| Yulia | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yulia Beredenko [1] |
| Also known as | Yulia Townsend, Yulia MacLean, Yulia |
| Born | January, 1986 [2] |
| Origin | Volgograd, Russia [3] |
| Genres | Classical Crossover |
| Years active | 2004–present |
Yulia (full name Yulia MacLean) is a Russian-born New Zealand classical crossover singer. Her first solo album Into The West went platinum in its first week of sales in New Zealand. She won two NZ Music Awards; 'Best Female Solo Artist' and 42 Below 'Best Selling Album in New Zealand'. She has supported Amici Forever and Russell Watson with two sold-out tours in Tokyo. Yulia's albums Into the West and Montage had three top 40 radio hits in New Zealand, "Into the West", "Angel" and "We're All Alone". Yulia was the first female vocalist in New Zealand to have two back to back number one hit albums.[4] Yulia's voice was once described as a "lovely rich contralto with passion and conviction".[5]
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Yulia was born and raised in Russia. She endured a poverty stricken childhood and was raised alone from the age of five by her mother. Her father was violent and Yulia and her mother walked out after he threatened them both with an axe. Yulia has no contact with him to this day.[6] In 2002, the pair left Russia for New Zealand in attempt for a better life.
Within two years of living in New Zealand, Yulia learned to speak English, finished her education and signed a recording deal with Sony Music New Zealand. Yulia was first discovered on regional television as a last minute subject for a ten minute segment on Good Living With Kerry Pierson on Christchurch's local television station CTV. Her debut album, Into the West was released in 2004 and was a commercial success, reaching number one in New Zealand's album chart and went four times Platinum. Two years later, Yulia released her second album, Montage which also topped the charts.
Soon after the release of Montage Sony and Yulia parted ways. After becoming disillusioned with the music industry, Yulia decided to change her career and become a flight attendant.[7] In 2007, she met Glyn MacLean, the director and owner of Oikos Music Group. MacLean encouraged her to continue with her career in music and signed Yulia to a management and publishing deal. The pair married in February, 2008 and invited 168 fans to the wedding at their own cost.[8] In March 2011 the couple announced that Yulia was pregnant with the couple's first child.[9]
In 2010 Yulia won the Grand Prix in the European Song Competition in Riga, Latvia and the national award for Best Nationwide Entertainment in the Corporate Events Guide 2010 People’s Choice Awards. While in London in November 2010, Yulia ‘delivered’ for producer Craig Leon. Leon, who has worked with a variety of artists including Blondie, The Bangles, The Ramones, and the late Pavarotti, heard Yulia’s music online and requested a meeting. 2011 Article on Yulia Yulia signed a music production deal with Craig Leon in November 2010 and is currently working on pre-production for a third studio album. 2011 Article on Yulia
In 2010 Yulia recorded and self-produced four live shows which are being presented as limited edition collectable CDs. Link to CDs Live at Mills Reef, Live at Mill Bay Haven, Enchanted Song and Live at Ascension Wine Estate.
In 2008, Yulia was part of an internet scandal. Teenagers posted derogatory comments about her, including posting her home address and telling other members to go there and rape her, on several New Zealand forums. MacLean responded to the attacks threatening legal action. It escalated and made the national news.[10]
2010 Live Concert Series; limited edition collectables: