In 2005, Julie released her debut solo album, Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe (As My Heart Is), which immediately launched her music career into an exciting new direction. She was named Gaelic Singer of the Year at the 2005 Scottish Traditional Music awards and is nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Horizon Award. Her good nature, natural charm and energy on the stage makes her a popular performer, and this is evident in her busy touring schedule, which included a prestigious Showcase concert at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 2005 ? Julie being the first ever Gaelic artist to perform at a Showcase slot.

Before any of this, Julie was already quietly making a name for herself as soloist. In 2003, she was invited to be part of a special project Gluaiseachd a? Chuain Siar which showcased singers such as Maighread and Triona Nic Dh?mhnaill, Alyth McCormack, Mary Jane Lamond, Mary Smith and Julie Murphy. She was also selected as part of the Celtic Connections ?Master and Apprentice? series, where she performed with Arthur Cormack. Julie's reputation as a singer was confirmed when she was named Winner of the prestigious Pan-Celtic Sean-Nos singing competition in 2004, which took place in Tralee, Ireland.

As well as appearing on numerous Gaelic Television Programs such as Tacsi, F?ilte, An t-Urlar Ur, Air an Urlar, Ce?l, Ce?lraidh and D? a-nis?, Julie has also been involved in numerous musical commissions - three by Mark Sheridan, The Curve of the Earth (performed at Celtic Connections 2002 and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2002), The Evangelists, which has been performed three times since 2002 and When They Lay Bare, an Opera Ballad which was performed over three nights in the Tramway Theatre at Celtic Connections 2003. She was also involved in Maggie's MacInnes' Commission, A Woman's Song in 2004 and in the musical settings of Sunset Song and Cloud Howe by Wendy Wetherby in 2004 and 2005, She will also be involved in the third commission of this trilogy, Grey Granite in Celtic Connections 2006.