Julie
McKee
What A Woman Shouldn’t Do [album]
“Young
female singers are very
prominent in the 21st Century but,
so far, each one we have reviewed
at MotorBar has been a star in
their own right. And Julie McKee
is eager to prove that she is, too...”
RATHER THAN DWELL ON HER ATTRACTIVE DEBUT STUDIO ALBUM title What A Woman
Shouldn't Do, Julie McKee is determined to show what
she should do. Or rather, what she does — and she
does it so well. Her voice is quite distinctive and the album consists of eleven
original songs that are all her own work, dancing merrily with the retro echo
of cabaret.
Julie McKee has some serious quality to her voice; she has a deft way with lyrics,
and she plays piano brilliantly. Think Randy Newman played with a Tori Amos
feel and a slap of Ben Folds irreverence and you're almost there.
A smart, musical mix of pop, soul, rock, blues and classical that's being played
by radio all over the UK, in Australia, and in the United States — where
she's already charted at No 1 on Que FM.
What A Woman Shouldn't Do is a collection of songs drawn from Julie's
experiences of life in a big city and her fascination with the foibles of others.
The resulting musical vignettes are full of wit and compassion, taking tender
snapshots of friendships at breaking point, humongous egos and self-appointed
television experts. They tell a host of stories and extract a string of emotions.
The feelings that Julie puts into her art are laid bare for all to savour.
An Australian brought up in the States and now living in London, you won't be
surprised to hear that Julie is a classically-trained pianist with a Masters
degree in jazz studies from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Her musical
influences are many, taking in pop, soul, rock, blues and classical. You can
identify them all — and more — on What A Woman Shouldn't Do.
Julie says: "I listen to all kinds of music and would hate my songs to be described
simply as one genre. To me, good music is good music, wherever it comes from."
Having been performing professionally for a couple of years, Julie McKee is
at last getting recognition with her album. She's being playlisted and interviewed
by radio stations all over the UK, is being picked up in Australia and —
within a week of going live on America's Que FM on 23 April — she
had charted at number 2 before making Number One. Station DJ Airomee Wind is
on record saying that Julie's single, Angel Song, is truly "a modern-day
marvel".
With the modern trend of taking the good things from classic music and personalising
them, Julie McKee is standing out as an artiste in her own right with a truck-load
of innovative songs to ensure there is enough to keep the wheels oiled for a
promising future.
• What A Woman Shouldn't Do is Julie
McKee's debut studio album of eleven songs and it will be released on 16 June
(online). Julie is playing dates in May and June ahead of a full-band album
showcase in London on 2 July (see below*). A UK tour will follow.
Tracklisting: 1 Nobody's Farm | 2 All About You | 3 Eric
Marlow | 4 Carousel |5 It Just So Happens | 6 The Experts
| 7 Summer Weather In My Heart | 8 Nine Years Old | 9 Mount
Vesuvius | 10 Angel Song | 11 What A Woman Shouldn't Do.
"Julie McKee is standing out as an artiste in her own right with a truck-load
of innovative songs to ensure there is enough to keep the wheels oiled for a
promising future" — MotorBar
* Julie's album showcase for What A Woman Shouldn't Do will take place
in London on 2 July (2008) from 7pm until late at The 606 Club, 90 Lots Road
London, SW10 0QD (Tel: 020 7352 5953). The closest tube is Fulham Broadway.
Her showcase will feature — Julie McKee: Vocals, Piano and Wurlitzer |
Simon Little: Bass (Divine Comedy, Ben Folds) | John Blease: Drums (Newton Faulkner)
| Nigel Price: Guitar (James Taylor Quartet) | Rob Gentry: Hammond, Rhodes (Lazenby)
| and Steve Rubie: Alto Flute (and owner of this legendary venue).
What they say about the 606 Club:
"London's best music venue...." — Jamie Cullum
"Best place in town for wonderful food and brilliant music..." — Mica
Paris
Check out www.606club.co.uk for
full details.
