WAM Member Spotlight: Juliana Areias – Bossa Nova Baby nominated in Focus Brazil Awards

JULIANA AREIAS CELEBRATES TWO MAJOR NOMINATIONS IN FOCUS BRAZIL AWARDS

After a brilliant USA Tour, with performances in New York, California, Florida and New Jersey; Perth-based Brazilian singer-songwriter Juliana Areias, the “Bossa Nova Baby”, has been nominated for Best Musical Presentation and Best Brazilian Music CD for the Focus Brazil Foundation Awards, the most important event for Brazilian culture and arts in the USA, taking place in Florida, USA.

Vote for Juliana here.

“After the craziness of living four months in the USA with the loves of my life, my partner and kids, to promote our artistic works there; investing so much courage, energy, money, time, hard work and emotion – it is humbly gratifying to be nominated among so many amazing artists… including many of our new incredibly talented friends and also one of my idols – Grammy & Latin Grammy finalist Antonio Adolfo (composer of “Sa Marina” and many other Brazilian iconic songs). Congratulation to all nominees! To be nominated alongside you is an enormous privilege… Thank you to the Focus Brasil Foundation team for all the opportunities and to all our old and new friends in the USA for opening the doors, your arms and your hearts, welcoming us so well… I am eternally grateful to all of you…” – Juliana Areias about her nomination.

The Focus Brazil Foundation Awards have a mission to celebrate all aspects of Brazilian presence worldwide, covering a range which goes from Arts and Culture to Business, Entrepreneurship and Social Work, Education and Sports. The awards celebrate not only Brazilians, but personalities, institutions and initiatives from all nationalities which promote the positive image of Brazil and Brazilians.

Juliana Areias has performed on major stages internationally including the Sydney Opera House, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, the Green Room in New York, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the Auckland Festival in New Zealand and the legendary Beco das Garrafas in Rio de Janeiro.

As a teenager Juliana was personally introduced to the Bossa Nova founders by the iconic Brazilian music historian and journalist Ruy Castro – who also named her the “Bossa Nova Baby”. This direct contact with the Bossa masters inspired her to become a professional singer and songwriter.

Before moving to Australia, Juliana Areias began her music career in Europe and lectured in New Zealand, but it was her first original album “Bossa Nova Baby” produced in Perth that elevated her to the next level. Featured on Australia Day 2016, the CD received multiple music award nominations and earned regular air play around the world. Filled with original tunes, the CD is an infectious blend of bossa-nova with samba, jazz, pop, funk, choro, ballad, and tango rhythms.

– “The toast of the Perth Jazz Scene. The release of Bossa Nova Baby has elevated her above a mere covers singer or bossa specialist. The singer excels in an elegant co-composed duet (Belas Artes) with Australia’s finest Brazilian-oriented 7-string guitarist, Doug de Vries”.– The Australian – Tony Hillier

– “It’s bossa that plays soccer with Jazz – as it has since the 60’s – and scoring a goal. Bossa Nova Baby” is a welcome surprise of great Brazilian music, made far away.” –  O GLOBO– Brazil– Antonio
Carlos Miguel – Music critic  and judge member of the Latin Grammy Award.

– “The idea of mixing styles and cultures is reflected in Areias’ life and her music” – Daily Record, USA – Bill Nutt

VOTE FOR JULIANA IN HER CATEGORIES ‘Best Musical Presentation’ and ‘Best Brazilian Music CD’ HERE.

Fine our more about Juliana Areias – Bossa Nova Baby here.