'Music with a message [...] profound lyrics. The last sentence of "Something" stays with you as a meandering mantra'
- FESTIVALINFO.NL
'All I can say is wow, for who he is and the way music and words flow through him. An awesome wizard with a beautiful heart'
- Ralph Nelissen (Pad van de man)
'Perfect for late night relaxing mode, harmonious and soothing'
- HAPPINEZ MAGAZINE
'Julien's music is my soundtrack for late night journeys. His voice is so soothing, cradling deep and meaningful words and the lushest of melodies. I find myself losing track of time, peacefully drowning within this musical softness. His music makes me see in the dark'
- Pernilla Kannapinn
'De jury vindt Julien Oomen een rasverteller, ook muzikaal gezien. We waren echt onder de indruk van het eigen chanson over Oncle Pierre. Heel beeldend en dat werd versterkt door het ingetogen stemgebruik. Het maakt nieuwsgierig naar de rest van het album.'
- Clairy Polak (finale Concours de la chanson Française)
'Julien Oomen trekt je meteen op een hele persoonlijke manier zijn wereld in. Vooral van zijn eigen lied Oncle Pierre waren wij als jury zeer onder de indruk'
- Philippe Elan (Concours de la chanson Française)
ABOUT
Julien Oomen is a Dutch/French, Amsterdam-based musician.
He draws inspiration from spiritual trainings and ceremonies and from personal stories with their trapdoor to the universal.
In July 2018, Julien released "Oase Sessions I ", followed by "Oase Sessions II " in April 2019.
A new full length album, Both Sides Of The River, was released in December 2020.
For this record, Julien saved up songs that were specifically inspired by trainings, workshops and ceremonies within the realm of men’s work.
In April 2023 a long cherished project came to fruition: For the first time Julien released an album with songs in the French language only: Les Cahiers de Marinette.
The album is a collaboration with his mother Marinette Oomen-Myin, who wrote the lyrics. Most of the songs have a double perspective throughout time, as Julien asked his mother to write new extra parts to poems she wrote when she was 20-22 years old. The album thus encompasses a time span of more than half a century.
"Oncle Pierre" was released as a single in February 2023.
Both Sides of the River and Les Cahiers de Marinette were (co-) mixed by Skiggy Rapz.
PAST, FEATURES & LIVE
Before becoming a solo artist Julien played in various ensembles and bands.
In 2005 he played with Pablo Fagundez at the tribute to Serge Gainsbourg in the "Grote Zaal" of Paradiso, a concert hall where he later also played with his latin band SON5, rock formation Humanos Magicos, singer/songwriter formation Lee Mason and singer/songwriter formation Robin Block, with whom he also played live in the tv talkshow De Wereld Draait Door in 2009.
Julien features along with Nora Fischer on the Robin Block album Comfort Zones (2011), with bass & vocals; and on the Diggy Dex album Lange Nachten, Korte Dagen (2010); saxophone.
For live shows Julien often teams up with Lenneke van Staalen, a master of (northern) Indian classical music on violin, who comps him in his songs as well as playing mesmerising improvisations. Other collaborations include Pernilla Kannapinn.
Next to music and family life, he devotes his time to Refugee Company, A Beautiful Mess and Stichting de Vrolijkheid, three organisations that further the socio-economic well-being of newcomers with a refugee background through art, network, traineeships and soft-skill trainings.
With his longtime buddy Robin Block, Julien hosts a monthly Men's Circle.