Cult post-rock hero Julie Christmas has told the story of how she woke up from a drunken stupor with a tinned ham in her bed. Talking exclusively in , the solo artist names the 10 songs on her dream playlist, one of which is by American jazz singer Peggy Lee. “Peggy Lee had a rough life, but made music before the idea of being ‘unleashed’ like [noise rockers] The Jesus Lizard was a thing,” Christmas says to explain her selection.
“When I heard for the first time, my heart stopped. This glorious woman with this voice was talking about nihilism!” Christmas then offers a truly bizarre anecdote of drunkenly singing the 1969 track at a karaoke bar. “I never do karaoke but one night I had, like, 18 whiskies and said, ‘I’ll do Peggy Lee,’” she remembers.
“Next thing I know, I woke up in my bed next to a canned ham that I’d won.” In the same interview, Christmas also expresses her admiration for singer/songwriter , especially his 1985 song . She explains how a romantic drive from her home in New York City to New Orleans led to her finding an appreciation for the musician.
“I hated Tom Waits at first,” Christmas confesses, “but I had a girlfriend called Andrea who loved him. We went on a road trip with my sister from Brooklyn to New Orleans. While I was sleeping [in the car], Andrea, because she’s a fucking traitor, put on Tom Waits.
“I woke up in New Orleans, looked up and saw these ornate buildings with beautiful colours. There was something abo.