Julia Deans
Birth date27 August 1974 (age 52)
OriginChristchurch, New Zealand
GenreRock, pop, electronica
OccupationSinger, songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1993–present
LabelWishbone Music, Universal Music Australia, Tardus Music
Associated actsFur Patrol, The Adults

Julia Mary Deans[1] (born 27 August 1974) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of rock band Fur Patrol.

Banshee Reel

In the early '90s, Deans joined Wellington-based Celtic rock band Banshee Reel. The group released two albums – Culture Vulture (1993) and An Orchestrated Litany of Lies (1995). Banshee Reel toured extensively around New Zealand and overseas. In 1996, after returning to New Zealand from a Canadian tour, Deans and Wellington guitarist Steve Wells decided to form a rock group, to become Fur Patrol. [2][3]

Fur Patrol

Fur Patrol released three albums – Pet (2000), Collider (2003) and Local Kid (2008) and had a number-one single with "Lydia" in 2000. The band moved to Melbourne in 2001 to focus on a wider Australian audience. After the lack of success with their third album, Local Kid, Fur Patrol went on hiatus.[3][4][5]

Solo career and The Adults

With several songs she had written over the years but thought unsuitable for Fur Patrol, Deans was encouraged by her record company to record a solo album. This became Modern Fables, released in 2010. It was well received and was short-listed for the Taite Music Prize, with the single "A New Dialogue" long-listed for the APRA Silver Scroll award.[6][7][8]

Deans then became part of The Adults, a musical collaboration between established New Zealand musicians such as Jon Toogood, Shayne Carter, Tiki Taane and Ladi6. In 2011, the group released a self-titled album, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards.[9][10][11]

In 2012, Deans released a new single, "Broken Home". She also embarked on a theatrical project, starring with Jon Toogood in Silo Theatre's production of Brel: The Words and Music of Jacques Brel.[12][13]

In 2013, Deans performed at the Taite Music Prize ceremony in April.[14] Later in the year, Deans and Anika Moa recorded a cover version of "2000 Miles" for the charity album Starship Christmas Album 2013.[15]

Discography

Albums

YearTitleDetailsPeak chart
positions
NZ
[16]
2010A New Dialogue EP
  • Released: 9 March 2010[17]
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Tardus Music
—
2010Modern Fables
  • Released: 4 July 2010[18]
  • Formats: CD/digital download
  • Label: Tardus Music
12
2018We Light Fire
  • Released: 11 May 2018
  • Formats: CD/digital download
  • Label: Tardus Music
29
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

With Banshee Reel

  • Culture Vulture (1993)
  • An Orchestrated Litany of Lies (1995)
  • "Lament" (1995) NZ: #42[19]

With Fur Patrol

  • Pet (2000) Wishbone Music
  • Collider (2003) Universal Music Australia
  • Local Kid (2008) Tardus Music

With The Adults

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart
positions		Album
NZ
2011"The Only Thing"
(with TokyoStreetGang)[20]		—
2012"Not Given Lightly" (Various artists)[21]—
"Broken Home"[22]—
2015"Team, Ball, Player, Thing"
(#KiwisCureBatten featuring Lorde, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, et al.)		—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Music videos

YearMusic videoDirector(s)
2010"A New Dialogue"Greg Page[23]
2010"Modern Fables"Mark Burrows[24]
2012"Broken Home"Stephen Tilley[25]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1999bNet NZ Music AwardsBest Independent ReleaseStarlifter (Fur Patrol)[26]
1999bNet NZ Music AwardsBest FoxJulia Deans[27]
2001New Zealand Music AwardsSingle of the Year"Lydia" (Fur Patrol)[28]
2001New Zealand Music AwardsBest Female VocalistJulia Deans[28]
2001New Zealand Music AwardsBest Songwriter"Lydia"[28]
2001New Zealand Music AwardsAlbum of the YearPet (Fur Patrol)[28]
2001APRA AwardsMost Performed Work in New Zealand"Lydia"
2010APRA Silver ScrollShort list"A New Dialogue"[7]
2011Taite Music PrizeShort listModern Fables[8]
2012APRA Silver ScrollLong list"Anniversary Day" (with Jon Toogood for The Adults)[29]
2012New Zealand Music AwardsAlbum of the YearThe Adults (with The Adults)[11]

Personal life

Deans' grandfather was painter Austen Deans. Her great-great-great-grandmother was Jane Deans.[30]

References

  1. ^ Julia Deans (May 2013). Slow Boat Records. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Banshee Reel". Celtic Folk Punk. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  3. ^ "New Zealand Rock". Random House NZ. Retrieved 26 October 2012.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Fur Patrol". Amplifier. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Life after Lydia". The New Zealand Herald. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  6. ^ Paula Yeoman (19 July 2010). "Beyond Fur Patrol". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  7. ^ "2010 APRA Silver Scroll Award Finalists". Under the Radar. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  8. ^ "he 2011Taite Music Prize – Announcing the Finalists!". IMNZ. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Player bios". The Adults. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  10. ^ "The Adults". iTunes. Archived from the original on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. ^ "2012 Album of the Year". NZMA. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  12. ^ "julia deans – broken home sneaky preview". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Jon Toogood and Julia Deans: To Brel and back". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Taite Music Prize 2013 Finalists Announced". Under the Radar. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  15. ^ "Starship Christmas Album". Starship Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  16. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  17. ^ "A New Dialogue". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.[dead link]
  18. ^ "Modern Fables". iTunes. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  19. ^ "BANSHEE REEL IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  20. ^ "The Only Thing". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.[dead link]
  21. ^ "Not Given Lightly". iTunes. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  22. ^ "Broken Home". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.[dead link]
  23. ^ "A New Dialogue". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Modern Fables". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Broken Home". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Just love your music, man". The New Zealand Herald. 30 August 1999. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  27. ^ "2005 bNet NZ Music Awards Nominees Announced". NZ Musician. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  28. ^ "2001 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  29. ^ "Silver Scroll nominees named". Stuff. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  30. ^ Harper, Jendy (2020-07-26). "Singer Julia Deans tracks Scottish ancestor who 'started a dynasty' in Christchurch". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-06-05.