French multi-instrumentalist Julia Pertuy played the second of a short two-night UK tour at the Cluny in Newcastle on Monday night. Gillian Heal attended and was blown away by the music, movement and beauty of the performance
Opening with Brume Du Soir, Julia is totally mesmerising. Playing cello and keyboards, she haunts you with her voice; it is so hypnotic!
Regrettably, I don’t have an understanding of the French language but could feel the power of the lyrics. They are intense and at times put you into a glorious trance. Julia moves gracefully around the stage, carefully moving instruments and microphones, drawing closer to the front of the stage and crouching down to immerse the audience. Speaking with humility and from the heart, you fall deeply in love with her from the first note and her entrancing voice. I was being cocooned deeply by the music and transported to a beautiful safe place.
The way she plays cello is simply remarkable. The high and low notes, the power of each opposite pole with gentle or deep tones, either plucking or using the bow which keeps you begging for more.
She played her most recent songs including Djupiter (2025). Later she added a cover of La Marée Haute by Lhasa de Sela, a very poignant rendition. Then Julia performed something that would be more impulsive and spontaneous, furnishing us with a magnificent piece where she let herself be guided by her music without inhibitions, releasing her musical passions. Another song was dedicated to all the women in the room, named La Couleur D’Une Rose will be out on 27 March. Another corker of a song which will be well received!
The performance had the feel of an intimate coterie, and Julia was sincerely humble and grateful to each and every one there. The room had been set out with chairs and us English, being restrained and reserved would not have danced with free abandon as perhaps her usual audiences would, but it did feel like we were transported to an enchanted world for over an hour.
Julia asked us to sing along with her for her closing song. She gave us the tune, and I believe most of us did oblige her. Coming off the stage and moving through the seats, singing along whilst we provided the backing vocals. She was so grateful and said we had given her a gift.
Well Julia, the gift was yours to give, as I will carry your performance with me for a long time. You spoke to us through the genius of your music, movement and beauty. Well done, bien joué and bravo again!
Julia Pertuy is on Instagram and Facebook.
Blurb online: Inspiration – Lhasa de Sela, Sigur Ros, Daniela Pes, Leonie Pernet. Her upcoming EP explores feminine, intimate and socially engaged themes with disarming sincerity – a sensitive reflection of our times.
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