Julie Campiche: Unspoken-CD

Harpist Julie Campiche’s instrument and music are polyphonic and polymorphous. She plays jazz with her quartet, modern chamber music with her Strings Project and also composes music for performances and film. By that she courageously seeks a musical expression for contemporary themes. The new release Unspoken is Julie Campiche’s first solo album, with individual contributions about important and world changing women.

From shadow to light

Her main inspiration was Charlotte Bienaimé's ‘Un podcast à soi’, which discusses fundamental questions of gender and feminism. "More often than not in history, 'anonymous' was a woman" - this sentence by Virginia Woolf, epigraph to the famous radio podcast, has found an echo in Julie Campiche. Giving a voice to women, but in a distinct way: this is the common thread running through the album. Rather than a feminist manifesto, Unspoken seeks to evoke feminine strength, nourished by commitment and openness. She addresses the fragile balance of women in shadow and light of society. “Female strength is what makes the world go round. 80% of household chores are done by women for free and anonymously. I want to celebrate exceptional women, but also give a place to this everyday strength”. Among the figures who inspire her and whose voices and actions she evokes, are the French artist and prostitute Grisélidis Réal, Anne Shakespeare (William Shakespeares wife), or Las Patronas, the Mexican guardian angels who throw food and water to those who have decided to migrate and illegally board freight trains bound for the USA.

Immersion and commitment

Produced with the clarity and autonomy of an indie pop album, Unspoken combines elaborate harp playing with subtle use of electronics and effects, vocal and sound samples. The album unfolds a rich dramaturgy, allowing the listener to immerse in the music and to commit at the same time. With her harp, mind and software, daring to take risks, Julie wants to advance the debate in our society. True to her style, she takes the plunge, creating a new sonic space, without protocol or instructions to make women's voices heard and heard again. Her live shows are multi-disciplinary, integrating image projections and texts that extend Julie Campiche’s influence, thus making a significant, lasting impact on the audience.