Julie Fowlis
Encyclopedia
Julie Fowlis is a Scottish
folk singer and multi-instrumentalist
who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.
, an island in the Outer Hebrides
, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping
and dancing since she was a child.
She is a member of the Scottish sextet
, Dòchas
, who were voted winners of Best Newcomer award at the Scots Trad Music Awards
in 2004, where Fowlis herself was nominated for the Best Gaelic Singer award. In 2005, Fowlis released her first solo album Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is). The album was produced by Iain MacDonald
and Fowlis and instantly gained her worldwide acclaim. It was the busiest year until then in her career, with the release a new album with Dòchas as well. Fowlis has travelled worldwide with the group and as a solo artist with her own live band.
Her second solo album Cuilidh was released in March 2007, becoming a worldwide top-seller in the Traditional and World Music charts. Her album is a collection of songs from her native North Uist
home. Her husband, Éamon Doorley plays bouzouki
on the album and is a member of Irish traditional group Danú
.
Fowlis won the Horizon award at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
, won Folk Singer of The Year at the 2008 awards and was nominated for the Folk Singer of the Year award at the 2007 awards. She appeared on Later With Jools Holland
on BBC Two
on May 25, 2007, and performed Hùg air Bhonaid Mhòir on the show. Notable fans of Fowlis include Björk
, Ricky Gervais
and Radiohead
's Phil Selway
.
In 2008, Julie recorded an album with long-time friends and collaborators Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
, Ross Martin and husband Éamonn Doorley. The album
, entitled 'Dual
' was released in October 2008, under Fowlis' 'Machair Records'. Fowlis also toured extensively around Scotland, Ireland, central Europe and America and launched both her solo albums while on tour. Fowlis recorded a version of the Beatles
' 'Blackbird
' for Mojo Magazine to celebrate the anniversary of The Beatles
' 'The White Album'. The song, performed in Scottish Gaelic was released as a download single from Fowlis' own website in October 2008.
On 24 April 2009 through her online mailing list, Fowlis announced that she would begin recording her third studio album in May and that she would preview tracks from the project on her May 2009 tour of England. On 10 August 2009, she announced the album's title, Uam
' (Scottish Gaelic for 'From Me'). In Europe the album was subsequently released 26 October the same year.
's flagship traditional music programme Travelling Folk and the world music show Global Gathering
, Julie started presenting a regular Thursday night Folk music programme, Fowlis and Folk. and is a regular presenter on BBC Alba.
. They have one daughter, Éabha.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
folk singer and multi-instrumentalist
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.
Musical career
Fowlis grew up in North UistNorth Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
, an island in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping
Pipe (instrument)
Pipe describes a number of musical instruments, historically referring to perforated wind instruments. The word is an onomatopoeia, and comes from the tone which can resemble that of a bird chirping.-Folk pipe:...
and dancing since she was a child.
She is a member of the Scottish sextet
Sextet
A sextet is a formation containing exactly six members. It is commonly associated with vocal or musical instrument groups, but can be applied to any situation where six similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
, Dòchas
Dóchas
Dóchas is the network of Non-Governmental Organisations involved in development and relief overseas and/or development education in Ireland...
, who were voted winners of Best Newcomer award at the Scots Trad Music Awards
Scots Trad Music Awards
The Scots Trad Music Awards celebrate Scotland's traditional music in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.-2010:...
in 2004, where Fowlis herself was nominated for the Best Gaelic Singer award. In 2005, Fowlis released her first solo album Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is). The album was produced by Iain MacDonald
MacDonald brothers
The MacDonald Brothers are pipers and folk musicians from Scotland. They are notable for their playing, most notably for their piping.The three brothers, Allan, Iain and Angus grew up in Glenuig, a small Gaelic speaking community in the west Highlands of Scotland...
and Fowlis and instantly gained her worldwide acclaim. It was the busiest year until then in her career, with the release a new album with Dòchas as well. Fowlis has travelled worldwide with the group and as a solo artist with her own live band.
Her second solo album Cuilidh was released in March 2007, becoming a worldwide top-seller in the Traditional and World Music charts. Her album is a collection of songs from her native North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
home. Her husband, Éamon Doorley plays bouzouki
Bouzouki
The bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
on the album and is a member of Irish traditional group Danú
Danú
Danú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
.
Fowlis won the Horizon award at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2....
, won Folk Singer of The Year at the 2008 awards and was nominated for the Folk Singer of the Year award at the 2007 awards. She appeared on Later With Jools Holland
Later with Jools Holland
Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
on May 25, 2007, and performed Hùg air Bhonaid Mhòir on the show. Notable fans of Fowlis include Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
, Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
's Phil Selway
Phil Selway
Philip James "Phil" "The Graf" Selway is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of English rock group Radiohead. He also drums and provides backing vocals, along with occasional guitar and lead vocals, for 7 Worlds Collide...
.
In 2008, Julie recorded an album with long-time friends and collaborators Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a musician and singer from County Kerry, Ireland. She is the lead singer from the traditional music group Danú. Her name is pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve.-Biography:...
, Ross Martin and husband Éamonn Doorley. The album
Dual (album)
Dual is an album by four acclaimed Irish and Scottish musicians: Éamonn Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh , Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin....
, entitled 'Dual
Dual (album)
Dual is an album by four acclaimed Irish and Scottish musicians: Éamonn Doorley, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh , Julie Fowlis and Ross Martin....
' was released in October 2008, under Fowlis' 'Machair Records'. Fowlis also toured extensively around Scotland, Ireland, central Europe and America and launched both her solo albums while on tour. Fowlis recorded a version of the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' 'Blackbird
Blackbird (song)
"Blackbird" is a Beatles song from the double-disc album The Beatles . Blackbird was written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Origins:...
