Press Release: Julia Rae Releases New EP Today Unveils Video for Title Track
Philadelphia singer-songwriter Julia Rae’s much-anticipated EP “Belle de Jour,” is available in its entirety today, February 14 via AIR Records. The EP features five original songs, including two co-written by Rae and producer, Derek Chafin. The EP is available via Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes or Amazon Music today; instantly download, or stream, across all digital service providers.
The single, “Belle de Jour,” draws inspiration from the 1967 iconic film classic of the same name. Rae gives a soulful and captivating performance. A Michael Jackson inspired groove lays the bedrock with irresistible hooks flowing on top. Rae twists the classic movie idea to make a modern and powerful statement on woman’s strength and freedom.
“I am so proud of this work,” said Rae. “I poured everything into these tracks. They are everything music is to me — the space where you can simultaneously lose yourself and find yourself.”
With the Belle de Jour EP, Rae and Chafin push the envelope in modern pop. Fully grounded in today, the EP is a combination of 70’s and 80’s pop influences that create something new and exciting. The content is as thoughtful and sexy as the melodies are irresistible. Chafin, well-known for his adventurous production and big hooks, knew this project was exceptional.
“Julia is a remarkably talented and charismatic singer with a sharp and creative vision,” said Chafin. “It was exciting and challenging to collaborate with her.”
Julia will be announcing upcoming performance dates later this month.
Featured Tracks
- Belle de Jour
- Easy Come
- Gone
- Need a Love
- Right Now
Biography
You’ve heard of the girl next door – well, Julia Rae is the girl you wish lived next door.
She is as comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt as a couture gown on the red carpet… a paradox of sorts – and that makes sense. Julia’s life has been a paradox from the very beginning…
Julia was born to sing and she was born with a chronic lung disease, cystic fibrosis. Trying to reconcile why God would bless her with a voice and why she would also be faced with the challenges of a lung disease, Julia decided to use her voice to find a cure. At the age of 16, she founded her own non-profit, Singing at the Top of My Lungs, to fund music therapy programs and empower children facing challenges.
That same year Julia created a music video and placed it on YouTube where it caught the eye of a record producer in Beverly Hills. “Be That Girl,” a song she recorded while in LA, was picked up as the feature song in the Brooke Shields, Kris Kristofferson movie The Greening of Whitney Brown.
Humbled by the ups and downs of trying to make it in Hollywood, at 18, Julia returned to the East Coast to attend Fordham University. She continued to seize every opportunity to perform, including singing in competition for the title of Miss Philadelphia. Not a pageant girl at heart – she won – in a ponytail and in a gown with not a rhinestone in sight.
Growing up performing in musical theater productions sparked Julia’s interest to tell stories on stage and on camera, something she continues to do through her modeling and acting career.
After graduating from Fordham, Julia went back into the studio to make music that reflects her seasoned, personal style – a little bit pop, a little bit funk & soul, a little bit country rock – a paradox she fully embraces. For Julia, it isn’t about fitting into a “genre,” it is choosing stories she is passionate to tell through song. While prepping for the 2018 release of her EP, Julia can be seen as a lifestyle & social media correspondent for 6ABC Philadelphia. Julia also travels internationally sharing her story as a motivational speaker.
