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 ofart pop,chamber pop,baroque popandambient.Following three independent album productions, Holter releasedTragedyas her first official studio album in 2011.Ekstasisfollowed in 2012. After signing withDomino Recordsin 2013, she released the albumsLoud City Song(2013),Have You in My Wilderness(2015), the live-in-the-studio albumIn the Same Room(2017) and the double albumAviary(2018).

Julia Holter
Holter in 2024
Born
Julia Shammas Holter

(1984-12-18)December 18, 1984(age 39)
Alma materUniversity of Michigan(BA)
California Institute of the Arts(MFA)
EmployerOccidental College
Musical career
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • organ
  • harpsichord
  • drums
Years active2006–present
Labels
Websitejuliaholter

Holter composed the score for the 2020 filmNever Rarely Sometimes Alwaysand releasedBehind the Wallpaper(2023) in collaboration withSpektral QuartetandAlex Temple.Her most recent studio album isSomething in the Room She Moves,released in 2024.

Holter has also collaborated with other musicians, includingNite Jewel,Laurel Halo,Ariel Pink,Ducktails,Linda Perhacs,Michael Pisaro,andJean-Michel Jarre.

Biography

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Holter was born inMilwaukee,Wisconsin.At age six her family moved to Los Angeles, where she later attended theAlexander Hamilton High School.She studied music atUniversity of Michiganfor four years, graduating with a degree in composition.[1]After seeingMichael Pisaroperform anavant-gardecomposition in Michigan, she was inspired to study with him atCalArts,where she graduated from another composition program.[1][2] Holter contributed songs to multiplecompilation albumsin 2008.[3]In 2010, she began playing withLinda Perhacs' band and released aCD-RtitledCelebrationand a collection of live recordings.[4]

Following three independently produced albums –Phaedra Runs to Russia(2007),Cookbook(2008), andCelebration(2010), Holter's official debut album,Tragedy,was released in August 2011 on Leaving Records. Inspired byEuripides' Greek playHippolytus,[5][6] the album received generally favorable reviews and was named one ofNPR's "Best Outer Sound Albums of 2011".[7]

Holter released her second album,Ekstasis,in March 2012 on theRVNG Intl.label. The album drew comparisons to works by such artists asLaurie Anderson,Julianna Barwick,Kate Bush,Joanna Newsom,Grouper,andStereolab,and received many positive reviews.[8] Holter spent three years making the album, whose title comes from theGreek wordmeaning "outside of oneself."[9] The music video for album track "Moni Mon Amie", directed by Yelena Zhelezov, was also released in March.[10]

In addition to collaborating with other California-based musicians likeNite Jewel(Ramona Gonzalez), Holter released her third album,Loud City Song,in August 2013 onDomino Records.[4]It was universally acclaimed by critics and Unlike her preceding albums, which were recorded mostly alone in her bedroom, Holter recordedLoud City Songwith an ensemble of musicians.[11]

In 2015, Holter released the albumHave You in My Wilderness,which was acclaimed by critics and became her most successful charting release to date. She also contributed toDucktails' fifth studio album,St. Catherine,with her bandmates Chris Votek and Andrew Tholl.[12]

Holter collaborated withJean-Michel Jarreon a song for the second part of theElectronicadouble album, released on July 18, 2016.[13]

In November 2016, she curated her own program during the tenth-anniversary edition ofLe Guess Who?Festival inUtrecht.This program included performances byLaurel Halo,Josephine Foster,Maya Dunietz,Jessica Mossand other artists.

In September 2017, she performed a world premier of her scoring of the 1928 silent French filmThe Passion of Joan of Arcon September 29 at theFIGat7thin downtown Los Angeles.[14]

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.[15][16]

In 2021, Holter was appointed the Johnston-Fix Professor of the Practice in Songwriting; Visiting Assistant Professor atOccidental Collegein Los Angeles.[17]

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.[18]In June 2024, Holter appeared throughout her partner and longtime bandmate Tashi Wada's studio album,What Is Not Strange?.

Style

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The Guardianwrote that "Holter's vocal register [...] faintly recallsSiouxsie SiouxorNico".[19]Under the Radarsimilarly compared her to other female artists saying; "Holter is Siouxsie Sioux meetsKate Bush,with a matchstick intensity, relighting her own wick by the conversation in her voice, her diaphragm shifting between instruments ".[20]

Personal life

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Holter was previously in a relationship with formerReal Estateguitarist andDucktailsfrontmanMatt Mondanile.[21]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."[22]

Holter is married to musician Tashi Wada, son of the sound artistYoshi Wada.[23]They have been in a relationship since 2015, and they have a daughter together who was born during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[24][25]Holter and Wada first met in 2007 when they both played in aharmoniumensemble organized by their friend James.[24]Holter collaborated with Wada on his 2024 studio album,What Is Not Strange?.

