Margaret urlich
Encyclopedia
Margaret Urlich is an ARIA Award-winning musician
based in New South Wales
. Urlich came to Sydney
, Australia
, in 1988 to pursue her singing career. Her debut solo album, Safety in Numbers
, was highly successful winning Breakthrough Artist - Album at that years ARIA Awards, as was the follow-up Chameleon Dreams in 1992. Urlich has been successful Trans-Tasman, selling over 400,000 albums during her career, ranking her as one of New Zealand's most successful recording artists.
. Urlich moved to Australia
during the late 1980s and released her solo debut album Safety In Numbers
in 1989. The album peaked at #4 on the New Zealand album charts and #5 on the Australian album charts
and went triple platinum in Australia. Urlich winning an ARIA Award in 1991
for "Best Breakthrough Artist."
In 1990 Urlich, previous mostly unknown outside of New Zealand, provided backing vocals on a track for Australian artist Daryl Braithwaite
, on his second album Rise
, which released late 1990. The song she featured in was the Rickie Lee Jones
ballad "The Horses", which was a #1 hit for Braithwaite. The video clip featured Braithwaite singing on a beach, with a model (riding a horse), lip sync
ing Urlich's voice. Margaret chose not to appear in Darryl's film clip as she had just released 'Safety in Numbers' and was working hard to establish herself as a solo artist.
In March 1991, Urlich, armed with a half million dollar recording budget, returned to the studio to commence pre-production for her second album, Chameleon Dreams, with English writer/producer Robyn Smith, the man behind her highly successful debut. By mid year, Urlich and Smith had entered Sydney's 301 Studios to record their two songs, plus a third track written by Smith and Barry Blue. The same team had been responsible for two of the best tracks on Safety in Numbers
(Escaping and Guilty People), and their latest offering Boy In The Moon, proved pivotal to the sound of the new album. Other tracks were collected by travelling all over the world.
First Urlich went to London to co-write with celebrated writers like Rob Fisher
with whom she wrote the album's title track Chameleon Dreams. She then went on to Los Angeles
, where she met up with Grammy Award
-winning writer/producer Ian Prince, and with whom she wrote two songs for the album and he produced four tracks. She returned to London again, where she co-wrote a number of songs with Simon Law and Tony Swain before completing the project with three tracks produced by Swain.
The success of Chameleon Dreams earned Urlich the "Best Selling New Zealand Artist of the Year" award at The 1992 World Music Awards
in Monte Carlo. She attended the awards ceremony and performed Love Train.
In 1993 Urlich was part of Export Music Australia (EMA) and Austrade's second Wizards of Oz promotion, she toured Japan
with fellow singer Rick Price
and the group Yothu Yindi
.
She spent much of 1994 living back in New Zealand and appeared as Mary Magdalene
in a major concert production of Andrew Lloyd Webber
's rock opera
Jesus Christ Superstar
. Urlich released a version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him
" which reached #44 on the New Zealand singles charts.
For her third album, The Deepest Blue
she returned to her long standing partnership with British Writer/Producer Robyn Smith. Smith and Urlich co-wrote all but two of the tracks on the album. The Deepest Blue
was released in August 1995 but failed to have the same impact as her previous two albums, only reaching #18 on the New Zealand charts and #17 on the Australian charts.
In 1998, her contract with Sony Music having expired, she moved to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales
where she set up home and a new recording studio with her partner.
Here she produced her fourth album, Second Nature
, a recording project produced by Eddie Rayner
from Split Enz
that was recorded on and off over 12 months and involved musicians from Australia and New Zealand. The album comprised cover versions of some of Margaret's favourite NZ songs that she grew up with. These included artists like Split Enz, Crowded House
, Dave Dobbyn
, Max Merritt
, Shona Laing
, Don McGlashan
and Tim Finn
. The album was released in New Zealand in 1999 and reached #11 on the charts. It achieved platinum status in that country.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
based in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Urlich came to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in 1988 to pursue her singing career. Her debut solo album, Safety in Numbers
Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich album)
Safety in Numbers is the debut solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1989. The first single from the album, Escaping, peaked at #1 in New Zealand and #17 in Australia. Urlich won an ARIA Award in 1991 for 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Album' for Safety in Numbers. The album achieved platinum...
, was highly successful winning Breakthrough Artist - Album at that years ARIA Awards, as was the follow-up Chameleon Dreams in 1992. Urlich has been successful Trans-Tasman, selling over 400,000 albums during her career, ranking her as one of New Zealand's most successful recording artists.
