JANUARY 2008 - British Singer Songwriter Julia Fordham burst into the music scene in 1988 on Virgin Records with the International hit “Happy Ever After.” Then followed her critically acclaimed album “Porcelain,” which included the popular songs “Manhattan Skyline” and “Lock and Key.”

Julia has just completed her tenth record China Blue. A jazz record comprised of original songs written by Julia and produced and arranged by the wonderfully talented multi-instrumentalist Grant Mitchell.

As there are so many jazz “standards” records – Julia longed to release an album of original songs. However, when she played some gigs last year adding her jazz songs to the set, Julia included a version of Michael McDonald’s hit “I keep Forgettin.” Rearranged and produced for this record by Jon Gilutin (Linda Ronstadt), she was thrilled when the co-producer of this song Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Michael McDonald) played the track to Michael. Having always been a huge fan, Julia was delighted when immediately after hearing her rendition of his song, Michael added his remarkable voice to the track, blessing it with his rare and distinctive vocal sound.

Julia decided to re-record two songs from the Porcelain album. The newly arranged title track “China Blue,” which was only available in the UK, and “For You Only For You,” which is gloriously simple with piano, violin and Julia’s divine voice. “I Want To Stay Home With You,” from the Baby Love ep, is also included.

Trying a new approach , China Blue will be released through NovaTunes. A newly established internet company, NovaTunes has built the platform to distribute and sell music to a global audience of music fans in high quality digital album format. Embracing a ‘Hear, Like, Buy’ approach, users can hear each album in full and if they like it, they can buy it directly. There will also be a social network where musicians and audience discuss music, write reviews and recommend other NovaTunes artists.

After a long and illustrious career, selling millions of records worldwide on Virgin Records and three releases on Vanguard Records, including a live CD and accompanying DVD, “That’s Live,” was recorded and filmed at the House of Blues in Hollywood and released in 2005. Produced by Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Madeline Peyroux), it included an all star band and featured a stunning duet on the song “Concrete Love” with Grammy Award winning artist India.Arie and trumpet player/composer (“Crash”) Mark Isham.

After the Tsunami in 2004, an old school chum of Julia’s enlisted her to remix “Happy Ever After” with the proceeds going towards rebuilding a school in Cuddalore. Julia, along with record producer Grant Mitchell, re-recorded the song with a group of children from the Ashington School in West Sussex, UK. In February ’07, Julia was delighted to attend the school opening in India.

Last year Julia released her most precious collection of songs as a worldwide exclusive through iTunes. Inspired by her little girl, “Baby Love” is a 6 song EP combining Julia’s jazzy, yet soulful vocal range, and her love for her daughter Marley Rose.

Julia started writing songs at 12 and began performing them in the local folk clubs at 14. In her late teens, Julia made a guest vocalist appearance with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in London. From that moment on, she had always hoped to record an album of original jazz “standard” style songs. The release of China Blue sees that dream coming to fruition.

China Blue is also available on iTunes, CD Baby and other on line retailers.

AUGUST 10TH 2004 - Not only is that the day my 8th record comes out, it will be precisely 42 years ago (that's 37 in showbiz years) that I came out of my Mum in the front room of our little home in the South Coast of England.

Dad was there, trying to get the gas and air going, running about yelling things like "Push" and "Breathe" and "Ooh it's a girl" and "Where are the scissors as I think we are meant to cut the umbilical cord". Thankfully, the midwife arrived shortly thereafter to check in on how things were coming along. She couldn't believe I had arrived 2 days early. Neither could Mum and Dad.

That was just the beginning of the merry dance that I would lead them.

First it was my obsession with the recorder. From dawn until dusk I would tuttle away, even putting two in my mouth at the same time playing freaky harmonies. Next was the blaring trumpet, then the booming B flat tuba bass, a brief flirtation with a percussion kit followed and heaven only knows how they survived triangle and tambourine practise.

By 14 I was hanging out at the local folk and jazz clubs with other long haired undesirables, playing at open mic' night, singing my own songs and then racing for the last bus home dragging my guitar behind me. Soon I had my brother in on the act and I had us both out until the wee small hours of the morning singing old 40's songs with two of our chums.

At 16 I dropped out of school to pursue a life in music. 20 local radio commercials, 4 bands, 8 backing singing session stints, 42 demos, 3 boyfriends and 10 years later, I signed to Circa/Virgin Records in London, England.

The first record had a number one smash in Japan on it, Happy Ever After, and finally Mum and Dad realised that my job was in fact proper and all might be well after all.

So here I am 16 years later. Mum and Dad are still live on Hayling Island (a blob so small that it is not even on most American maps of England) and I live here in Sunny California where I have just finished my third album with Larry Klein. And not just because he is geographically desirable, or once married to my number one favorite icon (both of those help of course), he is a musical giant who seems to love my voice and songs and knows how to make them all sit together on a record.

All that said, here's my second album on the thankfully independent Vanguard Records ... and That's Life.

      - Julia Fordham