Updated: November 14, 2019
Northern Virginia local Julia Fanning, 29, has been passionate about music for as long as she can remember. “Every single day, I’m constantly working on my music, whether from a creative or a business standpoint,” she says.
The powerhouse singer, who draws inspiration from Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, is making a name for herself in the music world with a DIY philosophy while serving as her own manager. Fanning will debut her eponymous EP, which features five original songs that have been in the works for the last year and a half, on July 8 at the Iota Club and Cafe. The album is a result of collaboration with her co-writer and producer Daniel Strauch.
Fanning has deep roots in Virginia: She grew up in Orange County and now lives in Arlington. She became interested in music at an early age, participating in Orange County High School’s theater productions, and soon thereafter she expanded those extracurricular activities by competing in local talent shows and singing at the Riverside Community Theatre in Fredericksburg. After high school, Fanning attended the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in D.C., graduating in 2007. She also does comedic acting, including improv and sketch comedy, and wants to get back into acting someday, but for now, she’s focusing on her full-time job as a musician.
“I am honestly living the dream by doing [music] full-time,” Fanning says. “I love performing. It’s my favorite thing to do, and I have to be on stage. When I’m not, I’m looking for opportunities to be.”
Fanning’s very first show performing her original songs was last June at Iota. She now performs at Mastro’s Steakhouse in D.C. four nights a week. She has also graced the stage of Madison Square Garden, where she performed at a holiday party and at corporate events for the Knicks and Rangers. She has also performed at Nationals Park and the late Michael Jackson’s estate, Neverland Ranch.
Fanning describes the inspiration behind her first EP as “love, loss and pain.”
“Really, it’s everything that everyday people go through,” she continues. “It’s relatable and a combination of all my experiences in life.”
Tickets for Fanning’s July 8 show at the Iota Club with James Shaffer are $12.
