Julien Aklei

Julien Aklei (born November 20, 1975, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and artist.[1]

Aklei was raised in Louisville, Kentucky[1] where she graduated as a National Merit Scholar from Kentucky Country Day School in 1994 and went on to the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar.[2]

The Washington Post referred to Aklei as an "eerie-intriguing singer-songwriter" with a "haunting voice and a strangely tough-vulnerable stage presence."[3]

Her work is characterized by deeply personal and otherworldly lyrics, and an emphasis on her voice over the music. Although she accompanies herself on several different instruments – including piano – her style of electric guitar and vocals are the linchpins of her sound. Aklei has experimented widely with differing music styles, including folk, jazz, rockabilly, and blues throughout a varied career.