Juls

Julian Nicco-Annan (born 25 October 1985), better known by his stage name Juls, is a British-Ghanaian record producer,[1][2][3][4] disc jockey, and musician, and considered one of the pioneering producers of African music in the diaspora,[5][6] particularly in Afrobeats circles.[7][8] He is best known for the production of songs like ''Bankulize'' and "Skin Tight" by Mr Eazi which accrued over two million views on YouTube; "Feel Alright" by Show Dem Camp,'' Rudebwoi Love'' by Stonebwoy[9] and ''Gwarn'' by Burna Boy. He has collaborated with labels like BBnz Live,[10] Toko Beatz, Stereofly Records, Cosmic Harmony, and Lost Ones and worked on A&R for Mr.Eazi's  record-breaking Life is Eazi album.[5]

Juls
Background information
Birth nameJulian Nicco-Annan
Also known asJuls Baby
GenresAfrobeats, Amapiano, Afrovibes
Occupation(s)Record producer, DJ, musician
Associated actsMr Eazi, Burna Boy, Sarkodie, King Promise, Show Dem Camp, Busiswa

Early life

Juls was born in Hackney, East London, to musically inclined parents who moved from Ghana to Britain in the late 1970s.[11][12] After spending his youth in Ghana,[6] he moved to Hackney, and then to Stevenage in Hertfordshire, crediting his diverse taste in music to this move.[13] He had his education in London, eventually acquiring a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Finance from the University of Surrey in England,[5] and developed his music talent there.

Career

In early 2010, Juls began to produce music casually. His first break occurred once he produced a song for Show Dem Camp entitled "Feel Alright" in 2012, and he began to DJ while finishing his studies in Surrey in 2013.[8] Once his work gained significant traction, he began to release his own music, including "Teef Teef," "With You," and "Give You Love,". His debut album entitled Leap of Faith followed in 2017 with Ojekoo, which featured Kojey Radical ("Temperature Rising"), Maleek Berry and Nonso Amadi ("Early"), and Eugy, Not3s, and Kojo Funds ("Bad"). These albums both gained over 30 million streams on all major streaming platforms that year.[14]

Bankulize and Mr Eazi

In 2013, Mr Eazi began to promote shows in Kumasi, Ghana, and sent the vocals for one of his songs “Bankulize” to Juls in London after meeting him on Twitter.[15] The collaborative track would eventually create Mr Eazi's largest fanbase in the diaspora and become a cult hit.[16][17] The song features vocals from Ghanaian hiplife artist Pappy Kojo and was released in November 2014. The official remix of "Bankulize" features Burna Boy and was released in September 2016. Mr Eazi premiered the remix on Ebro Darden's Beats 1 radio show a month earlier.

Colour

He'd then produce Wande Coal's "So Mi So", along with "Maayaa," featuring Cruel Santino (aka Santi) and Tiggs Da Author in 2019. The track was inspired by Maya Angelou and the women who raised him.[18] Following this, he'd release the Colour project, which featured the likes of Sweetie Irie and Sway Clarke. The album was so named due to the mix of skills and genres featured.[8]

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with our content. Look at all the quality videos that our artistes are putting out. Boasting our culture and our identity. The western media isn’t used to this new narrative. As our music scene gets bigger, it’s getting harder to ignore because African Pop music is what is hot right now. Look around you. Our influence is all over everything from film, to music to fashion. Also, I don’t think our aim or my aim anyways is to rub shoulders with “foreign counterparts”. It’s about spreading the culture and our music and getting heard. We haven’t had those resources and access to major funding that’s the only issue. And most African artistes are now getting educated on the business side of things so we don’t get cheated. It takes time. Illiteracy has been Africa’s major problem for developing as a continent. First solution is to take pride in our culture and educate ourselves first.” [5] - Juls in an interview with BlanckDigital

Happy Place

In February 2020, Juls traveled to South Africa to experience the culture of Amapiano first hand (a style of house music that emerged in South Africa in mid 2010s), and began to explore producing the style of music.[19] He then released the 5-track EP Happy Place which features artists from South Africa, Nigeria, Jamaica and Ghana including singer-songwriter Busiswa and vocalist King Promise.[20][5]

Since the release of Happy Place, Juls has released a 2-track collaboration with Sango entitled Fufu & Grits with Soulection, and another new single featuring Randy Valentine titled “Wata”.

