Information/Write-up
Released in 1983 on Ohama Records, Julie is a T.V. Set is the first vinyl single by Tona Walt Ohama and one of the defining documents of early prairie synth-pop. Drawn directly from his ultra-scarce “White Album” cassette, the single features two of his most enduring early tracks: the drifting, melodic title cut on Side A, and the darker, more caustic “T.V.” on the flip.
Co-written with his friend Johannes Halbertsma, “Julie is a T.V. Set” began with a letter Halbertsma sent during their engineering-school days, its opening lines folded unchanged into the lyric. Ohama wrote the rest, changing the title from “Judy” to “Julie” to avoid embarrassing the real-life friend who inspired it. Built on his first attempts at programmed drums and completed in just a few hours, the song became one of his signature pieces and remains a cornerstone of his early catalogue.
“T.V.” offers a sharper edge—an attack on media overload delivered through layered synths, clipped rhythms, and Ohama’s wry, observational vocals. Both tracks were recorded on 8-track, ½", 15 ips tape in the farmhouse basement studio in Rainier, Alberta.
Issued originally by mail order only, the single accompanied Ohama’s second cassette release, which was limited to 200 copies. Over time it has become one of the most recognizable and accessible entries into his early work, capturing the moment when his homemade recordings began to circulate outside the prairie underground and into Canada’s emerging new-wave community.
“It wasn’t meant to be a statement about technology. It’s Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or something like that… The first song where I programmed the drums. Two or three hours to make. Total. It’s a magic song.”— Ohama
-Robert Williston
All music written, performed, and recorded by Ohama
Julie Is a TV Set lyrics by Johannes Halbertsma and Walt Ohama
Recorded on 8-track, ½", 15 ips
© 1983 Midnite News Music (PRO Canada)
These two songs are taken from the 14-song cassette-only release Julie Is a TV Set (60 minutes).
This was Ohama’s second cassette and was limited to 200 copies.
Available by mail order only.
Contact
Ohama Records
Box 90
Rainier, Alberta, Canada
T0J 2M0
Manufactured by
Doug Wong Music
P.O. Box 1714, Station “M”
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2P 2L7
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