From chapel choir to Old Shanghai - Julian Chou-Lambert Q&A

Julian Chou-Lambert Q&A

Julian Chou-Lambert is a baritone, composer and DEBUT Horizon Artist.

“Usually people just want to hear the standard repertoire, but I feel like DEBUT were very open minded in what they wanted to hear.”

— Julian Chou-Lambert

Julian Chou-Lambert, DEBUT Horizon Artist

Julian sings Bella siccome un angelo from Don Pasquale - with Sam Peña - Recorded live at Shoreditch Treehouse

At DEBUT’s events, you’ll hear some of the UK’s most versatile, accomplished artists performing music from a huge variety of musical styles and genres. Alongside their awesome music-making, we love to share their insights and stories.

This week, we’re joined by DEBUT Horizon Artist Julian Chou-Lambert, who will also be performing in our upcoming DEBUT at Brunel Museum Secret Concert this November.

From Electronic and Garage music to the Cambridge choral tradition - we share his inspiration and his concert highlights.

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Watch Julian’s composition ‘Reverie’ - sung here by fellow Horizon Artist Isabelle Peters.

“The industry likes to put people into boxes - either you’re a singer, a composer, or a director, or whatever it is. But of course everyone has multiple skills. ”

— Julian Chou-Lambert

Julian is performing at DEBUT’s Secret Concert series this November - see all upcoming events here.

“(with DEBUT) You have more varied repertoire: opera, lieder, musical theatre, pop… It’s unusual and it’s really refreshing.”

— Julian Chou-Lambert

Julian’s Hip-hop release and music video, ‘Yeah Shanghai!’ explores the ‘Never Sleep City’, where food, glamour, grit and beauty mix and mingle.

“...my mother is Swiss and my father is Chinese, and I spent a lot of time in these musical cultures. So the music will bring lots of different influences from the languages and culture. ”

— Julian Chou-Lambert

Q&A

How did you first come across the Horizon Programme?

I heard about DEBUT on social media, and knew some people from the music world who had performed before. The whole ethos appealed to me, along with the opportunity of presenting classical music in a more accessible way.

I had to change my flights from Singapore to audition!

As our readers will see, you work as a singer and as a composer - which came first?

I started singing as a chorister in the Choir of King’s College Cambridge when I was about 10 years old - and I studied violin, oboe and piano alongside singing, so I guess I’ve always had that (classical) instrumental training.

Then through my teens I did some DJ-ing as well, and wrote some electronic music - I started composing classically during my degree, where I started to enjoy writing for voice - lieder, chamber opera, and song.

I guess a big highlight for me was as a finalist in English National Opera’s Mini-opera competition, which was a big step for me. Composition took a back seat to performing, so it was great to have that recognition and experience.

How was auditioning to be a DEBUT Horizon Artist?

I really enjoyed the audition, and I don’t usually love them - the panel were really warm but also really interested in hearing my own compositions. I presented a German song that I had written and they had a really positive reaction to it.

That was quite a unique experience to be honest, because usually people just want to hear the standard repertoire, but I feel like DEBUT were very open minded in what they wanted to hear, and I found that quite refreshing.

You say you found DEBUT very open to the breadth of your experience. Would you say that kind of receptiveness is quite unusual, or unique?

Yeah, I think it’s quite unusual.

The industry likes to put people into boxes - either you’re a singer, a composer, or a director, or whatever it is. But of course everyone has multiple skills.

I think that being a versatile artist is actually very valuable. That was really evident during COVID when you saw a lot of musicians having to do other work and show other skills.

I hope that’s one of the things that will be taken forward - that people are more open about their other skills and the things they do. DEBUT are ahead of the game because they’ve always been open to versatile artists.

And this versatility comes across for audiences too?

Absolutely. There’s so much variation in instruments or singing or composing, but also in the way that the concerts are presented. You have more varied repertoire: opera, lieder, musical theatre, pop… It’s unusual and it’s really refreshing.

Who were some big influences outside of the classical genre?

The Artful Dodger, MJ Cole - both big garage producers. I used to DJ garage when I was a teenager in the 2000s. It’s quite funny that now garage is coming back in a big way.

Those (two) are probably the top influences. They were also classically and jazz trained - and you can hear that in their music. It’s great, very danceable music.

And then film music?

After uni, I did some composing for film, which is slightly different. A definite highlight was contributing to the score for a feature film called Bonobo which starred James Norton, and I also worked on a contemporary dance piece for Sky.

You’re performing at our Secret Concert series this November, what are the highlights?

At the Brunel Museum I’m performing a mix of songs - some opera, some solo pieces, some duets, including something from The Magic Flute. The music is very dear to my heart, and it’s one of the most beautiful duets for baritone and soprano.

…And you chose music that reflects your own background?

Absolutely, the choices reflect my interests and cultural heritage - my mother is Swiss and my father is Chinese, and I spent a lot of time in these musical cultures. So the music will bring lots of different influences from the languages and culture.

I’m performing some of the German songs from my own cycle, 'Sommerlied und Winterlied' - a selection of songs that go through the changing seasons of love. There will definitely be some summer, autumn and winter songs from that.

…Then there’s a traditional Chinese folk song called Molihua (Jasmine Flower) - lots of history, very popular and beautiful.

The only language I’m missing is French (because I don’t have enough time!)

Speaking of culture, can you share a place in London that excites you?

My favourite bar is Opium in Chinatown - it feels like it’s really a hidden experience, and they do amazing cocktails.

It’s got this ‘Old Shanghai’ vibe that I really like.

Then there’s the Brunswick Bertha DocHouse (cinema). They have really great documentary streaming, and I love the documentary genre - I’ve developed work in the international documentary area, so I’m a huge fan.

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Hear more from Julian

Instagram | Youtube

DEBUT is breaking down barriers to classical music - and opening the doors to other genres and types of music too. At our regular Secret Concerts at Shoreditch Treehouse and the Brunel Museum, audiences experience music by Elton John and Radiohead, alongside medieval music on historic instruments.

Do you have a genre of music that you haven’t heard in concert before? Tell us about it online or at one of our events!

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