"U Say"

Juls produced "U Say" on the second studio album of American rapper Goldlink, entitled Diaspora.[8] He later flew to LA to be appear in the video for the single which featured Tyler, the Creator and Jay Prince, and was directed by Cruel Santino.[8]

Tours

Juls has since performed at major events worldwide such as SXSW in both 2017 and 2018,[6][21] Encore Festival, The Ends Festival and TIDAL x Diaspora Calling with Lauryn Hill.,[5][19] Ibiza Meltdown 2019 and Afro Republik/Wizkid.[14] He was invited and spoke at ADE-Amsterdam Dance Event in 2019,[14] and hosts his self-curated tour entitled A Night With Juls which features live sets and DJs, the first of which was held in New York on the 23rd of August 2019.[22][8]

Discography

EPs

  • Solora (2014)
  • Berlin (2014)
  • MS (2014)
  • Ojekoo (2017)[23]
  • Happy Place (2020)[20]

Albums

  • Aamake Sange Nao (2014)
  • Finest Club Hits,Vol.8 (2015)
  • Finest Club Hits, Vol.9
  • Leap of Faith (2017)[24][25]
  • Colour (2019)[26]

Singles

Year Title Album Ref
2016 Give You Love Give You Love [27]
2017 Gwarn feat. Burna Boy [28]
2017 My Wave Leap Of Faith [29]
2018 Sister Girl feat. Wande Coal
2017 Your Corner feat. Nonso Amadi Ojekoo [30]
2017 Oshey feat. Moelogo, Siza, DJ Tunez Ojekoo
2019 Maayaa feat. Cruel Santino, Tiggs Da Author Colour [18]
2019 Angelina Colour
2019 Cake feat. Mr Eazi
2019 Like Tu Danz feat. Kida Kudz, Ms Banks, Pa Salieu
2019 Your Number feat. Mugeez, King Promise Happy Place [20]
2020 Wishes feat. Jah Cure
2020 Wata feat. Randy Valentine [19]
2020 Fufu & Grits feat. Sango Fufu & Grits [19]

Achievements

Juls won Producer of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards UK and AFRIMA Awards in 2017.[5] He also was nominated for Best African Act at the Music of Black Origin Awards that year.[31]

References
  1. "DJ Juls". Latest Naija Nigerian Music, Songs & Video - Notjustok. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  2. "JULS : chelseamusichall". Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  3. "Juls - Against The Clock". FACT Magazine. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  4. "Juls - Against The Clock". FACT Magazine. 2019-09-25. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  5. admin (2019-06-24). "THE INTERVIEW: JULS ON NEO-AFRICANISM AND THE AFRICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY". Blanck Digital. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  6. "DJ Juls". SXSW 2020 Schedule. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  7. "Listen To Juls' Newest Project 'Colour' Featuring Ms Banks, Kojey Radical & More". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  8. "Juls". Notion. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  9. "Juls | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  10. "BBnZ Live". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  11. Bootstrap. "JULS Biography, Age, Early Life, Relationships, Songs, Net Worth And More". Information Guide Africa. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  12. Penney, Joe. "The Ghanaian producer behind Nigeria's favorite hits". The Outline. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  13. "RA: Juls". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  14. "Juls". ADE. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  15. Penney, Joe. "The Ghanaian producer behind Nigeria's favorite hits". The Outline. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  16. "Mr Eazi Is West Africa's Newest Superstar". The FADER. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  17. "MR EAZI BIO". et.coca-cola.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  18. "Juls's "Maayaa" video is a stylish tribute to the women who raised him". The FADER. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  19. music, Claudia NamuA presenter with love for; meeting, travel I. like; busy, sparking a conversation with new people Forever trying to keep myself (2020-06-21). "WPGM Interviews: Juls – African Heritage, Building Relationships And 'Happy Place'". WE PLUG GOOD MUSIC. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  20. "Juls Unveils New Globe-Spanning 'Happy Place' Project". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  21. "DJ Juls". SXSW 2020 Schedule. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  22. "A Night with Juls | Live - Subterania | Tour Dates London". Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  23. "Juls". AugustLiveGh Media. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  24. "First Listen: Juls' New Album Puts Him at the Forefront of the Alternative Afrobeats Movement". OkayAfrica. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  25. "Juls – Leap of Faith". Music In Africa. 2017-07-06. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  26. "Juls". Notion. 2019-09-02. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  27. "London-Based DJ Juls Channels Afrobeat in the Latest Highsnobiety Sounds Mix". Highsnobiety. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  28. "Listen To Burna Boy And Juls Team Up On Another Raunchy Song, 'Gwarn'". Konbini - All Pop Everything! (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  29. Prspct (2017-09-14). "Afrobeat artist Juls shares the semi-animated video 'My Wave' [UK / Ghana]". Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  30. "Juls ft Nanso Amadi – Your Corner". AugustLiveGh Media. 2017-12-29. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
  31. "This year's MOBO award nominations have been announced". The Independent. 2017-10-18. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
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