Yulia

New Zealand-based classical-pop vocalist Yulia arrived in the city of Christchurch from her native Russia with her mother in 2002, where she immediately began learning the English language, became proficient on the guitar, and began singing Russian and English folk songs, eventually landing a slot on a public television show. Her performance so impressed the producers that the studio immediately began sending out copies of the tape to prospective agents and record companies. Yulia signed to Sony BMG in 2003 and released her debut, the multiple platinum-selling Into the West, the following year. Montage arrived in 2006. ~ James Christopher Monger