Australian singer, Julie O'Hara is a freelance performing and recording artist from Melbourne.
Julie O’Hara, is a veteran of the Melbourne music scene, performing since the late 80’s.
Julie began her professional jazz singing career as a teenager with residencies enabling her to work with some of the county’s finest jazz musicians. The desire to evolve musically to communicate with her peers began in those early years, inspired by the musicianship around her.
Now an established musician, songwriter and recording artist, Julie has regularly toured Europe, Asia and Australia, playing at jazz and music festivals or performing as a guest vocalist, (The Cat Empire, Hoodangers, The Pearly Shells, Mistaken Identity). Although Julie performs predominantly jazz music, she also writes for pop, bluegrass, hip hop, R&B, neo soul, country and EDM.
Julie writes songs across various genres, having freelanced in different musical scenes for almost thirty years. Julie features on over thirty recordings, including Aria award winning album, ‘Cities’ by The Cat Empire and ‘Midnight Sun’ with George Washingmachine (nominated for a Bell Award for best jazz vocal album). Julie has won numerous song writing awards for jazz, contemporary pop and EDM.
Julie works as a music educator, lecturing in jazz and contemporary voice and improvisation at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University and teaches song writing at Melbourne Graduate School and Monash University.
Julie has a background in Speech Pathology and voice science. Julie has taught singing, song writing and improvisation at NMIT, VCA, Melbourne Conservatoire, Melbourne Polytechnic, Victoria University and RMIT. Julie is currently studying Estill Voice Mechanics and music production.
PROJECTS FOR RELEASE 2022
OUT NOW! 'New Hat' by The Pearly Shells feat Julie O'Hara (purchase at discography/shop)
'Boogie Guarantee' and 'Train' written by Julie O'Hara available as single downloads.
‘Unobtainium’ (contemporary jazz)
'La Grande Soiree' (jazz manouche)
'Boogie Guarantee' Julie O'Hara & The Pearly Shells A collection of O'Hara originals written for the Pearly Shells (R&B swing),
‘Back to the start’ jazz/EDM/R&B/neosoul, programmed and produced by O’Hara including collaborative works with programmer/composers, Gary Deleo & Luke Josive.
O’Hara’s original songs and voice feature on various recordings, her own and of others but this year will debut her first all originals contemporary jazz album, ‘Unobtainium’. The original songs feature bebop, vocalese, Afro Cuban and Latin jazz and neo-soul. Vocal improvisation is an essential element to O’Hara’s writing, exploring ways to feature the voice within the arrangements. Julie is known for her scatting fluency and strong rhythmic sensibilities. Her trio features old friends and colleagues, pianist, Stephen Sedergreen, drummer, Edward York and bassist, Mark Elton. Guest musicians will also feature on ‘Unobtainium’
Anita O’Day Tribute Concert – O’Hara has at times been likened to Anita O’Day, with a similar tonality and rhythmic sensibilities while scat singing. Anita is one of O’Hara’s greatest influences and the tribute features Anita’s career highlights and her incredible life story.