You made the costumes of our childhood with sequins, paints and dyes, we were detectives, ghosts and geishas, ballerinas, butterflies ... .
– from “Your Wings”

By Sylvia Corneliussen ’01

Word on the Hampton Roads music scene is that Julie Clark ’89 is packing local venues with enthusiastic fans. Some have even observed that when she’s opened for bigger-name acts, like Jeffrey Gaines at the NorVa in downtown Norfolk, ticket sales were as much for Clark as for the headliner.

“I’ve never felt as alive as I do now,” said Clark, speaking of her newfound fame that has brought her to stages across the country in recent months.

The singer/songwriter, who graduated from ODU with a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism in 1989, released her first CD, “Feel Free,” just over a year ago. The 10-song album contains all original music, written by Clark, in an acoustic pop/rock style. Reviews have compared it to the sounds of Natalie Merchant and Ani DiFranco.

In the summer of 2003, Clark was selected as one of five finalists for the Newport Folk Festival’s first-ever Talent Search. Although she didn’t take first place, it afforded her the opportunity to play at a festival that has jump-started the careers of many musicians.

Later in the year, Clark did win first place in the Great American Song Contest’s Acoustic/Folk category for her song “Your Wings,” and was named Folk/Acoustic Artist of the Year at 9Volt Magazine’s Virginia Music Awards. She learned recently that the Travel Channel intends to license one of her original songs, “Gettin’ There,” for use in an episode of a new show.

Despite the fact that she never had professional training, music has always played a major role in Clark’s life. It was her kindergarten teacher who first noticed her singing talent. “My first tour was actually from one kindergarten classroom to the next,” she said with a laugh.

Clark started teaching herself to play guitar at age 12, but it wasn’t until she came to ODU that she discovered what music could do for her. “I took my guitar and came here to Gresham. Suddenly I was sought-after for being able to sing and play guitar, so I started to do more with it.” Throughout college, she could be found playing covers at local restaurants such as O’Sullivan’s Wharf and 4400 Campus Club.

Clark wanted to do more than play cover songs, though, and started writing her own music. In 2002, she decided she was ready to produce her first CD. She and a band made up of people she considers to be both talented musicians and true friends began holding late-night practice sessions. “It was important for us to walk in well-prepared; studio time is expensive,” she explained.

Clark, who still maintains her “day job” as a marketing manager, has come a long way since that first tour through the hallways of her Northern Virginia elementary school. Earlier this year, she played nine shows in California, and recently booked appearances in Texas and Colorado.

Buoyed by the success of her first CD, Clark is now writing songs for a second album. To hear snippets from her debut CD, visit www.julieclark.net.