Britain's Julia Fordham blends jazz and pop sensibilities as a singer and songwriter, carving out an eclectic identity that has cultivated a devoted cult following. Born in Portsmouth, England, she honed her craft performing folk material in area clubs, sang with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and served in Mari Wilson's backing troupe the Wilsations before striking out on her own.
Fordham's self-titled debut, Julia Fordham, appeared in 1988 and spotlighted her low, smoky jazz baritone dulcet voice while yielding four singles: "The Comfort of Strangers," "Woman of the 80's," her first hit "Happy Ever After," and "Where Does the Time Go."
The following year brought Porcelain, which further established her stature as a premier album artist. Co-produced by Hugh Padgham, Grant Mitchell, and Fordham herself, the set featured standout tracks such as "Lock and Key"; her tonally warm vocal approach drew comparisons to Joni Mitchell, a link that would resurface in subsequent years. Porcelain enlisted Manu Katche and Pino Palladino among its high-caliber musicians.
In 1991, Swept explored more bittersweet narratives of relational despair, highlighted by the standout "I Thought It Was You" along with "(Love Moves In) Mysterious Ways." The latter also appeared in the film The Butcher's Wife and rose to number 19, becoming her biggest U.K. hit at that point.
After relocating to the States, Fordham issued her fourth studio album, the Larry Klein-produced Falling Forward, in 1994. She followed with East West in 1997, which incorporated production from Canadian guitarist Michael Brook. A comprehensive greatest-hits package surfaced in 1999, while her final Virgin contractual release, the aptly named Collection, offered refreshed takes on "Happy Ever After" and "Where Does the Time Go" plus "Killing Me Slowly" from East West.
A new agreement with Division One/Atlantic led to the 2002 arrival of her sixth studio effort, the Klein-produced Concrete Love. Fordham subsequently joined the Vanguard roster for 2004's That's Life and the live CD/DVD package That's Live in 2005. Inspired by the arrival of her daughter, she next issued the EP Baby Love in 2007. The jazz-infused China Blue, which included a duet with Michael McDonald, appeared in 2008. Two years afterward she collaborated with actor and pianist Paul Reiser on Unusual Suspects.
Fordham returned in 2014 with the covers album The Language of Love, presenting jazz and bossa nova reinterpretations of material by Blondie, the Eurythmics, 10cc, and others. She spent the ensuing year on tour before delivering the 2016 remix collection Mixed, Shaken & Stirred. That same year she also released the concert set Live & Untouched. In 2017, The Language of Love was reissued with two fresh bonus tracks: a cover of Leo Sayer's "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" and an orchestral rendition of "Moon River."
