Best known for her platinum-selling self-titled debut in 1988, singer-songwriter Julia Fordham is on the road with a new album, Earth Mate.
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00:00Good afternoon, my name is Phil Hewitt, Group Arts Editor at Sussex Newspapers. It's really
00:06lovely this afternoon to speak to Julia Fordham, with dates coming up in Portsmouth, Home Gig
00:11effectively, and Brighton, on the back of a new album, and it sounds a really intriguing,
00:17appealing new album. Tell me about the title and what's behind it, what's happening on
00:21this album?
00:23Well, the album is called Earthmate, and I think we've all heard of soulmates.
00:29So what's the distinction?
00:33Yes, this is kind of like what happens if you don't meet or marry your soulmate, but
00:38you get to a certain age and you want to have a baby, and you're like, well, it might
00:42work, especially when most people marry their soulmate and it doesn't work out, like 50
00:48percent of marriages. And I found myself with my daughter going to college, sort of
00:53looking back on that time period and feeling like I had a lot of really strong material
00:58about that particular feeling and time in my life. So if you want 10 songs that kind
01:06of bring about that kind of conjure up of that notion, have I got a treat for you.
01:12And the point is, although obviously relationships don't necessarily work out, something works
01:17out, doesn't it? It's a positive thing.
01:20I don't think you ever heard anyone say, I just don't like my kid.
01:24It's like everybody's grateful.
01:26Whatever happens, you always hear people when they're going through the divorce going,
01:30well, at least they gave me Jackie and Johnny.
01:34You know, if it hadn't have been them, I wouldn't have had this kid or we wouldn't have
01:38had this together.
01:40And I think everyone loves their children so much that they see in some way that it
01:46kind of had to be that person to have that person come through you.
01:51So that's my theory is maybe on the other side, the soul of the unborn child is actually
01:58what's manipulating these two particular earthmates to come together.
02:02So it can be the baby and soul that comes through.
02:06Such an intriguing thought because it kind of redeems everything, doesn't it?
02:09I think it does. I love that it redeems everything.
02:12It does make everything make sense because so many people are always like, how did that
02:16happen? Why did I not see that red flag?
02:18Why? Why?
02:20Oh, because of this kid.
02:22I couldn't know who's ever going to go.
02:24I wish I had that person's child over my own.
02:29Sounds like there's a heck of a lot happening in this album.
02:32It sounds brilliant.
02:34I feel that it is.
02:34The musicians are playing great.
02:36I feel like I sang really well.
02:38I think it's got, you know, an original story.
02:41Fantastic. So, Julia, you're playing for Smith and Brighton shortly.
02:45I'll put the details in the piece.
02:47Really lovely to speak to you.
02:48Thank you very much indeed.
02:49Thank you so much.