Like an old favorite song, Julia Fordham is back to relive the magic of her pensive music and her signature contralto voice.
The British singer-songwriter, now based in Los Angeles, will perform on February 14 at TOPS, Montebello Villa Hotel in Cebu, and on February 16 (with guest Christian Bautista) at the Theatre at Solaire.
Widely known in the Philippines for her string of hits including “Happy Ever After,” “Invisible War,” and “(Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways,” Fordham has continuously been writing and recording new material, and performing in the United Kingdom, United States, and Japan — pausing only during the pandemic.
In between rehearsals in Manila and before flying off to Cebu, Fordham engaged in an online chat with ANCX.
Your last concert in Manila was in 2018. What has been the biggest change in your life and career since then?
My life has been pretty much the same since then. Still writing and singing and recording songs.
What insights did you gain from the 'Woman to Woman' tour with Judie Tzuke and Beverley Craven?
It was a lovely change to be singing the harmonies. I thought we made a good sound together. I am very proud of our studio album that we recorded together, and our live album as well. I think the biggest insight is, it’s important to try new things and shake things up. I really enjoyed the musical adventure. I am now enjoying being back to just me and my songs for the Filipino people.
Tell us about your 2019 album 'Magic,' which you dedicated to your daughter Marley. Did you name her after Bob Marley, because in your album is a reggae track of the same name, whose lyrics seem to interchange between the musician and your daughter.
Yes, my daughter is named after Bob Marley. I had a surreal and profound spiritual experience while walking around his shrine in Jamaica. Bob appeared to me in a vision and showed me I would have an exquisitely beautiful daughter — who does look like the image that flashed before me. Even if I was in awe and overwhelmed by the experience, I laughed and said to Bob that I was getting too old to have a baby, but if a miracle happened, I would name the baby after him.
How did you deal with the pandemic?
In some ways, the pandemic forced me to stop and slow down. I think I have been working hard since I was 14. So. to be granted permission to do nothing other than to stay healthy and to pause was, in some way, a blessing. My mother was unwell in the UK, though, and I live in LA with my sister, so we were going back to visit our Mum and take turns to look after her. All the forms that had to be filled out, and the constant testing and quarantines were challenging. I don’t miss all that! But I do miss Mum who passed in 2023.
You’ve done lots of things of your own choice and at your own pace. Anything on your plate your fans can look forward to?
I am in the Philippines with Spencer Cozens who is the musical director of our fabulous Filipino band that we are playing with in Cebu and Manila. I recorded five songs in the summer in the British countryside where Spen lives with his family. I really enjoyed the environment and recording with some of my old UK musician friends. I will have a new album with new songs coming out soon, followed by a UK tour in autumn.