My dear friends and fans. I’ve been silent for a bit but I wanted to keep you posted on all of my trips and adventures and what is new with me.
I wanted to fill you in on some interesting news!I am curently working with Grammy Winning producer Walter Afanasieff. He is known for “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion, “Hero” Mariah Carey. He also produced the last Leanna Lewis album and many other great songs!
It has been a great process in finding a new sound and a new direction for me. Walter is an amazing producer who is so neatly and personally involved in the positive creative process, that it allows me to open in a different and higher dimension.I have had great pleasure working with him.
I think one of the main questions that any new artist faces is,
How do I start a new movement in music?
If you think about it…everything has been done. However, I think there is always room for innovation! My purpose is to create a style I call “Pop-ra”
It’s a mesh between pop-classical-rock and hip hop. I know… a lot to take in.
But as you remember my last album “La-La Land” was a twist between many different styles of 60’s and reggae-tango and club dance music.
The next set of songs is the next step forward and movement in time.
There are shadows of spoken word and rhythmic displacements and unusual harmonic movements. There are colors of Russian classics and hints of System of the Down and R&B beats.
This is where I leave you my friends to ponder on what is coming next! I hope you are looking forward to it as much as I am! Stay tuned and thanks!
Yulianna
2 years ago
In the past couple of weeks I have been in the studio working on my new single “Forgiveness.”
It has been an amazing experience and I have had a lot of fun working with Walter Afanasieff. I have mentioned in my Blog in November that we are trying to find a new sound. This sound I called Pop-Ra. It can be compared to modern classical yet you will also hear the pop sound. Its great to be able to deliver such a heart felt song. The song is still in the making process. I recently went back in to the studio to record couple of more takes. So far I have had 3 days in the studio.
Before I went into the studio I did a lot of work on my own and some with my vocal teacher Vladimir Chernov. It’s great to hear another interpretation of lyrics and music. The coaching helped me greatly with understanding the song on a much deeper level then my interpretation. I had to go back home and re learn my dynamics and cadences. I took at least three weeks on memorizing the lyric, living the words and understanding the melody, and the emotion that is portrayed behind it all. I had to develop that Pop-ra sound that mix between the old and the new. I practiced a lot just singing the melody on vowels. Then I took one word at a time and dissected each sentence by melodic phrase. There is a section in the song that is most unique. The Bridge is built 2 against 3. It’s so Rachmaninoff like, very dramatic melody scaling down word against this double meter. It brings a lot of tension.
On the first day of recording we decided to change the tempo.
We thought that the original tempo was too slow and was dragging. At this point I was in the vocal booth for about an hour or two. I enjoyed working with Walter because he is so detailed with his direction and clear with his vision. It was also great to have a conductor again. It’s been a long time since i have been conducted and it was a lot of fun!
We bumped up the tempo just a bit. I recorded for couple of more hours at the new tempo. And we finished on that note.
On the second day we decided that the original tempo was the correct one. So we re recorded the song several more times. This time though we started making melodic changes as we went a long. It’s hard to do things on a spot. To be able to deliver the words with passion and enough dramatics and be able to nail the new melody. Its hard because your muscle memory and your ear remember a certain thing that you have been training over and over. So when a new little change comes in to play it can throw things off. And the performance can be weaker then usual. But I love that type of challenge and I pick up things fast and it fun to me.
Two days ago I went back in to the studio after getting my “rough vocal”.
I have to be honest some things had to grow on me. Because it is so unusual what we are trying to do but it is so beautiful at the same time. I had to go back because there are things that were a bit bothersome to me. I’m such a picky perfectionist that I have to neat pick every little thing. Of course it was also good for me to hear the “rough” because it gave me an over al idea of the song. It’s one thing when you record it and you sing it. It’s very different when you hear your self sing. I was super happy with what I was hearing and I really wanted to perfect just couple of small things. I had couple of days to practice and get comfortable with the new melodic changes. So when I came in to the studio I was ready to perform.
I also came in with some ideas for back up vocals. Those were really fun to do because they were so unusual and kind of new but old reminded me of something Elvis would do.
Now I’m waiting to hear the finished product…
2 years ago
At the moment, I have a few hours before my rehearsal tonight. And what does Yulianna do on her free time? Helping her little brother remodel her own kitchen in her Historical home (originally built for legendary comedian Harold Lloyd).
I Love to paint! And I have the freedom to paint my walls any color! I want to make art!
I am very excited to say that my band is going to have one more rehearsal and we will be ready to come out and play in the city near you! ( So DEMAND me on myspace.com/yuliannamusic)
I have a very cool set of players.
A full brass section, guitar, keys, upright base, Dj and a kick ass drummer!
I can’t wait for all of you to hear me live. It’s that time of the year! Summer is all about that good live music!
