Julia Messenger is an Australian singer-songwriter and producer best known for her work in the electronica, chill-out and jazz genres. She has performed, recorded and collaborated with Klaus Schulze, Henning Schmitz, Ferry Corsten, Klaus Waldeck, Manfred Leuchter and Scott Rockenfield.
Messenger has released three albums, with songs from those albums appearing on several compilation albums, including Pure Chill Out (2002) which debuted at No. 19 on the U.S. Billboard Top Electronic Albums Chart.
Messenger's songs have also had television placements in ABC's Miss South Sudan, Miss Australia, Bad Girls Club, and Thomas Banks: Quest for Love.
In 2006 The New York Timesâ listed Messengers' song âÂÂLook Up, Look Downâ as being included on the Top 5 playlists of songs heard in U.S. Restaurants.
Messenger has performed at Australian venues including: Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Recital Centre, Montsalvat, Paris Cat Jazz Club, The Vanguard and The Basement.
Messenger has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Alexis Bistro Ampang in Malaysia, with Manfred Leuchter, and on the Midnight Sun Train across Finland with Iiro Rantala.
Messenger has performed as a session singer for artists Manfred Leuchter and Geoff Kluke and the Changes.
As a producer, Messenger remixed Australian band, Not Drowning, WavingâÂÂs song âÂÂPalauâ for the Sonic Maps EP.
Messenger's works âÂÂMyamisumi,â âÂÂGlitterâ âÂÂLover Come Backâ and âÂÂStrippedâ have been remixed by producers Razoof, Rubbasol, Salz, Mod X, Charly H. Fox, Raubrec Team, Chris B, Peter Haze, and The Icons South Beach.
Ferry Corsten released a remix album of Twice in a Blue Moon, including the track co-written by Messenger, Black Velvet which was remixed by & Jerry Ropero.
German electronic music magazine, has written about and reviewed Salz's remix of Messenger's âÂÂMyamisumiâ and âÂÂLover Come Backâ as well as her collaborations with Whirlpool Productions and Marcus Worgull. Groove commented that âÂÂJulia sings into your heart and mine, truthfully so lovingly it rivals that of singer Nicolette.âÂÂ
Sue Wilson of The Scotsman has written of Messenger's vocal talent: "â¦through the full spectrum, from fragile candied sweetness to a scorching soul-diva holler â echos of Mouth Music, Annie Lennox, Horse, Sinéad O'Connorâ¦".
Messenger is featured and interviewed in the book "A Singers Companion: Personal Wisdom from the Global Music Industry" by Australian singer Christine Sullivan and Monika Roleff, sharing experiences and guidance as an international musician.
As vocalist and composer, Messenger has collaborated on many works with Klaus Schulze, a German composer and musician. The significance of her collaborations with Schulze are widely acknowledged and referenced in reviews internationally.
Klaus Schulze released limited box set editions of non-album material, of which Messenger collaborated on Contemporary Works I as a composer and featured vocalist, and Contemporary Works II as a featured vocalist.
Greg Allen's book, âÂÂKlaus Schulze, Electronic Music Legend,â features Messenger as a collaborator of Schulze, writing about her compositions and performances as well as interviewing her regarding âÂÂThe Crime of Suspenseâ of which she co-wrote two compositions and was featured as a vocalist. Allen comments on her performance of "Overchill" stating, "Julia Messenger and Thomas and Kagermann are both very creative and spirited musicians... adding a stunning new dimension to KlausâÂÂs music." In writing about the title "My Ty She" Allen states, "The combination of your (Thomas Kagermann) ethereal vocals with JuliaâÂÂs makes it an extraordinary work."
Messenger's collaborations with Schulze's from Contemporary Works I and Contemporary Works II were re-released as independent albums under different record labels.
Messenger also collaborated as a composer of âÂÂKS/Jay M.Dâ from Essential Edits Promo (2000) and performed as a vocalist on Shadowlands (2013), alongside Lisa Gerrard and Crysta Bell.
In 2003, Messenger's songs âÂÂDo I Know Youâ and âÂÂFresh On The Edgeâ were finalists in the Dance/Electronica category of the Australian Songwriters Association National Songwriting Contest. âÂÂFresh On The Edgeâ was further recognised in the Top 10 finalists for the category.
In 2007, Messenger was a semi-finalist of the International Songwriting Competition in the AAA (Adult Album Alternative) category for "And We Dancedâ and in the Performance category for "So Complicated.â In 2016, Messenger was a finalist in EDM (Electronic Dance Music) category with her song âÂÂStripped,â which was later awarded an Honourable Mention.
Messenger has had multiple cuts with artists Whirlpool Productions and Ferry Corsten, regularly performing as a vocalist on the recordings and being credited as a featured artist.
Messenger's songs have been included on many compilation albums released under U.S. and European labels.
Her song "For the Love of You" released with PFL also appeared on a compilation DVD entitled, Flowmotion (Visual Pleasure Volume 3.0) released by