Julie Christmas releases video for ‘The Ash’

“Girls dancing for hours, boys in masks gathering imaginary hordes of minions, neighbors, friends and family in a steady stream; sweat, muscle, blood, tears and fairy lights. Just like the song itself, The Ash video is a deeply personal glimpse into each of the lives of the band. Derrick Belcham helped us capture the beautiful, powerful people around us in glimpses that remind us that individuality deserves, at the very least, a flashing moment of celebration.”

That is how JULIE CHRISTMAS describes the enthralling new video for “The Ash”, filmed and directed by Derrick Belcham.

“The Ash” is taken from Julie’s new album Ridiculous and Full of Blood, her first album in 14 years and one that crash-landed into the ears of listeners and critics this summer. Described as “one spine-tingling thrill after another” (Metal Hammer), Julie and her band took the record on tour across the UK and Europe this summer, performing stand-out shows at Hellfest, Roskilde, Oya, Arctangent and Brutal Assault.

By the time Julie Christmas released her debut solo album The Bad Wife in 2010, the Brooklyn visionary was already one of the most lauded voices in alternative music. Her piercing pipes, as previously heard in noise rockers Made Out of Babies and post-metal supergroup Battle of Mice, earned critical acclaim. Then, that goodwill was consolidated by her first standalone statement and now she has returned with album two, Ridiculous and Full of Blood.

A heart-on-sleeve chapter-by-chapter storybook of the conflicting elements of her own character, is the most comprehensive declaration of this musician’s talents yet, spanning from alt-pop to post-metal with a staggering array of talent onboard. Guitarist/ vocalist Johannes Persson (Cult of Luna), drummer Chris Enriquez (Spotlights), bassist/producer Andrew Schneider (Kenmode/Unsane), guitarist John LaMacchia (Candiria) and keyboardist Tom Tierney were all paramount in bringing these new, genre-smashing tunes to life.

“I want people to hear the sad heroine, vile villains, dreamy characters at play, squalor, madness, longing, challenge, triumph, beauty, and love” Christmas says of ‘Ridiculous and Full of Blood’ . “This story is a little different, it isn’t all fairytale. It speaks to how human nature defies categorisation. The kindest person commits immeasurable acts of cruelty, the monster loves their friend. We are all like that.”

The words all communicate their core personality’s worldview, extending from thoughts as small as her fascination with birds, to opinions on grand topics like religion and warfare. Even the album’s title was penned as a tongue-in-cheek description of how Christmas views herself.

“I’m not evolved enough as a human to hide the way I feel. It’s all in there. Music is the place to put it all so you don’t explode. If you are throwing yourself into life it can and should get wild!” she explains.

Although Christmas took 14 years to make a full-length follow-up to The Bad Wife, there’s no doubting that this successor is more than worth the wait. Its impossible-to-pigeonhole songs are destined to not only reinforce the love fans already have for this peerless creative; they’ll certainly win over countless newcomers, as well.