Julien Aklei Biography

Julien Aklei (born November 20, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and artist who spent her teen years in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Washington Post referred to Aklei as an "eerie-intriguing singer-songwriter" with a "haunting voice and a strangely tough-vulnerable stage presence."

Her work is characterized by deeply personal and otherworldly lyrics, and an emphasis on her voice over the music. Although she accompanies herself on several different instruments "? including piano "? her style of electric guitar and vocals are the linchpins of her sound. Aklei has experimented widely with differing music styles, including folk, jazz, rockabilly, and blues throughout a varied career.

Early life

Julien Aklei was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She spent her early years in Louisville, Kentucky.

Breakthrough as a solo artist

At the peak of a career as a successful artist in Napa Valley she moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in music. She was able to support herself by selling her paintings and spent her days writing songs and building contacts.

She moved to Nashville, Tennessee and founded a band. The first band, "Julien Aklei and the Intolerables" provided a Gothic background suited to her singing about Telemachus and Odysseus. Later, moving on to her next project, she added dancers and performed as "Julien Aklei and the Jordan Almonds."

A tour in the southwest challenged Julien, who did not like the green chile and margarita culture. While in Santa Fe, she presented DJ and friend Steve Terrell with an artpiece titled "Soldier." During the tour, she was often joined by Butch Crouch, Rocky Mountain folk singer.

With some success, she moved to New York City to play that urban center for an extended tour, played all the boroughs and had a radio show on Connecticut Public Radio. From that her music became a part of "Radio Mike's" Fevered Brain podcast. After eating some particularly good fudge from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, she decided to head west again, and stopped back in Kentucky to sing in her beloved Appalachian environs.

Discography

• 2003 We Can Mate With Rabbits
• 2004 I Conquered while still in the Egg
• 2006 Pink Star of the Beautiful Ohio
• 2006 Coffee for My Captain
• 2006 The Odyssey
• 2006 New Friends
• 2007 Fun for Fairies!
• 2008 Savage Life