Article by Andreea Moore
Photos by Tracy Creighton (Copperblue Photography and Design)
Julie Ella’s Awake After Midnight is a beautifully cohesive soundscape, with each track blending seamlessly into the next, creating an immersive listening experience. It’s the kind of album that invites you to dive deep and lose yourself in its layers.
The production is top-notch, clean and perfectly mixed. Each instrument finds its place, with the tracks sitting comfortably “in the pocket.” The collective behind Awake After Midnight has crafted a record that is both enriching and undeniably infectious. The soundscape encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences, supported by themes of love, loss, and resilience through renewal.
One standout track is "For My Wildflowers," which Julie Ella wrote for her daughter’s 8th birthday. This song beautifully captures the timeless bond of family, with nature as a recurring metaphor throughout the album.
Vocally, Julie Ella’s sound falls somewhere between Neko Case and Serena Ryder, with a distinct bluesy, alt-soul folk vibe. The album credits include:
- Producer – Matthew Stinn
- Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Lyrics/Composer – Julie Ella
- Slide Guitar – Dirk de Boer
- Electric Guitar – Brodie Mohninger
- Mandolin – Ryan Shotton
- Percussion – Dawson Wayne Lemky/Matthew Stinn
- Harmonica – James Anderson
- Vocal Harmonies – Brooke Cherry Nickel
- Wurlitzer/Organ – Matthew Stinn
One of the album’s strengths is its versatility. Whether played on a “craptastic” Bluetooth speaker, dirty earbuds, a standard car audio system, or high-quality studio monitors like the Shure SRH440A headphones or JBL Control 1 Studio Monitors, the record holds up. It sounds just as good on any platform.
Awake After Midnight hit streaming services on July 25, 2024, with the official release show following on October 12, 2024, at the Somewhere Else Pub and Grill. The event featured two other fantastic female-fronted acts, Mercy Glover and The Aurora Bella Trio, creating a harmonious triad of musicianship and diversity.
Mercy Glover opened the night with a nostalgic ’90s/early 2000s Nashville sound, reminiscent of The Wreckers, setting the stage for the evening. Julie Ella and her band followed, delivering a live performance that was perfectly in sync with the recorded album—exactly what listeners hoped for. The musicianship and full-band approach made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The Aurora Bella Trio closed the night with high energy and unpredictability, as Aurora Bella captivated the audience with her multi-instrumental talent, keeping everyone guessing. Paired with her smooth, sweet voice, the set felt nothing short of magical.
All in all, Awake After Midnight is an album to sit with, soak in, and savor. And if you get the chance to catch a live show—don’t miss it!
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