Press

Juliana Areias – A borderless voice
Talent, versatility and determination

Translation by Sue Burns

Passionately determined to show the richness of Brazilian Music and aiming to unite diverse cultural backgrounds through her art, Juliana Areias (singer/songwriter) is expanding her work throughout Australia.

After the success of her  show “Ginga Brazil” at Kulcha -  the Multicultural Arts Centre of Western Australia, Fremantle Festival and Sunset @ Subi Concert Series, singer Juliana Areias has also conquered the Ellington Jazz Club in Perth – one of the most respected Jazz venues of the Australian Music circuit. She first performed there on April 20th, accompanied by some of the best and most versatile musicians in town: guitarist Glenn Rogers, bassist Pete Jeavons, pianist Tal Cohen, drummer Mike Boase and Brazilian percussionist Marcio Mendes.

Her repertoire comprises the best of traditional and contemporary Brazilian Music including songs by Tom Jobim, Djavan, Pixinguinha, Chico Buarque, João Bosco, Lenine, Arlindo Cruz, Ceu and also original songs such as “ Mare Cheia “ (Full Tide) and “Flecha de Oxossi” (Oxossi’s Arrow).

Juliana explains: “The Ginga Brazil show is inspired by the Brazilian spirit and soul; its ability to reinvent itself is infinite.  Ginga is a Brazilian word that describes the signature element, the malleable bilateral motion and spirit that Brazilians present in everyday life – always keeping in rhythm. It is present in the way we walk, dance, talk, sing, play, love, live, face problems, adapt and achieve our dreams. In the show, we go beyond the clichés showing the public the whole spectrum and diversity of Brazilian music and at the same time, encouraging the fusion of Brazilian Ginga with the Australian Ginga because it is the mixture of influences that makes Brazilian music – and music in general –  interesting. “

Juliana was born of a mix of two cities: São Paulo and Salvador. She was born in Avenida Paulista on a Saturday evening during Carnival. Her father composed a samba to celebrate her arrival. During her adolescence, living in Sao Paulo, she began her career as an actress and gained the nickname “Bossa Nova Baby” by the renowned journalist, Ruy Castro, due to her unusual love for bossa. She lived for a few months in Brasilia, and at 17, she purposely went to Salvador to live in the same street where Vinicius de Moraes used to live,  in Itapuã Lighthouse Suburb.  It was there that she first performed as a singer and from then on she’s never looked back. She went to Switzerland and began travelling the world. She performed at events such as Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Cairo International Song Festival in Egypt as well as the America’s Cup and the Auckland Festival, both held in New Zealand.

Juliana Areias says she is happy to bring her music to Australia and enjoys the challenges of being a pioneer: “Compared to other places like Europe, where the Brazilian music market has had a tradition for over 30 years, everything is still new here. I see a great future for Brazilian music here and increasing responsiveness from the public, producers, the Australian media and art lovers.”

The next step for Juliana, the singer, is to consolidate her work in Perth and tour other cities in Australia and Asia. She looks forward to producing her new album with original songs, and collaborative works developed along her fabulous life’s journey with musical partners from around the world.

The talent and remarkable presence of Juliana attracts partnerships with Brazilian companies established in Australia: the brands; Daniela Collection (Jewellery), Totem (represented by Melko, based in Melbourne), Carmen Steffens and Oi Exchange.

In conjunction with her music, Juliana Areias unites her multiple passions. Juliana conducts research and projects relating to the history and music of Brazil. She’s presented seminars throughout Europe, has worked for the University of Auckland as a Brazilian Music Expert and currently writes articles for magazines and her own website, www.julianaareias.com . Juliana still devotes part of her time towards the development of the local Brazilian community, being one of the inspiring, founders and current vice president of the newly formalised Brazil WA – The Brazilian Association of Western Australia Inc. (www.brazilwa.com ).

Radar Magazine – Social Radar – March 2011 (Sydney – Australia)

FP Falamos Portugues Magazine, What’s on -Events – November 2010 to March 2011 (Sydney Australia)

The Western Australia , The Wire Mag , 23 September 2010 (Perth, Australia)

So Brazil at the Havaianas Botequim

So Brazil Duo (Juliana Areias and Jose Henrique Alves) and guest musician Rick Gonçalves joined a cast of Perth celebrities and entrepreneurs in the launch of the Havaianas Botequim on 16 March 2010, at Cottesloe Beach, in Perth. The event was awesome, as Havaianas decided to launch its version of a Brazilian beach Botequim (a very laid back bar selling drinks and traditional finger food) alongside the Sculptures by the Sea exhibition. So Brazil entertained the guests with a selection of songs that made everybody dance, while the catering service provided extra energy via generous servings of água de côco (coconut juice), pão de queijo (cheese balls) and feijoada (black beans with rice). The event made the social pages of several local newspapers (Below: scan from The West Australian,  “Out & About” in their Style section – 17/3/2010).

Media releases of So Brazil Concerts at Salt on the beach - Perth, Australia -  December 2009/January 2010

Media release of  So Brazil’s Debut Concert  – Perth, Australia – July 2009

Review of Aquarela  – Brazilian Jazz Band Concert -  Perth, Australia – March 2009

Juliana Areias’ passion for music and genealogy article -  Sao Carlos, Sao Paulo, Brazil – October 2007

Performances with Bel Bossa and Brisa Louca – Auckland, New Zealand – 2005-2007

Performing as a special guest of Corcovado Band – Piha, New Zealand -  December 2004.

Performance with Soul Brasil – Auckland, New Zealand – 2002

Performing with Vox Nova Latin Quartet -  Auckland, New Zealand – 2001.

Performing with Mombasa Jazz Emsemble – Auckland, New Zealand  – 2001

Miscellanious – Festival flyers and Media releases - Auckland, New Zealand – 2001-2007

Publication and invitation of the launch of the ” Showing the way – Curitiba: citizen city” – held by the New Zealand Government’s Parliamentary Comissioner for the enviroment – Auckland, New Zealand – 2002 .

Media Releases and Publications of the “Free Samba” Project of  The University of Auckland, directed by Christopher Naughton – Auckland, New Zealand – 2000-2003

Recording of 2 Cds for  Marcio Catunda – Brazilian poet and diplomatic “Anima Lirica CD” – Geneva, Switzerland – 1997-2000

Media release of the Brazilian Music and history conference series, directed by Paulo Freire House Association – Geneva, Swuitzerland – 1999

Official Program of  the Cairo International Festival – Cairo, Egypt – 1999

Media release and review of Jazz Brazil Concert – Geneva, Switzerland – 1997

“Atelier do Ivo Gato” in the official program of the ” Lidia de Oxum, uma Opera Negra” ( Lidia of Oxum, a Black Opera Musical), directed by Paulo Dourado – Salvador, Bahia – 1995

Media release and review of the play ” A Bruxinha que era boa” ( The witch who was good”) directed by Walcyr Carrasco. Sao Paulo, Brazil – April- July 1991.

Media release of the play “TIANNENMEN” directed by Luiz Gustavo Alves.  Sao Paulo, Brazil – June – July 1991.

In the main photo, Juliana Areias playing a chinese actress student playing Hamlet’s mother, the queen who dies at the end of this famous Shakespeare’s tragedy.