Singing to the Brave: Julie Fowlis, Gaelic singer
Savannah Williamson, Managing Editor
Most everyone has seen the movie “Brave”, featuring the fiery red-headed princess, Merida. Merida goes on a quest to repair the bond with her mother after she makes a wish that ends up turning her mom into a bear. Through the film, the two build a closer relationship to each other and in the end, Merida and her mother learn the significance of a bond between mother and daughter.
However, the movie wasn’t just animation alone.
The music in the popular film is where the heart is, and that’s where our star, Julie Fowlis shines best.
According to Wikipedia and IMDB, Fowlis grew up on North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community. Her mother was a Gaelic-speaking islander from the remote island of Heisgeir while her father hailed originally from Pitlochry on mainland Scotland. The family lived in Strathpeffer and Fowlis finished her secondary education at Dingwall Academy. She attended the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and studied the oboe and the English horn, earning a B.A. in Applied Music in 2000. After university, Fowlis attended the Gaelic-language college Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on the Isle of Skye to improve her Gaelic and formally study traditional Scottish music.
Today, Fowlis is known for her many contributions in music and video games, spanning from the How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy, to the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla video game. None is more recognizable than a particular Disney film.
Fowlis’ work on Brave forever changed the way Disney princesses were made. And her songs, Touch the Sky, and Into the Open Air, were gateways for Disney to start branching out and exploring new music and new ideas.
In a recent interview, Fowlis was asked these questions.
Where do you think you got your love of music?
“I got my love of music from the community I grew up in and that I live in now. The Hebrides and the Highlands, the strongholds of Gaelic music.”
When did you know that you were going to sing for a career?
“That kind of happened by accident. I never really set out to be a performer, I preferred working with music behind the scenes. However, I fell into performing full time never intending to do it, but I went with it and it’s been a journey.’
What has been your favorite overall experience so far?
“Thinking about the pandemic, and the two years that I spent at home, and now I’m traveling again, it feels like a great privilege to be able to see people and perform for people. Performers really need an audience and the audience needs their performers.”
How was singing and recording for the movie Brave?
“It was an incredible experience. Disney is an incredible place of storytelling, artistry, and escapism. It has been the greatest privilege to be associated with a disney princess, especially Merida, the first to break the mold. I’m very proud to be associated with her.”
Can you play any instruments, if so what are they?
“I play the bagpipes, various whistles, the oboe, the shruti box and the english horn. I studied the English horn at university and I play a little bit of piano.”
How is life on tour, do you enjoy it?
“I enjoy life on tour. However, it can be difficult. It’s a great adventure really, it’s a great privilege and it’s exciting to visit new towns and places and share our music. It’s great to come on tour in the United States.”
What is one thing that keeps you going when you have tough days?
“Exercise. It’s my favorite stress reducer. Getting outside is what gets me through the days and tough times, no matter the weather. It always clears my head.”
And finally, a fun question to wrap the interview up with.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
“Oh! I’m going to say this because I just had it. Sea salt with caramel ribbons.”