Biography
Margaret Urlich began her career as the vocalist for the new-wave group Peking Man with her brother Pat, Tim Calder, Perry Marshall, Jan Foulkes, Neville Hall, John Fearon and Jay F-bula. Peking Man had a number of hit songs in New Zealand, "Good Luck to You", which reached #6, "Lift Your Head Up High", reaching #21 and the number one, "Room That Echoes", in 1985. Later she was a member of an all-girl pop group in New Zealand called When The Cat's AwayWhen the Cat's Away (band)
The New Zealand Female vocal group When the Cat's Away, are Annie Crummer, Debbie Harwood, Kim Willoughby and Margaret Urlich. Original member Diane Swann left the band in the 1990s....
. Urlich moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
during the late 1980s and released her solo debut album Safety In Numbers
Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich album)
Safety in Numbers is the debut solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1989. The first single from the album, Escaping, peaked at #1 in New Zealand and #17 in Australia. Urlich won an ARIA Award in 1991 for 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Album' for Safety in Numbers. The album achieved platinum...
in 1989. The album peaked at #4 on the New Zealand album charts and #5 on the Australian album charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and went triple platinum in Australia. Urlich winning an ARIA Award in 1991
ARIA Music Awards of 1991
The Fifth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 25 March 1991 at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. International host Bob Geldof was assisted by presenters to distribute 24 awards...
for "Best Breakthrough Artist."
In 1990 Urlich, previous mostly unknown outside of New Zealand, provided backing vocals on a track for Australian artist Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite
Daryl Braithwaite is an Australian pop singer. Best known as the lead vocalist of Sherbet, Braithwaite has also sustained a successful solo career, placing 15 singles in the Australian top 40, including the No...
, on his second album Rise
Rise (Daryl Braithwaite album)
Rise is an album by Daryl Braithwaite released in 1990. The album reached No. 3 on the Australian ARIA Charts.-Track listing:#"Rise" Rise is an album by Daryl Braithwaite released in 1990. The album reached No. 3 on the Australian ARIA Charts.-Track listing:#"Rise" Rise is an album by Daryl...
, which released late 1990. The song she featured in was the Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones is an American vocalist, musician, songwriter, and producer. Over the course of a three-decade career, Jones has recorded in various musical styles including rock, R&B, blues, pop, soul, and jazz standards.-Childhood:...
ballad "The Horses", which was a #1 hit for Braithwaite. The video clip featured Braithwaite singing on a beach, with a model (riding a horse), lip sync
Lip sync
Lip sync, lip-sync, lip-synch is a technical term for matching lip movements with sung or spoken vocals...
ing Urlich's voice. Margaret chose not to appear in Darryl's film clip as she had just released 'Safety in Numbers' and was working hard to establish herself as a solo artist.
In March 1991, Urlich, armed with a half million dollar recording budget, returned to the studio to commence pre-production for her second album, Chameleon Dreams, with English writer/producer Robyn Smith, the man behind her highly successful debut. By mid year, Urlich and Smith had entered Sydney's 301 Studios to record their two songs, plus a third track written by Smith and Barry Blue. The same team had been responsible for two of the best tracks on Safety in Numbers
Safety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich album)
Safety in Numbers is the debut solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1989. The first single from the album, Escaping, peaked at #1 in New Zealand and #17 in Australia. Urlich won an ARIA Award in 1991 for 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Album' for Safety in Numbers. The album achieved platinum...
(Escaping and Guilty People), and their latest offering Boy In The Moon, proved pivotal to the sound of the new album. Other tracks were collected by travelling all over the world.
First Urlich went to London to co-write with celebrated writers like Rob Fisher
Rob Fisher
Rob Fisher was a British keyboardist and songwriter from Cheltenham, England, who achieved chart success as a member of Naked Eyes, and later Climie Fisher...
with whom she wrote the album's title track Chameleon Dreams. She then went on to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where she met up with Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning writer/producer Ian Prince, and with whom she wrote two songs for the album and he produced four tracks. She returned to London again, where she co-wrote a number of songs with Simon Law and Tony Swain before completing the project with three tracks produced by Swain.
The success of Chameleon Dreams earned Urlich the "Best Selling New Zealand Artist of the Year" award at The 1992 World Music Awards
World Music Awards
The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show...
in Monte Carlo. She attended the awards ceremony and performed Love Train.
