Julissa Veloz
Encyclopedia
Julissa Alexandria Veloz (born September 8, 1988 in Newark, New Jersey
) is a Dominican-American recording artist and songwriter. She first achieved fame as "Tiara Girl" in Season 8 of American Idol
. After being eliminated in the group rounds, Veloz was signed to record label Carrillo Music owned by DJ Rod Carrillo
.
In 2010, Veloz released her debut single, "Take Control", which peaked at number eight on the Billboard
Dance/Club Play chart. That October, Veloz released her second single, "Predator", which entered the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart at #44 and climbed to #19.
Julissa is currently on a worldwide tour with stops in more than 10 states in the U.S. and internationally in Germany, Poland, the UK and Italy.
. By the age of 10, Veloz began taking lessons with opera singer Nadine Herman at the Newark School of the Arts. During her vocal training, Veloz performed at several affairs with CEOs and Presidents of corporations such as Verizon and Prudential
and she was recommended to attend Juilliard by pianist Dalton Baldwin
. She earned several music scholarships, many of which she was the first vocalist to receive. Veloz expanded her artistic reach by writing several monologues which she later performed with her cast in the Broadway of New Jersey, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
.
Veloz left opera to pursue R&B and pop
with music producer/teacher Gerry Williams, who worked with artists such as Justin Timberlake
, Celine Dion
and Mandy Moore
. During this time, Veloz co-wrote and recorded her first two demos, "Far from Me" and "Feel the Music" to release to the public. After disappointing results, Veloz decided to audition for American Idol
and made it to the final rounds before being cut due to laryngitis.
One of her family members met label owner and DJ/producer, Rod Carrillo
, who signed her to his label, Carrillo Music, and her first single "Take Control" was recorded then released in February 2010. The song rose up the Billboard
Dance chart to #8. She released her second single, “Predator”, in October 2010.
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
) is a Dominican-American recording artist and songwriter. She first achieved fame as "Tiara Girl" in Season 8 of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. After being eliminated in the group rounds, Veloz was signed to record label Carrillo Music owned by DJ Rod Carrillo
Rod Carrillo
Rod Carrillo is a dance and Latin music producer, a house DJ, remixer and record label president.Born in the Republic of Panama, he began the Carrillo Music record label in 2007 and is a sought after producer and remixer/DJ....
.
In 2010, Veloz released her debut single, "Take Control", which peaked at number eight on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Dance/Club Play chart. That October, Veloz released her second single, "Predator", which entered the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart at #44 and climbed to #19.
Julissa is currently on a worldwide tour with stops in more than 10 states in the U.S. and internationally in Germany, Poland, the UK and Italy.
Biography
Veloz was born on September 8, 1988, in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. By the age of 10, Veloz began taking lessons with opera singer Nadine Herman at the Newark School of the Arts. During her vocal training, Veloz performed at several affairs with CEOs and Presidents of corporations such as Verizon and Prudential
Prudential
-Companies:* Prudential plc, a United Kingdom-based financial services company* Prudential Financial, a United States-based financial products and services company** Prudential Securities, financial services arm of Prudential Financial-Buildings:...
and she was recommended to attend Juilliard by pianist Dalton Baldwin
Dalton Baldwin
Dalton Baldwin is an American collaborative pianist. He has made over 100 recordings and has won numerous prizes working with Elly Ameling and Gérard Souzay.-External links:*...
. She earned several music scholarships, many of which she was the first vocalist to receive. Veloz expanded her artistic reach by writing several monologues which she later performed with her cast in the Broadway of New Jersey, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center , in downtown Newark, New Jersey, United States, is the sixth largest performing arts center in the United States...
.
Veloz left opera to pursue R&B and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
with music producer/teacher Gerry Williams, who worked with artists such as Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
and Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore is an American singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer. Moore became famous as a teenager in the late 1990s, after the release of her teen pop albums So Real, I Wanna Be with You, and Mandy Moore. In 2007, she took an adult pop-folk direction with the release of...
. During this time, Veloz co-wrote and recorded her first two demos, "Far from Me" and "Feel the Music" to release to the public. After disappointing results, Veloz decided to audition for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and made it to the final rounds before being cut due to laryngitis.
One of her family members met label owner and DJ/producer, Rod Carrillo
Rod Carrillo
Rod Carrillo is a dance and Latin music producer, a house DJ, remixer and record label president.Born in the Republic of Panama, he began the Carrillo Music record label in 2007 and is a sought after producer and remixer/DJ....
, who signed her to his label, Carrillo Music, and her first single "Take Control" was recorded then released in February 2010. The song rose up the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Dance chart to #8. She released her second single, “Predator”, in October 2010.
Discography
- Sweet Sugar Poison (2011)
- Me Against Me with Gabry PonteGabry PonteGabriele "Gabry" Ponte is an Italian DJ best known for his membership in the Italian dance group Eiffel 65. Ponte has been involved with the Bliss Team, DJ Gundam, and Sangwara...
(2011) - Take Control (2010)
- Predator (2010)
- Mayhem (2011)