Julia Holter

Julia Shammas Holter (born December 18, 1984) is an American artist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. A CalArts graduate, she released her first studio album, Tragedy, in 2011. A second album, Ekstasis, followed in 2012. Holter also collaborates with other musicians including Nite Jewel, Linda Perhacs, and Michael Pisaro. In 2013, she released her third album, Loud City Song to high praise and acclaim.

Biography

Holter, a Los Angeles native,[1] grew up in a musical family. Her father plays guitar and once performed with Pete Seeger.[2] Her mother, Carole Shammas, is a prominent academic and currently holds the John R. Hubbard Chair in History at the University of Southern California. Besides playing and recording music, Holter tutors students and works with a nonprofit organization for teenagers in South Central Los Angeles.[3] After graduating from CalArts, where she studied composition,[4] Holter contributed songs to multiple compilation albums in 2008. She performed in the LA Road Concert with the Open Academy Youth Orchestra on Washington Boulevard in 2009.[5] The following year she began playing with Linda Perhacs' band. In 2010, she released a CD-R titled Celebration and a collection of live recordings.[2]

Her debut studio album, Tragedy, was released in August 2011 on Leaving Records. Inspired by Euripides' Greek play Hippolytus,[6][7] the album received generally favorable reviews and was named one of NPR's "Best Outer Sound Albums Of 2011".[8]

Holter released a second album, Ekstasis, in March 2012 on the RVNG label. The album drew comparisons to works by such artists as Laurie Anderson, Julianna Barwick, Kate Bush, Joanna Newsom, Grouper, and Stereolab, and received mostly positive reviews.[9] Holter spent three years making the album, whose title comes from the Greek word meaning "outside of oneself."[10] The music video for album track "Moni Mon Amie", directed by Yelena Zhelezov, was also released in March.[11]

In addition to collaborating with other California-based musicians like Nite Jewel (Ramona Gonzalez), Holter recently released her third album, Loud City Song.[2] Unlike her first two albums, which were recorded mostly alone in her bedroom, Holter recorded Loud City Song with an ensemble of musicians.[3]

References

^ (ref. ?)
^ a b c Phares, Heather. "Julia Holter - Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ a b Fitzmaurice, Larry (2012-02-12). "Rising: Julia Holter". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Ratliff, Ben (2012-03-04). "Week Ahead - Pop". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ LA Road Concerts (September 17, 2009). "LA Road Concerts website". Los Angeles Road Concerts. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
^ Wappler, Margaret (2012-01-06). "In rotation: Julia Holter's 'Tragedy'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Powell, Mike (2011-10-19). "Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Tragedy'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Gotrich, Lars (2011-11-30). "The Best Outer Sound Albums Of 2011". NPR. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Ekstasis reviews:
Pitchfork: Richardson, Mark (2012-03-02). "Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
NME: Donahue, Anne T. (2012-03-16). "Album Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". NME. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
BBC: Ashurst, Hari (2012-03-08). "Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis' Review". BBC. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
The Quietus: Martin, Erin Lyndal (2012-03-02). "Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". The Quietus. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
PopMatters: Alford, Robert (2012-03-09). "Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". PopMatters. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
Consequence of Sound: Trunick, Austin (2012-03-06). "Album Review: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
Beats Per Minute: Ryan, Will (2012-03-09). "Album Review: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
Drowned in Sound: Skinner, James (2012-03-05). "Releases: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
musicOMH: Paton, Daniel (2012-03-12). "Album Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". musicOMH. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
FACT: Shaw, Steve (2012-03-10). "Julia Holter - 'Ekstasis'". Fact. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Pizzicarola, Elano (2012-03-06). "Julia Holter Talks Ekstasis and Recording Stuff Like Chatter and Fireworks". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
^ Cooper, Duncan (2012-03-27). "Video: Julia Holter, 'Moni Mon Amie'". The Fader. Retrieved 2012-03-31.