#juliechristmas
By the time Julie Christmas released her debut solo album ‘The Bad Wife’ in 2010, the Brooklyn visionary was already one of the most lauded voices in alternative music. Her piercing pipes, as previously heard in noise rockers Made Out of Babies and post-metal supergroup Battle of Mice, earned critical acclaim. Then, that goodwill was consolidated by her first standalone statement and now she returns with album two.
‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’, a heart-on-sleeve chapter-by-chapter storybook of the conflicting elements of her own character, is the most comprehensive declaration of this musician’s talents yet, spanning from alt-pop to post-metal with a staggering array of talent onboard. Guitarist/ vocalist Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna), drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights), bassist/ producer Andrew Schneider (Kenmode/Unsane), guitarist John LaMacchia (Candiria) and keyboardist extraordinaire Tom Tierney were all paramount in bringing these new, genre-smashing tunes to life.
“I want people to hear the sad heroine, vile villains, dreamy characters at play, squalor, madness, longing, challenge, triumph, beauty, and love” Christmas says of ‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’. “This story is a little different, it isn't all fairytale. It speaks to how human nature defies categorisation. The kindest person commits immeasurable acts of cruelty, the monster loves their friend. We are all like that.”
The words all communicate their core personality’s worldview, extending from thoughts as small as her fascination with birds, to opinions on grand topics like religion and warfare. Even the album’s title was penned as a tongue-in-cheek description of how Christmas views herself.
“I’m not evolved enough as a human to hide the way I feel. It’s all in there. Music is the place to put it all so you don’t explode. If you are throwing yourself into life it can and should get wild!” she explains.
Although Christmas took 14 years to make a full-length follow-up to ‘The Bad Wife’, there’s no doubting that this successor is more than worth the wait. Its impossible-to-pigeonhole songs are destined to not only reinforce the love fans already have for this peerless creative; they’ll certainly win over countless newcomers, as well.
Julie Christmas live dates:
26/06 - UK Leeds Brudenell Social Club
27/06 - UK London The Garage
29/06 - FR Clisson Hellfest
01/07 - NL Utrecht Tivoli Pandora
02/07 - DE Cologne Gebaude9
03/07 - DE Berlin Frannz
05/07 - DK Roskilde Festival
09/08 - NO Oslo Oya Festival
10/08 - CZ Jaromer Brutal Assault
15/08 - UK Bristol Arctangent Festival
‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’ track list:
1. Not Enough
2. Supernatural - KZfaq
3. The Ash
4. Thin Skin - KZfaq
5. End of the World
6. Silver Dollars
7. Kids
8. The Lighthouse
9. Blast
10. Seven Days
Links:
julie_christmas_official
juliechristmas.bandcamp.com/