| Julia Deans | |
| Birth Date: | 1974 8, df=yes |
| Origin: | Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Genre: | Rock, pop, electronica |
| Occupation: | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument: | Guitar |
| Years Active: | 1993–present |
| Label: | Wishbone Music, Universal Music Australia, Tardus Music |
| Associated Acts: | Fur 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.
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 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.[4] [5]
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]
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.[7] [8] [9]
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.[10] [11]
In 2013, Deans performed at the Taite Music Prize ceremony in April.[12] Later in the year, Deans and Anika Moa recorded a cover version of "2000 Miles" for the charity album Starship Christmas Album 2013.[13]
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [14] | ||||
| 2010 | A New Dialogue EP |
| align=center | — |
| 2010 | Modern Fables |
| align=center | 12 |
| 2018 | We Light Fire |
| align=center | 29 |
| align=center colspan=4 | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. |
See main article: Fur Patrol.
See main article: The Adults.
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ | |||
| 2011 | "The Only Thing" (with TokyoStreetGang)[18] | — | |
| 2012 | "Not Given Lightly"(Various artists)[19] | — | |
| "Broken Home"[20] | — | ||
| 2015 | "Team, Ball, Player, Thing" (#KiwisCureBatten featuring Lorde, Kimbra, Brooke Fraser, et al.) | — | |
| align=center colspan=4 | "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. | ||
| Year | Music video | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "A New Dialogue" | Greg Page[21] |
| 2010 | "Modern Fables" | Mark Burrows[22] |
| 2012 | "Broken Home" | Stephen Tilley[23] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | bNet NZ Music Awards | Best Independent Release | Starlifter (Fur Patrol) | [24] |
| 1999 | bNet NZ Music Awards | Best Fox | Julia Deans | [25] |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Single of the Year | "Lydia" (Fur Patrol) | [26] |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Best Female Vocalist | Julia Deans | |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Best Songwriter | "Lydia" | |
| 2001 | New Zealand Music Awards | Album of the Year | Pet (Fur Patrol) | |
| 2001 | APRA Awards | Most Performed Work in New Zealand | "Lydia" | |
| 2010 | APRA Silver Scroll | Short list | "A New Dialogue" | [27] |
| 2011 | Taite Music Prize | Short list | Modern Fables | [28] |
| 2012 | APRA Silver Scroll | Long list | "Anniversary Day" (with Jon Toogood for The Adults) | [29] |
| 2012 | New Zealand Music Awards | Album of the Year | The Adults (with The Adults) | |
Deans' grandfather was painter Austen Deans. Her great-great-great-grandmother was Jane Deans.[30]