NZ Singer Breaks Into Lucrative US Market

NEWS RELEASE
Wednesday 22 MAY 2013.

NZ Singer Breaks Into Lucrative US Market

As New Zealand Music Month gets into full swing, local artist – Yulia – has made her ‘big break’ and is now taking the USA by storm with the support and backing of the legendary Grammy award winning music producer and composer Craig Leon.

The talented classical crossover singer was handpicked by Leon to appear in a made for television special called ‘Divinas, Live at Chambord Castle’ alongside international artists Meav, from the group ‘Celtic Woman’ and Persian-born Israeli singer Rita. The programme was aired earlier this year on the PBS and APT networks in America reaching an estimated audience of over 51 million people around the States.

Yulia said she is both overwhelmed and delighted by the exciting direction the next step in her singing career is taking and the opportunity it offers to represent New Zealand on the world stage.

She first came to the attention of Leon who has worked with singing greats including the late Luciano Pavarotti and Blondie, after she won the Grand Prix in the 2010 Grand Prix award in the European Song Competition in Latvia.  A music production deal between Leon and Yulia was later signed that same year. 

Executive Producer Gustavo Sagastume who has worked with international artists including Andre Rieu, David Garrett, Yanni, Andre Rieu, The Gypsy Kings and many others was also brought in to co-produce the Divinas project.

“Since then, I have been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for my launch onto the US market,” Yulia said.

“It really has been a whirlwind of activity with filming for the television special taking place at Chambord in France, followed by various studio recording and post-production sessions.”

A much anticipated follow up CD and DVD of the PBS television programme will be launched to the American public via PBS to an audience reach of approximately 100 million viewers on 25 June.  It is currently available to New Zealanders for pre-release purchase via Amazon.

Pre-production work is also currently underway on Yulia’s first international solo album which is expected to be released in 2014.

Leon expects uptake of the Divinas CD and DVD to be significant, paving the way for more album releases and other opportunities further down the track.  Plans are also underway for a Divinas concert tour later this year which will take in major cities across the States.

Leon said he is “very enthusiastic” about Yulia’s talent.

“I am pleased that I have taken on a role as the music producer who will present the voice of rare beauty of Yulia to the world,” he said.

“I have been extremely impressed by Yulia’s voice and musical talent.  I feel that she is of the same calibre of many of the other artists I have worked with in the past.”

Russian-born Yulia immigrated to New Zealand with her mother in 2002.  Within two years of arriving in New Zealand, she landed a recording deal with Sony Music New Zealand.  Her debut album – Into the West- was released in 2004.  It reached number one on New Zealand’s album chart, remaining there for four weeks and went platinum four times.  Her second album – Montage – also topped the charts, making Yulia the first NZ artist to achieve two back to back number one hit albums.

Having endured great hardship and poverty during her childhood, Yulia is now a passionate supporter of charities and has helped to raise over $1.4 M for various New Zealand charities.

ENDS

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