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.

Julia Deans
Deans in 2020
Background information
Born (1974-08-27) 27 August 1974 (age 50)
OriginChristchurch, New Zealand
GenresRock, pop, electronica
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1993–present
LabelsWishbone Music, Universal Music Australia, Tardus Music

Banshee Reel

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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

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Deans performing at Bar Bodega, Wellington, August 2008

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.[3][4][5]

Solo career and The Adults

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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][7][8]

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.[9][10][11]

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.[12][13]

In 2013, Deans performed at the Taite Music Prize ceremony in April.[14] Later in the year, Deans and Anika Moa recorded a cover version of "2000 Miles" for the charity album Starship Christmas Album 2013.[15]

Discography

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Albums

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Year Title Details Peak chart
positions
NZ
[16]
2010 A New Dialogue EP
  • Released: 9 March 2010[17]
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Tardus Music
2010 Modern Fables
  • Released: 4 July 2010[18]
  • 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

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  • Culture Vulture (1993)
  • An Orchestrated Litany of Lies (1995)
  • "Lament" (1995) NZ: #42[19]

With Fur Patrol

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  • Pet (2000) Wishbone Music
  • Collider (2003) Universal Music Australia
  • Local Kid (2008) Tardus Music

With The Adults

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Singles

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Year Single Peak chart
positions
Album
NZ
2011 "The Only Thing"
(with TokyoStreetGang)[20]
Non-album single
2012 "Not Given Lightly"

(Various artists)[21]

Non-album single
"Broken Home"[22] 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

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Year Music video Director(s)
2010 "A New Dialogue" Greg Page[23]
2010 "Modern Fables" Mark Burrows[24]
2012 "Broken Home" Stephen Tilley[25]

Awards

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Year Award Category Work Result
1999 bNet NZ Music Awards Best Independent Release Starlifter (Fur Patrol) Won[26]
1999 bNet NZ Music Awards Best Fox Julia Deans Won[27]
2001 New Zealand Music Awards Single of the Year "Lydia" (Fur Patrol) Won[28]
2001 New Zealand Music Awards Best Female Vocalist Julia Deans Won[28]
2001 New Zealand Music Awards Best Songwriter "Lydia" Won[28]
2001 New Zealand Music Awards Album of the Year Pet (Fur Patrol) Nominated[28]
2001 APRA Awards Most Performed Work in New Zealand "Lydia" Won
2010 APRA Silver Scroll Short list "A New Dialogue" Shortlisted[7]
2011 Taite Music Prize Short list Modern Fables Shortlisted[8]
2012 APRA Silver Scroll Long list "Anniversary Day" (with Jon Toogood for The Adults) Nominated[29]
2012 New Zealand Music Awards Album of the Year The Adults (with The Adults) Nominated[11]

Personal life

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Deans' grandfather was painter Austen Deans. Her great-great-great-grandmother was Jane Deans.[30]

References

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  1. ^ Julia Deans (May 2013). Slow Boat Records. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Banshee Reel". Celtic Folk Punk. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b "New Zealand Rock" (PDF). Random House NZ. Retrieved 26 October 2012.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Fur Patrol". Amplifier. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Life after Lydia". The New Zealand Herald. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  6. ^ Paula Yeoman (19 July 2010). "Beyond Fur Patrol". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  7. ^ a b "2010 APRA Silver Scroll Award Finalists". Under the Radar. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  8. ^ a b "he 2011Taite Music Prize – Announcing the Finalists!". IMNZ. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  9. ^ "Player bios". The Adults. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  10. ^ "The Adults". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  11. ^ a b "2012 Album of the Year". NZMA. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  12. ^ "julia deans – broken home sneaky preview". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  13. ^ "Jon Toogood and Julia Deans: To Brel and back". The New Zealand Herald. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  14. ^ "Taite Music Prize 2013 Finalists Announced". Under the Radar. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  15. ^ "Starship Christmas Album". Starship Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  16. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  17. ^ "A New Dialogue". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  18. ^ "Modern Fables". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  19. ^ "BANSHEE REEL IN NEW ZEALAND CHARTS". charts.nz. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  20. ^ "The Only Thing". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  21. ^ "Not Given Lightly". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  22. ^ "Broken Home". iTunes. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  23. ^ "A New Dialogue". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Modern Fables". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Broken Home". Beneficentia. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  26. ^ "Just love your music, man". The New Zealand Herald. 30 August 1999. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  27. ^ "2005 bNet NZ Music Awards Nominees Announced". NZ Musician. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  28. ^ a b c d "2001 Winners". NZ Music Awards. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  29. ^ "Silver Scroll nominees named". Stuff. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
  30. ^ Harper, Jendy (26 July 2020). "Singer Julia Deans tracks Scottish ancestor who 'started a dynasty' in Christchurch". Stuff. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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