' for Mojo Magazine to celebrate the anniversary of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' 'The White Album'. The song, performed in Scottish Gaelic was released as a download single from Fowlis' own website in October 2008.
On 24 April 2009 through her online mailing list, Fowlis announced that she would begin recording her third studio album in May and that she would preview tracks from the project on her May 2009 tour of England. On 10 August 2009, she announced the album's title, Uam
Uam
Uam is the third music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis. It was released on 26 October 2009 in Europe and in March 2010 in Canada and the United States. The album features contributions from Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham and Sharon Shannon among others...
' (Scottish Gaelic for 'From Me'). In Europe the album was subsequently released 26 October the same year.
Broadcasting career
In 2008, following guest spots on the BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
's flagship traditional music programme Travelling Folk and the world music show Global Gathering
Global Gathering
GlobalGathering is an annual dance music festival by Angel Music Group. Festivals are held in countries such as the UK, Poland, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and feature leading electronica artists from across the globe...
, Julie started presenting a regular Thursday night Folk music programme, Fowlis and Folk. and is a regular presenter on BBC Alba.
Personal life
Julie currently lives in Scotland with husband Éamon Doorley, a member of Irish traditional group DanúDanú
Danú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
. They have one daughter, Éabha.
Albums
- Mar a Tha Mo ChridheMar a Tha Mo ChridheMar a Tha Mo Chridhe is the début music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis. It is sung entirely in Scottish Gaelic, and the album title means "As My Heart Is".-Track listing:#"Oganaich Uir a Rinn M' Fhagail" – 2:40...
(2005) - CuilidhCuilidhCuilidh is the second music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis, which in 2008 won her the Album Of The Year Award at the Scots Trad Music Awards and Best Folk Singer Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Music Awards.-Track listing:...
(2007) - UamUamUam is the third music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis. It was released on 26 October 2009 in Europe and in March 2010 in Canada and the United States. The album features contributions from Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham and Sharon Shannon among others...
(2009) - Live at Perthshire Amber (2011)
Singles
- Turas san LochmorTuras san Lochmor"Turas san Lochmor" is the first single taken from Julie Fowlis's second album Cuilidh, released that same year. The cover features a photograph by Louis DeCarlo. The subject of the song is sea travel, and one man's account of a particular day....
(2007 - from Cuilidh) - Hùg Air A' Bhonaid MhòirHùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir"Hùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir" is the second single taken from Julie Fowlis's second album Cuilidh, released the previous year. The cover features a photograph by Louis DeCarlo. The subject of the song is particularly humorous. The song, which is actually made up of two, is a set of Puirt a beul or...
(2008 - from Cuilidh) - Lon Dubh / BlackbirdLon Dubh / Blackbird"Lon Dubh / Blackbird" is a single by Julie Fowlis taken from Mojo Magazine's 2008 album, White Album Recovered., released the previous year. The single is a Scottish Gaelic cover of The Beatles' popular song, Blackbird ...
(2008 - Cover of the Beatles' "BlackbirdBlackbird (song)"Blackbird" is a Beatles song from the double-disc album The Beatles . Blackbird was written by Paul McCartney, but credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Origins:...
" in Gaelic)
Guest roles & Misc recordings
- Evolving Tradition 3 - Various artists (2003)
- Best in Show - Various artists (2003)
- Ceòlmhor Ostaig - Various artists (2004)
- Braighe Loch Iall - Rachel Walker (2004)
- When All is Said and Done - DanúDanúDanú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
(2005) - Orain nan Rosach - Fiona MackenzieFiona MackenzieFiona J Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer from Dingwall in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.-Career:...
(2006) - Fáinne An Lae : Daybreak - Muireann Nic AmhlaoibhMuireann Nic AmhlaoibhMuireann Nic Amhlaoibh is a musician and singer from County Kerry, Ireland. She is the lead singer from the traditional music group Danú. Her name is pronounced MWI-ren Nick OWL-eve.-Biography:...
(2006) - Òg-Mhadainn Shamhraidh - Kathleen MacInnesKathleen MacInnesKathleen MacInnes is a Scottish singer, television presenter and actress, who performs primarily in Scottish Gaelic. She is a native of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and lives in Glasgow with her partner and three sons...
(2006) - Everything You See - RunrigRunrigRunrig are a Scottish Celtic rock group formed in Skye, in 1973 under the name 'The Run Rig Dance Band'. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included songwriters Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald. The current line-up also includes longtime members Malcolm Jones, Iain Bayne, and more...
(2007) - An Cailín Rua - Kathleen Boyle (2008)
- Transatlantic Sessions 3 Vol. 1 (CD) - Various artists (2008)
- Transatlantic Sessions 3 Vol. 2 (CD) - Various artists (2008)
- Transatlantic Sessions 3 (DVD) - Various artists (2008)
Awards won
- Scots Trad Music Awards 2010 - Album Of The Year (Uam)
- BBC Radio 2 Folk Music Awards 2008 - Folk Singer Of The Year
- Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 - Album Of The Year (Cuilidh)
- Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 - Gaelic Singer Of The Year
- Best Folk Band (Dòchas) Scots Trad Music Awards 2006
- BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award 2006
- Gaelic Singer of the Year Scots Trad Music Awards 2005
- Best Up and Coming Artist (Dòchas) Scots Trad Music Awards 2004
- Traditional Singer of the Year Pan Celtic Nations Festival 2003
- La Trophe La Bolee de Corrigans – Festival Interceltique de Lorient, 2000
Nominations
- BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2007
- Gaelic Singer of the Year Scots Trad Music Awards 2004