And on another note! I will be holding auditions for my music video on June 15th for dancers. If interested make sure you title you subjesy line as
“Race Car music video”.
So. I’m off to paint and later rehearsal! Hope to hear from you soon!
LoVe PeAcE & MuSiC
YULIANNA
3 years ago
This was my very first time going to Coachella! It’s a great festival, with lots of exposure for artists and lots of fun for the audience!
Before I say more about the music I would like to make couple of observations.
The art installations and the sculptures were amazing! I especially loved the Serpent Mother and the Hand of Man, which were throwing fire at night! Also the Sol and the Bamboo Starscaper were incredible.
Also I really enjoyed The Do Lab with the water sprayers and the decorations on the opposite stage with all the fashion “gone wrong” elements.
As for music I’m of course super jealous of those who got to see Paul McCartney as well as MIA live. I only went on Sunday since Saturday was my first live radio interview. (it was so much fun & you will be able to check it out on You Tube shortly).
I did however get to hear few really great dj’s. Thanks to my producer Robin Nixon I got to meet Henry Strange and Braden. I got to hang out with several other great artists and dj’s in the VIP section.
Also I really enjoyed the Yeah-Yeah-Yeahs as well as The Core, the Plump DJ’s at the Sahara tent, and I absolutely loved the performance by Lupe Fiasco who came out with great energy!
Over all it was an amazing experience and I’m very super inspired by all the artists that I got to see at the event!
I recommend to everyone to go next year if you never been!
Cheers
3 years ago
Hi guys!
I got great NEWS!
Tune in to www.indie1031.com and hear me live this Saturday April 18th between 11 am p.t. 2pm e.t. on Passport Approved with Sat Bisla!
This will be my first official interview!
Woo-hoo!
PeAcE LoVe & MuSiC
p.s. just log in to the website. in the left top corner you will see SHOWS
select it and scroll down till you hit Passport Approved. also just brows around the website.
don’t forget to visit my website for any upcoming news!
www.yulianna.com
3 years ago
I am excited to announce that I will be shooting my first music video! For my single RACECAR, with an Oscar wining director Waleed Moursi. He is an old friend of mine and a very creative and brilliant soul! Actually I have a short story to tell you about this man. When I came to The US I decided to change my name to Julie. I thought that my name was so common back home that I said “I hate my name call me Julie from now on”. So when I came to Cal Arts everyone started calling me Julie. That is where I met Waleed Moursi. I remember the first party at Cal Arts like it was yesterday. We were talking in the hall way and Waleed asked me what my real name was. So I told him. He then looked at me with a big surprise and said. “Your real name is so much better then Julie. What is wrong with you? For the industry you want to have a unique unusual name, there are a lot of Julies out there you should keep your real name”. So on the next day I went to the admissions office and change Julie to my real name. (but my family members still call me Julie to this day) LOL
In any case what we have cooked up for you trust me you have never seen before and some of it has never been done before either…
P.S. If you can guess what my real name is you will get a free EP CD with 4 tracks and a personal autograph.
Peace Love & Music
Yulianna
3 years ago
I’ve just finished training and I’m running to the beach trying to catch the last rays of sun.
Only now I understand why people from all over the world try, at least once in
their life, to visit California. Besides the obvious-Hollywood stars, beautiful people, Disneyland and Universal studios! It’s the beauty that drives us to the West Coast.
My Cousin just came out here all the way from Siberia. He was only 12 the last time I saw him! Now he is a professional Beach Volleyball player who is trying out for the Russian Federation Olympic team for the London Games in 2012. I had such a great time
watching him play on Manhattan Beach, Playa Del Rey as well as Santa Monica. So now that I’m laying out here soaking up the sun I reminisce about all the fun we had together here at the beach.
I would also like to remind everyone to not forget to wear sunscreen. My cousin didn’t listen and got burned as well as all of his teammates. Besides we all know that we are destroying the ozone layer- so be careful no one needs skin cancer. ☺
The ocean always had a healing power over me. I love the soothing sound of the waves. They bring me inspiration. The first song that I ever wrote was on the Beach. Now that I think about it- that was 10 years ago. It feels good to have something in my hands, and to say that I have finally stepped on my path to creativity and fans. I often wonder who I would have become if I stayed in Kazakhstan. I don’t know but I’m happy that I’m here in Cali! I have become whom I’ve always dreamed of being. A singer a songwriter a performer and a strong young woman. The hardest thing in this life is to believe in you and love yourself all; the rest comes with life’s lessons. So if you are having a hard time right now and you are lost, remember that nature is the greatest healer of all, and all you
have to do is step away from your troubles step outside of your box. Grab a towel go to the beach and meditate, or rent out some skis or surf board and go enjoy a great God’s gift to humanity “Mother Nature”.
P.S. Don’t forget to pick up your trash on the way out and please recycle!
xoxo
Yulianna
3 years ago