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Heat BEL
(FL)

[26]
BEL
(WA)
NLD NOR
[27]
SWI
[28]
UK
[29]
Phaedra Runs to Russia
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: self-released
  • Format: CD-R
Eating the Stars
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Human Ear Music
  • Format: CD-R
Cookbook
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Sleepy Mammal Sound
  • Format: CD-R
Celebration
  • Released: November 12, 2010
  • Label: Engraved Glass
  • Format: CD
Tragedy
  • Released: August 30, 2011
  • Label: Leaving
  • Formats:LP,CD, digital download
Ekstasis
  • Released: March 8, 2012
  • Label:RVNG
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
49
Loud City Song
  • Released: August 19, 2013
  • Label:Domino
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
19 60 140 91 20 88 103
Have You in My Wilderness
  • Released: September 25, 2015
  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
3 56 107 36 29
Aviary
  • Release date: October 26, 2018
  • Label: Domino
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
16 81 99 73
Behind the Wallpaper
(withSpektral Quartet)
  • Release date: March 3, 2023
  • Label: Amsterdam Records
  • Formats: LP, digital download
Something in the Room She Moves
  • Release date: March 22, 2024
  • Label: Domino

Live albums

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List of live albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
BEL
(FL)

[26]
Live Recordings
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: NNA Tapes
  • Format: MC
In the Same Room
  • Released: March 31, 2017
  • Label: Domino Documents
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download
126

Singles

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  • "Maria" (2011)[30]
  • "Marienbad" (2012)[31]
  • "In the Same Room" (2012)[32]
  • "Goddess Eyes" (2012)[33]
  • "World" (2013)[34]
  • "In The Green Wild" (2013)[35]
  • "Maxims I" (2013)[36]
  • "Don't Make Me Over" (2014)[37]
  • "Feel You" (2015)[38]
  • "Sea Calls Me Home" (2015)[39]
  • "Condemnation", with Romona Gonzalez and Nedelle Torissi (2017)[40]
  • "I Shall Love 2" (2018)[41]
  • "Words I Heard" (2018)[42]
  • "So Humble the Afternoon" (2018)[43]
  • "Les Jeux to You - Edit" (2019)[44]
  • "Gold Dust Woman" (2020)[45]
  • "Heloise", with Harper Simon and Meditations On Crime, feat. Geologist (2022)[46]
  • "Sun Girl" (2023)[47]

Remixes by Julia Holter

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  • "Strange Town" by Buzzy Lee (2021)[48]

