Julia Fordham	The Week of May 21st, 2006

Songstress and Humanitarian

1. What’s in your wallet right now?

A bunch of receipts, about 50 bucks and assorted coins from the US, UK and Japan. I keep meaning to clean out those darn yenlett but never seem to get round to it. I am just back from tour of all the Blue Note Jazz Venues in Japan.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

I have no idea. I don't really see that as one of their jobs. I think they had enough on their plates trying to feed 3 kids.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

I am USELESS at trying to stay on top of my UK taxes, I loathe everything to do with paper work, so I guess my worst habit would be letting all that tedious nonsense pile up. It all just makes me want to throw in the towel once and for all and move to a remote island and never email or write a cheque again! And one of these days I will do just that.

4. What makes you happy?

Many things, all quite simple. Love, life, friends, family, my dog, my house, my garden, the perfect cup of tea with the right piece of cake.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

If you've got it, spend it, share it and try to save something after you have been as generous as you can be. The best advice I ever heard was from my very first boyfriend’s mother who said, ”Never bank on money that you haven't got.” I never have, so I never went into debt.

6. Where does money come from?

No idea. I am not tuned into anything money market wise. Stocks and shares and ups and downs have no interest to me. I like the simple musical life.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

I would be completely conflicted as to whether I should share it with all of my family who need it more than me, or to save the lot and put it towards a lovely beach house.

8. What is your most prized possession?

Probably my signed Joni Mitchell CD and the birthday book my sister put together for me filled with photos and letters from folks in my life.

9. Who is your role model?

I don't really have one, but I do like the teachings of Paramahansa Yoganda and every time I need to whip this lazy butt into action I glance down at my yellow wrist band and think of what that whizz Lance Armstrong went through.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

Sustaining a career in this fickle business we call show! I am on my 8th CD now.

11. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

A giant plasma TV with fancy speakers.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

I just try and play my part by singing as well as I can.

13. Tell us about the Happy Ever After remix.

This really is my greatest contribution to society as it already seems to be making an impact. All the proceeds from the single are going directly to help rebuild a school in south India that was destroyed by the tsunami. The new singing on my old song from the kids at the Ashington School in W. Sussex is just tear jerking, goose-bump-making, magical stuff, and the thought of a bunch of children from a little village in the UK trying to help other kids all the way across the world is so heart warming and inspiring. You can get a copy at my website.

14. Favorite activity that doesn’t cost a dime?

Singing and writing, hiking with my Russian boyfriend, walking my Fijian rescue dog Muttley and pottering round my Californian garden, (although that did actually cost a huge amount of dimes to get together).

15. How do you indulge yourself?

That would be a massage at Burke Williams in Santa Monica.

Julia Fordham lives in sunny California where she has just finished her third album with producer Larry Klein. She has recently released “That’s Life” and a live DVD and CD “That’s Live” (recorded and filmed at The House of Blues) on Vanguard Records.

---