Julia Holter | Artist

Julia Shammas Holter is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and artist, born 1984 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her father Daryl Holter is a country and americana musician who has written books on Woody Guthrie. Holter gained a degree in Composition from the University of Michigan and since then has received critical acclaim for her work which blends classical, ambient and art-pop elements. 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, the album received generally favorable reviews and was named one of NPR's "Best Outer Sound Albums of 2011." 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. Holter spent three years making the album, whose title comes from the Greek word meaning "outside of oneself." Her third album, Loud City Song, released in August 2013 on Domino Records, 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. 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. Holter has released five more full length albums, including the standouts Aviary (2018) and Something in the Room She Moves (2024). Holter's early albums were quite experimental in their sound palette, but she has moved towards more accessible "Chamber/Baroque pop" sounds in her more recent works. The Guardian wrote that "Holter's vocal register faintly recalls Siouxsie Sioux or Nico", while Under the Radar similarly compared her to other female artists saying; "Holter is Siouxsie Sioux meets Kate Bush." Holter has also collaborated with other musicians, including Nite Jewel, Laurel Halo, Ariel Pink, Ducktails, Linda Perhacs, Michael Pisaro, and Jean-Michel Jarre. She has also composed several modern-classical chamber works. Holter is married to musician Tashi Wada, son of the sound artist Yoshi Wada. She collaborated with Wada on his 2024 studio album, What Is Not Strange?

Artist Website: juliashammasholter.com

Featured Albums: Julia Holter

Related Artists: Linda Perhacs

Collections: Movers Shakers