Julia Deans
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
Julia Mary Deans (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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In 2013, Deans performed at the Taite Music Prize ceremony in April. Later in the year, Deans and Anika Moa recorded a cover version of "2000 Miles" for the charity album Starship Christmas Album 2013.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2010 | A New Dialogue EP | Released: 9 March 2010 Format: Digital download Label: Tardus Music | — |
| 2010 | Modern Fables | Released: 4 July 2010 Formats: CD/digital download Label: Tardus Music | 12 |
| 2018 | We 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
With Fur Patrol
With The Adults
- The Adults (2011) Warner Music NZ
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2011 | "The Only Thing" (with TokyoStreetGang) | — | Non-album single |
| 2012 | "Not Given Lightly" (Various artists) | — | Non-album single |
| "Broken Home" | — | Non-album single | |
| 2015 | "Team, Ball, Player, Thing" (#KiwisCureBatten featuring Lorde, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, et al.) | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. |
Music videos
| Year | Music video | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "A New Dialogue" | Greg Page |
| 2010 | "Modern Fables" | Mark Burrows |
| 2012 | "Broken Home" | Stephen Tilley |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | bNet NZ Music Awards | Best Independent Release | Starlifter (Fur Patrol) | Won |
| 1999 | bNet NZ Music Awards | Best Fox | Julia Deans | Won |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Single of the Year | "Lydia" (Fur Patrol) | Won |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Best Female Vocalist | Julia Deans | Won |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Best Songwriter | "Lydia" | Won |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Album of the Year | Pet (Fur Patrol) | Nominated |
| 2001 | APRA Awards | Most Performed Work in New Zealand | "Lydia" | Won |
| 2010 | APRA Silver Scroll | Short list | "A New Dialogue" | Shortlisted |
| 2011 | Taite Music Prize | Short list | Modern Fables | Shortlisted |
| 2012 | APRA Silver Scroll | Long list | "Anniversary Day" (with Jon Toogood for The Adults) | Nominated |
| 2012 | New Zealand Music Awards | Album of the Year | The Adults (with The Adults) | Nominated |
Personal life
Deans' grandfather was painter Austen Deans. Her great-great-great-grandmother was Jane Deans.