Introduction
Julia 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, which was 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 a number of 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 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 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 |
|
— |
| 2010 | Modern Fables |
|
12 |
| 2018 | We Light Fire |
|
29 |
With Banshee Reel
- Culture Vulture (1993)
- An Orchestrated Litany of Lies (1995)
- "Lament" (1995) NZ: #42
With Fur Patrol
- Pet (2000) Wishbone Music
- Collider (2003) Universal Music Australia
- Local Kid (2008) Tardus Music
With The Adults
- The Adults (2011) Warner Music NZ
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2011 | "The Only Thing" |
— | Non-album single |
| 2012 | "Not Given Lightly"
|
— | Non-album single |
| "Broken Home" | — | Non-album single | |
| 2015 | "Team, Ball, Player, Thing" |
— | Non-album single |
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 |