Always, Awake

Julia Meijer is a Swedish-born singer, song-writer and guitarist based in Oxford, UK. Always Awake is her debut album and debut release by Oxford-based music agency and label PinDrop.

Julia's music is a rich, organic tapestry that takes in the hymnal dream pop and 70s cosmic folk referencing atmospheres as heard on Ocean / England whilst Fall Into Place is more in the mode of glacial scandi pop, not a million miles away from the pop gold of The Cardigans or Lykke Li. Other tracks such as Train Ticket takes things in a tight, Talking Heads meets Television style guitar groove direction. En Liten Fågel is steeped in shimmering atmospherics and haunting vocals that echo Sigur Rós while the blissed out, sparkling beauty of I'm Not The One brings Cocteau Twins to mind. Lyrically, the album is a mixture of original compositions in English and Swedish by Julia, except the lyrics of Ocean which are based on Hav (ocean / sea) by Icelandic poet Steinn Steinarr.

Always Awake features star musical turns from Julia's band, including former Guillemots drummer Greig Stewart, guitarist Andrew Warne and keyboard player and composer Sebastian Reynolds. Guest performers for the album include Greig's old Guillemots bandmate Fyfe Dangerfield on Hammond organ and Greig's daughter Effie on saxophone.