References

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  1. ^abNite Jewel."JULIA HOLTER".Issue Magazine.Retrieved10 March2017.
  2. ^Ratliff, Ben (2012-03-04)."Week Ahead - Pop".The New York Times.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  3. ^LA Road Concerts (September 17, 2009)."LA Road Concerts website".Los Angeles Road Concerts. Archived fromthe originalon December 12, 2012.RetrievedNovember 20,2012.
  4. ^abPhares, Heather."Julia Holter - Biography".Allmusic.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  5. ^Wappler, Margaret (2012-01-06)."In rotation: Julia Holter's 'Tragedy'".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  6. ^Powell, Mike (2011-10-19)."Reviews: Julia Holter - 'Tragedy'".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  7. ^Gotrich, Lars (2011-11-30)."The Best Outer Sound Albums of 2011".NPR.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  8. ^Ekstasisreviews:
  9. ^Pizzicarola, Elano (2012-03-06)."Julia Holter Talks Ekstasis and Recording Stuff Like Chatter and Fireworks".LA Weekly.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-10.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  10. ^Cooper, Duncan (2012-03-27)."Video: Julia Holter, 'Moni Mon Amie'".The Fader.Retrieved2012-03-31.
  11. ^Fitzmaurice, Larry (2012-02-12)."Rising: Julia Holter".Pitchfork Media.Retrieved2012-03-30.
  12. ^Lindsay, Andrew."Knowledge & Virtue: Ducktails + Real Estate's Matt Mondanile".thereprise.org.Archived fromthe originalon 19 November 2015.Retrieved2 December2015.
  13. ^Allen, Jeremy (2015-09-22)."A rendezvous with electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre".Fact Magazine.Retrieved2015-09-23.
  14. ^"Julia Holter".artsbrookfield.29 September 2017.Retrieved29 December2017.
  15. ^Rettig, James (September 6, 2018)."Julia Holter –" I Shall Love 2 "Video".Stereogum.RetrievedOctober 22,2018.
  16. ^Slingerland, Calum (October 17, 2018)."Julia Holter Shares New Song" Words I Heard "".Exclaim!.RetrievedOctober 22,2018.
  17. ^"Julia Holter".Occidental College.8 November 2021.Retrieved21 May2022.
  18. ^Kelly, Tyler Damara (January 9, 2024)."Julia Holter announces new album,Something in the Room She Moves".The Line of Best Fit.RetrievedJanuary 9,2024.
  19. ^Empire, Kitty (15 November 2015)."Julia Holter – review".The Guardian.Retrieved2 December2015.
  20. ^Hardy, Lauren (31 March 2017)."Julia Holter In the Same Room".Under the Radar.Retrieved10 March2019.
  21. ^John, Lucas (August 26, 2015)."Ducktails draws you into a different sonic world".Straight.RetrievedDecember 14,2015.
  22. ^Connick, Tom (2017-10-25)."Julia Holter details emotional abuse from ex-Real Estate guitarist Matt Mondanile".NME.Retrieved2017-10-26.
  23. ^Doherty, Kelly (2024-02-13)."The Records That Made Me: Julia Holter".The Vinyl Factory.Retrieved2024-04-27.
  24. ^abKim, Joshua Minsoo (March 20, 2024)."Tone Glow135: Julia Holter ".Tone Glow.RetrievedMarch 21,2024.
  25. ^Pedder, Alan (15 March 2024)."Julia Holter's Favorite Songs".The Line of Best Fit.RetrievedMarch 17,2024.
  26. ^ab"Julia Holter - Loud City Song".ultratop.be.Retrieved2015-11-25.
  27. ^"Ola discography".swedishcharts.Archived fromthe originalon 5 November 2012.Retrieved24 May2013.
  28. ^"Discographie Julia Holter".hitparade.ch.Retrieved14 November2018.
  29. ^"Julia Holter | full Official Chart history".Official Charts Company.Retrieved3 November2018.
  30. ^"Julia Holter - Maria".Allmusic.Retrieved20 November2022.
  31. ^"Julia Holter - Marienbad".factmag.10 January 2012.Retrieved17 November2022.
  32. ^Fitzmaurice, Larry."Tracks: Julia Holter - In The Same Room".Pitchfork.Retrieved17 November2022.
  33. ^"Releases: Julia Holter - Goddess Eyes 12"".dominomusic.Retrieved22 November2022.
  34. ^Young, Alex (22 May 2013)."Julia Holter announces new album Loud City Song, streams first single" World "".consequence.net.Retrieved22 November2022.
  35. ^Mike, Powell."Tracks: In The Green Wild - Julia Holter".Pitchfork.Retrieved22 November2022.
  36. ^Cohen, Ian."Tracks: Julia Holter - Maxim's I".Pitchfork.Retrieved17 November2022.
  37. ^"Releases: Julia Holter - Don't Make Me Over/Hello Stranger 7" single ".Dominomusic.Retrieved20 November2022.
  38. ^Leight, Elias."Watch Julia Holter's" Feel You "Video".thefader.Retrieved22 November2022.
  39. ^"Julia Holter releases new song, announces tour (dates, stream)".brooklynvegan.26 August 2015.Retrieved22 November2022.
  40. ^"Releases: Julia Holter, Romona Gonxalez and Nedelle Torissi - Condemnation".dominomusic.Retrieved22 November2022.
  41. ^Rettig, James (6 September 2018)."Julia Holter -" I Shall Love 2 "Video".Stereogum.Retrieved22 November2022.
  42. ^Minsker, Evan (18 October 2018)."Julia Holter shares new song" Words I Heard ": Listen".Pitchfork.Retrieved22 November2022.
  43. ^"Releases: Julia Holter - So Humble the Afternoon".dominomusic.Retrieved22 November2022.
  44. ^Holter, Julia."Les Jeux To You (Edit) - Single".music.apple.Retrieved22 November2022.
  45. ^"Releases: Julia Holter - God Dust Woman".dominomusic.Retrieved22 November2022.
  46. ^Brodsky, Rachel (21 April 2022)."Julia Holter, Harper Simon & Meditations On Crime - Heloise (feat. Geologist)".Stereogum.Retrieved22 November2022.
  47. ^Bell, Kaelen (7 November 2023)."Julia Holter Shares Colourful, Psychedelic Video for New Song" Sun Girl "".Exclaim!.RetrievedNovember 13,2023.
  48. ^White, Caitlin (2 June 2021)."Watch Buzzy Lee Perform 'Spoiled Love' Songs In Her Childhood Bathroom For NPR's Tiny Desk Concert".Uproxx.Retrieved22 November2022.
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