Julie Ann Bee (referred to by most everyone as, simply,“Jules”) is an epically rare musician who has crafted Songs For The Ravens, her first LP and follow-up to Sea of Bees’ debut Bee Eee Pee EP, with the kind of intuitive knowing and organic talent that defies logic and defines great artists. The strength, innocence, honesty and purity of intention that flows throughout all 12 tracks manifests itself compositionally and technically—most immediately with the laser beam pull of Jules’ captivating voice. She’s so versatile, not only as a vocalist but as a songwriter, that Songs For The Ravens finds her masterfully navigating Americana-tinged stompers (“Sidepain”), heavy, trotting expanses (“Marmalade”), soaring harmonic rock sorrow (“Wizbot”) and keyboard-brightened musings (“Willis”). Aside from the drums and a few other instrumental lines, Jules wrote and played every single bit of the entire album—including handheld percussion, glockenspiel, guitar, bass, keys, marimba and slide. Many of the tracks on the record are first or second takes, with very little editing.

These facts, understandably, blew publisher of Tape Op Magazine and influential producer John Baccigaluppi’s mind. John met Jules when she was at his studio, The Hangar—she was singing in a room, he heard her in the hall, and immediately stopped to see who it was. “She’s incredibly talented and intuitive in a way that I’ve only seen in a small handful of musicians,” John, who has worked with countless musicians explains. Shortly after meeting, John showed Jules how to use the recording software ProTools in a B-room of the studio, and by day’s end, she had recorded the entirety of the five-song Bee Eee Pee. The recording of Songs For The Ravens was a different story, being a completely fleshed-out work that builds upon the stellar songs Jules started with.

This is a record that will soothe your broken heart, commiserate with you when you’re angry, befriend you when you’re lonely and celebrate life with you through the pure joy of its being. Longing is expressed with hope; sadness with understanding. Its scope, intensity and solidity would be considered stunning for any weathered artist; it’s simply astounding here. Get ready to hear a lot from and about Sea of Bees from here on out. It’s her time.

Photo by Nick Miller

Luxury Wafers

Landry 2/15/09

Jules from Sacramento is Sea of Bees, nothing short of a supernatural sensation.

I’m so excited about this these tracks. Jules’ sound is infectious and odd, and her high wispy register gives me the chills. We had the pleasure of recording her Live@The Hangar in Sacramento, where she’s been working with John Baccigaluppi.

A one girl phenomenon, Jules wields eerily uncommon gifts in the departments of songwriting and singing. Even though she’s new on the scene, she is striking. Her songs and her style come across as complete and developed. Powerful, each song is an invitation rather than a statement. Like a flint on my insides, Sea of Bees’ music sparks something that feels good within.

Pressed to compare, I’d say Sea of Bees most closely resembles Bjork in her implausible musical concoctions. Beth Gibbons/Portishead would come in a close second, but Gibbons seems to go more for the hauntingly weird, whereas Jules pierces the core of her astonishingly unparalleled artistry with unassuming force. After listening to Sea of Bees songs, I feel sunny and hungry for more.

We only recorded three tracks with Sea of Bees, and she’s still in the works with her debut album, so I feel like we’re super fortunate to hold the chalice containing a few soon-to-be legendary tracks.

Can’t wait to hear what else this amazing young woman comes out with!

Slowcoustic

Smansmith 7/20/09

This is a phenom in the making. Listen and tell me you are not hooked immediately. Nothing too hokey, solid delivery with her beautiful pixie voice and mature beyond a debut EP. Even recorded in one session in late 2008, I am glad it is seeing a release, simply “wow”.

Wears The Trousers Magazine

Alan Pedder 8/18/09

3.5 stars
"The songs feel pure and unforced, as if filled with light."

Consequence Of Sound

Anthony Balberrama 12/6/09

4 stars
"Baenziger has a quality in her voice and her arrangements that suggests she has too much integrity to get covered in gloss. Wherever she ends up taking Sea of Bees, I suspect it will be worth following."

Digi Squad

Rachel Leibrock 9/24/09

"Julie is a really gifted songwriter [and] one of the most intuitive musicians I’ve ever worked with,” Baccigaluppi says. “I would throw some instrument into her hands she’d never played and 30 minutes later we’d have some kind of really cool track done."

New Dust

Travis 10/1/09

"I can’t stop listening to this album to save my life. Julie Ann Bee’s pure and genuine vocal work will seep out of your speakers and swirl around you in a warm and inviting way that will draw you in and stay with you for a long time."

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