Julia Messenger is an Australian Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriter

Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...

 and producer best known for her work in electronica

Electronica

Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...

 and chill-out, although she has performed in a wide range of musical genres, including Jazz, rock, classical and blues. She has performed, recorded and collaborated with such notable musical figures as Klaus Schulze

Klaus Schulze

Klaus Schulze is a German electronic music composer and musician. He also used the alias Richard Wahnfried. He was briefly a member of the electronic bands Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel before launching a solo career consisting of more than 60 albums released across five decades.-1970s:In...

, Henning Schmitz

Henning Schmitz

Henning Schmitz, born December 26, 1953 in Germany, is a member of the electronic/experimental pop band Kraftwerk.-Background:Henning Schmitz studied at the Musikhochschule Rheinland and the FH Düsseldorf, and in 1980 he received his Diplom-Ingenieur qualification in sound and image technology...

, Ferry Corsten

Ferry Corsten

Ferry Corsten, also known under the alias System F, is a Dutch producer of trance music, in addition to being a DJ and remixer. He also hosts his own weekly radio show, Corsten's Countdown. He routinely plays at events all over the world with crowds in excess of tens of thousands. In 2009 Ferry...

, Klaus Waldeck

Klaus Waldeck

Klaus Waldeck, usually known by his stage name of Waldeck, is a Viennese former copyright lawyer and electronica musician.-History:Klaus Waldeck's musical career began in Vienna, Austria when he started piano lessons at the age of six...

, and Scott Rockenfield

Scott Rockenfield

Scott Rockenfield is the drummer for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche and the band Slave to the System....

. Messenger is also renowned for the versatility and power of her voice. Sue Wilson of The Scotsman

The Scotsman

The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....

 has written of Messenger's vocal talent: “…through the full spectrum, from fragile candied sweetness to a scorching soul-diva holler – echos of Mouth Music

Mouth music

Mouth music may refer to:* Puirt a beul, a Scottish traditional music style* Mouth Music , a band who sings in that style....

, Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox

Annie Lennox, OBE , born Ann Lennox, is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving minor success in the late 1970s with The Tourists, with fellow musician David A...

, Horse, Sinead OConnor…”. Messenger graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Melbourne Conservatorium in Opera at the top of her class.

Career

Julia Messenger has produced, written and released three studio albums to date, the self-titled 'Julia Messenger' in 2003, followed by 'Productions & Collaborations' and 'And We Danced' in 2007. She has also appeared on numerous compilation discs alongside artists such as Moby

Moby

Richard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...

, Nitin Sawhney

Nitin Sawhney

Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...

, Julee Cruise

Julee Cruise

Julee Cruise is an American singer, and actress.With a distinctive, airy voice, Cruise has recorded three albums, but is probably best known for the lead vocal on "Falling," the theme song for the cult U.S. television series Twin Peaks...

, Norah Jones

Norah Jones

Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...

 and Groove Armada

Groove Armada

Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...

. Entertainment writer Paul Freeman, in the Palo Alto Daily News, wrote of her two latest releases: “Dazzling Australian Julia Messenger offers not one, but two electrifying new albums. Her riveting electro-pop features hypnotic production and breathtaking vocals. These chill sounds pack infinite heat. Songs such as "Shiver," on "Productions & Collaborations," tend toward a sensually down-tempo feel. "Butterflies" floats with magical airiness. The title track of "And We Danced" rides a throbbing bass line into a keenly poetic examination of shattered relationships. Messenger's music entices with addictive allure.”

Messenger provided vocals for Dutch producer Ferry Corsten's 2008 album 'Twice in a Blue Moon

Twice In A Blue Moon

- Releases :- Single releases and remixes/re-edits :- Work during the Twice in a Blue Moon period :* Corsten did the "Full on Ferry" gig on November 1, 2008.* Corsten remixed the track "Human" by The Killers....

' on the track 'Black Velvet' and has performed it live with him on tour.

In 2006 The New York Times cited Julia's song 'Look Up Look Down' as one of the top 10 on the playlist for U.S. restaurants.

Messenger has also recorded vocals for German electronic music composer and musician Klaus Schulze, on 'Contemporary Works II

Contemporary Works II

Contemporary Works II is a limited edition 5-disc CD box set released by Klaus Schulze in 2002 containing new studio material. This set was released two years after Contemporary Works I. One of the discs has been reissued in 2008 as part of the overall reissue program of Schulze back catalog by...

' in 2002 and 'Ballet III' and 'KS – Essential Extracts (Adds & Edits)' in 2000.

In 2007 Messenger sang at the awards night for the Brownlow Medal

Brownlow Medal

The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...

 and the Olympic Stadium in Melbourne for the Premiership Finals Series of the NRL. She is consistently asked to sing the Australian National Anthem for the NRL including performances both in Melbourne and at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Sydney Cricket Ground

The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...

 and live telecast around the nation. She is also a regular guest at the Crown Casino and at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club in Melbourne.

In 2007 Messenger’s songs 'So Complicated' and 'And We Danced' were finalists in the prestigious ISC - International Songwriting Competition

International Songwriting Competition

The International Songwriting Competition is an annual song contest based in Nashville, TN, whose mission is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional, international arena. ISC is designed to nurture the musical talent of...

.
She has performed for the Handover Ceremony in Hong Kong, supported Afro Celt Sound System

Afro Celt Sound System

The Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern electronic dance rhythms with traditional Irish and West African music...

 at the Galway music Fesitval, achieved 5 star reviews two years running at the Edinburgh Festival, toured extensively throughout Germany including the World Expo in Hannover and for more than one Grand Prix including private parties at the famous ‘BMW Pavillion’ in Munich. In 2003 she was invited to sing at speak at the New York Global Film and Music Summit. Some other venues and festivals include: Summerjam

Summerjam

The Summerjam is Europe's biggest reggae festival. It takes places annually in July at the Fühlinger See, a lake in Cologne, Germany. It is visited by 25.000 to 30.000 people...

 (Germany), Lovefield, Cologne Exhibition Centre (KoelnMesse), Filmhaus, Gebaude 9 (Cologne), SlamDance, S.O.M.A., Zollverein, Kumberland (Hanover), Popkomm

Popkomm

Popkomm is an international trade show for the music and entertainment business, and also integrates a congress and festival. It is held in Berlin but has had entries from at least 55 other countries. Popkomm is organised by Popkomm GmbH, Berlin.- History :...

(Germany), The Glamour Bar (Shanghai), Woodford (Australia) among others.

Julia is currently finishing a new solo album with French producer ModX and a live album of Jazz performed at Bennets Lane.

Selected discography

Solo

• And We Danced, 2007, Threespace
• Productions & Collaborations, 2007, Threespace
• Julia Messenger, 2003, Water Music/Universal

Compilations and guest vocalist

• Twice in a Blue Moon, Ferry Corsten, 2008, Flashover
• Contemporary Works II, Klaus Schulze, 2002, Rainhorse Records
• Ballet III, Klaus Shulze, 2000, Rainhorse Records
• The future is my Melody Vol 1 & 2, 2003, Elektrolux - Germany/Europe/World and Milan Records
• Pure Chill Out – the definitive down-tempo collection, 2002, Water Music/Universal UTV Records (Universal Music Enterprises)
• Ambient Lounge Vol 3, 2002, Globe
• Subzero: The Ultimate Chillout Collection, 2002, Water Music/Universal

External links

• http://www.juliamessenger.com