Julia Holter, Harper Simon & Meditations On Crime - Heloise (feat. Geologist) |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2184163/julia-holter-harper-simon-meditations-on-crime-heloise-feat-geologist/music/ |website=Stereogum.com |date=21 April 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
- "Sun Girl" (2023){{cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/julia_holter_shares_colourful_psychadelic_video_for_new_song_sun_girl|title=Julia Holter Shares Colourful, Psychedelic Video for New Song "Sun Girl"|last=Bell|first=Kaelen|date=7 November 2023|website=Exclaim!|access-date=November 13, 2023}}
=Remixes by Julia Holter=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Julia Holter}}
- {{official website|https://juliaholter.com/}}
- [https://www.npr.org/event/music/147351089/julia-holter-in-concert Live from NYC's Le Poisson Rouge] on NPR
- [http://www.last.fm/music/Julia+Holter Julia Holter] Julia Holter {{in lang|en}}
- [http://bombmagazine.org/article/7339/julia-holter Julia Holter by Ben Vida] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203749/http://bombmagazine.org/article/7339/julia-holter |date=2016-03-04 }} Bomb
{{Julia Holter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holter, Julia}}
Category:American electronic musicians
Category:American indie pop musicians
Category:Avant-garde keyboardists
Category:California Institute of the Arts alumni
Category:Singers from Los Angeles
Category:Songwriters from California
Category:American women in electronic music
Category:Domino Recording Company artists
Category:University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni
Category:21st-century American women singers