Julie Fowlis facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Julie Fowlis FRSE
Julie Fowlis at Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2011
Background information
Born	(1979-06-20) 20 June 1979 (age 46) North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Genres	Celtic Folk
Occupation(s)	Musician broadcaster
Instruments	Vocals whistle Great Highland bagpipe Scottish smallpipes flute oboe cor anglais accordion melodeon shruti box
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Macmeanmna Shoeshine Machair
Associated acts	Dòchas

Julie Fowlis (born 20 June 1979) is a Scottish folk singer and musician. She is famous for singing mostly in Scottish Gaelic, a traditional language of Scotland. She also plays many instruments, like the whistle, bagpipes, and flute.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in the Outer Hebrides

Julie Fowlis grew up on North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. This area is known for its strong Gaelic-speaking community. Her mother's family were Gaelic speakers from a remote island called Heisgeir. Her father was from Pitlochry on mainland Scotland. For many years, her parents ran a hotel on North Uist.

Moving to the Mainland and University

When Julie was 15, her family moved to Ross-shire on the mainland. They lived in Strathpeffer, and she finished high school at Dingwall Academy. She then went to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. There, she studied the oboe and the English horn. She earned her degree in Applied Music in 2000.

Learning More Gaelic and Traditional Music

After university, Julie went to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. This is a college on the Isle of Skye that focuses on the Gaelic language. She wanted to improve her Gaelic and learn more about traditional Scottish music. After her studies, she returned to Ross-shire. From 2001 to 2004, she worked as a music development officer for Fèis Rois. This group promotes Gaelic language and culture.

Music Career and Achievements

Starting with Dòchas

Julie Fowlis has been singing, playing bagpipes, and dancing since she was a child. She started her professional music journey with a Scottish group called Dòchas. This group included the talented fiddle player Jenna Reid. Dòchas formed when some members were students at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Julie was studying at the nearby University of Strathclyde.

The band was described as "a young and dynamic all-female band." They played traditional music from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and Ireland. Their first album came out in 2002. Dòchas was nominated for the Best Up and Coming Artist/Band award in 2003. They won this award in 2004. Julie herself was nominated for Gaelic Singer of the Year in the same year.

Solo Success and First Albums

While still with Dòchas, Julie began her solo career. In 2005, she released her first solo album, Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (which means As My Heart Is). This album quickly brought her international fame. Her future husband, Éamonn Doorley, played bouzouki on many songs. Other famous musicians also joined her on the album.

Julie Fowlis performing live, 2007

Her second solo album, Cuilidh, came out in March 2007. It became a top-seller worldwide in Traditional and World Music charts. This album featured a collection of songs from her home island of North Uist. Éamonn Doorley again helped produce the album and played bouzouki.

Awards and Notable Performances

Julie won the Horizon award at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. She also won Folk Singer of The Year at the 2008 awards. She appeared on the TV show Later With Jools Holland in May 2007. On the show, she performed her song Hùg air Bhonaid Mhòir. Famous fans of Julie Fowlis include Björk and Ricky Gervais.

Fowlis on stage in Dublin, July 2008

In 2008, Julie recorded an album called Dual with friends and fellow musicians. This included Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Ross Martin, and her husband Éamonn Doorley. She also recorded a Scottish Gaelic version of The Beatles' song "Blackbird". This was for Mojo magazine to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' The White Album.

Later Albums and Film Work

Julie released her third studio album, Uam (meaning 'From Me'), in October 2009. In September 2011, she performed a special hour-long piece called Heisgeir. This show celebrated the history and legends of the uninhabited Heisgeir.

In 2012, Julie Fowlis sang two songs, "Touch the Sky" and "Into the Open Air", for the Pixar film Brave. These songs were sung during the main character Merida's musical thoughts. In 2011, she earned a master's degree from the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). In 2013, she was named "UHI Alumnus of the year." Her fourth album, Gach Sgeul (Every Story), came out in 2014, and her fifth, Alterum, in 2017.

Machair Records

All of Julie's albums, including Dual, have been released on Machair Records. This record label is run by Julie and her husband, Éamon Doorley. The word "Machair" is Gaelic for rich, fertile low-lying land. It's a rare and special environment, much like the unique music they produce.

Broadcasting Career

Radio and TV Shows

Julie Fowlis has also had a successful career in broadcasting. She has appeared as a guest on BBC Radio Scotland's traditional music shows. In 2007, BBC Two aired a documentary called Bliadhna Julie / Julie's Year. This show was about her travels and experiences in the music world.

From 2008 to 2009, Julie hosted her own weekly folk music show called Fowlis and Folk on BBC Radio Scotland. She also co-presents the yearly Radio 2 Folk Awards with Mark Radcliffe.

Port TV Series

In 2015, Julie Fowlis and her musical friend Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh hosted a TV series called Port. This show was all about traditional Scottish and Irish music. In each episode, Julie and Muireann traveled to a new place. They highlighted local folk musicians and the traditional music scene there. The show is narrated by Julie in Scottish Gaelic and by Muireann in Irish, with English subtitles. It is shown on both BBC Alba and TG4. The series ran for two seasons.

Personal Life

Julie Fowlis lives in Dingwall, Scotland. She is married to Éamon Doorley, who is a regular member of her band. Éamon is also part of the Irish traditional group Danú. Julie and Éamon got married in May 2007. They have two daughters named Aoibhe (born in 2010) and Niamh (born in 2012).

Discography

Solo Albums

Mar a tha mo chridhe (2005)
Cuilidh (2007)
Uam (2009)
Live at Perthshire Amber (2011)
Gach sgeul - Every story (2014)
Alterum (2017)

Solo Singles

Turas san Lochmor (2007 – from Cuilidh)
Hùg Air A' Bhonaid Mhòir (2008 – from Cuilidh)
Lon Dubh / Blackbird (2008 – Gaelic cover of The Beatles' "Blackbird")

Albums with Other Artists

Allt

Allt (2018 - with Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre)
Allt: Volume II Cuimhne (2024 - with Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre)

Brolum

7:11 (2000)

Dòchas

Dòchas (2002)
An Darna Umhail (2005)
TBC (2009)

Dual

Dual (2008 – with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh)

Spell Songs

The Lost Words: Spell Songs (2019)
Spell Songs II: Let the Light In (2021)

Guest Appearances and Other 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 – Danú (2005)
Orain nan Rosach – Fiona Mackenzie (2006)
Fáinne An Lae : Daybreak – Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (2006)
Òg-Mhadainn Shamhraidh – Kathleen MacInnes (2006)
Everything You See – Runrig (2007)
Under One Sky – John McCusker (2008)
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)
Transatlantic Sessions 4 – Various artists (2010) – DVD, CD vol. 1 and 3
Transatlantic Sessions 6 – Various artists (2013) – DVD, CD vol. 1, 2 and 3
Homecoming – A Scottish Fantasy (with Nicola Benedetti) (2014)
Muir an Ord—Runrig 40th Anniversary
As Long as We Breathe — Alex Mandel
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids (Original Game Soundtrack) – Max Aruj, Einar Selvik (2021)

Awards and Recognition

Julie Fowlis was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in March 2021. This is a special honor for people who have made important contributions to knowledge and society.