In 1993 Urlich was part of Export Music Australia (EMA) and Austrade's second Wizards of Oz promotion, she toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with fellow singer Rick Price
Rick Price
Rick Price is an Australian singer and songwriter.-Early life:Price was born in Beaudesert, a small country town near Brisbane, Queensland. He began playing music at the age of nine appearing with his family band "Union Beau". "It was kinda weird I guess...
and the group Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
.
She spent much of 1994 living back in New Zealand and appeared as Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
in a major concert production of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. Urlich released a version of "I Don't Know How to Love Him
I Don't Know How to Love Him
"I Don't Know How to Love Him" is a song from the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice , a torch ballad sung by the character of Mary Magdalene who in Jesus Christ Superstar is presented as bearing an unrequited love for the title character...
" which reached #44 on the New Zealand singles charts.
For her third album, The Deepest Blue
The Deepest Blue (Margaret Urlich album)
The Deepest Blue is the fourth solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1995. In November 2010 the album was re-released in digital form on various online music retail websites, including iTunes in New Zealand and Australia....
she returned to her long standing partnership with British Writer/Producer Robyn Smith. Smith and Urlich co-wrote all but two of the tracks on the album. The Deepest Blue
The Deepest Blue (Margaret Urlich album)
The Deepest Blue is the fourth solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1995. In November 2010 the album was re-released in digital form on various online music retail websites, including iTunes in New Zealand and Australia....
was released in August 1995 but failed to have the same impact as her previous two albums, only reaching #18 on the New Zealand charts and #17 on the Australian charts.
In 1998, her contract with Sony Music having expired, she moved to the Southern Highlands of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
where she set up home and a new recording studio with her partner.
Here she produced her fourth album, Second Nature
Second Nature (Margaret Urlich album)
Second Nature is the fifth solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1999. Second Nature was produced by Eddie Rayner from Split Enz and was recorded on and off over 12 months and involved musicians from Australia and New Zealand. The album comprised cover versions of some of Urlich's favourite...
, a recording project produced by Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
from Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
that was recorded on and off over 12 months and involved musicians from Australia and New Zealand. The album comprised cover versions of some of Margaret's favourite NZ songs that she grew up with. These included artists like Split Enz, Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
, Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn
Dave Dobbyn, ONZM is an award-winning New Zealand musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash...
, Max Merritt
Max Merritt
Max Merritt is a New Zealand-born singer-songwriter and guitarist who is renowned as an interpreter of soul music and R&B...
, Shona Laing
Shona Laing
Shona Laing is a New Zealand musician. She has had several hits in her native country, as well as a few minor international hits, most notably " Not a Kennedy" and "Soviet Snow". Laing also contributed to the Manfred Mann's Earth Band album Somewhere in Afrika...
, Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan
Don McGlashan is a New Zealand musician and songwriter who has been a member of bands such as The Plague, From Scratch, The Whizz Kids, Blam Blam Blam, The Front Lawn, The Mutton Birds and, from 2009, The Bellbirds. He composed several pieces for the Limbs Dance Company...
and Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
. The album was released in New Zealand in 1999 and reached #11 on the charts. It achieved platinum status in that country.
Discography
- 1989 Safety in NumbersSafety in Numbers (Margaret Urlich album)Safety in Numbers is the debut solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1989. The first single from the album, Escaping, peaked at #1 in New Zealand and #17 in Australia. Urlich won an ARIA Award in 1991 for 'Best Breakthrough Artist - Album' for Safety in Numbers. The album achieved platinum...
- 1992 Chameleon Dreams
- 1994 LiveLive (Margaret Urlich album)Live is the third solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1994. Live was recorded on Urlich's sold out 1992/1993 tour in support of her Chameleon Dreams album...
- 1995 The Deepest BlueThe Deepest Blue (Margaret Urlich album)The Deepest Blue is the fourth solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1995. In November 2010 the album was re-released in digital form on various online music retail websites, including iTunes in New Zealand and Australia....
- 1999 Second NatureSecond Nature (Margaret Urlich album)Second Nature is the fifth solo album by Margaret Urlich, released in 1999. Second Nature was produced by Eddie Rayner from Split Enz and was recorded on and off over 12 months and involved musicians from Australia and New Zealand. The album comprised cover versions of some of Urlich's favourite...
- 2011 The Essential
Awards and recognition
| Year | Award-giving Body | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Best Female Vocalist | Won |
| 1986 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Best Female Vocalist | Won |
| 1989 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Album Of The Year | Won |
| 1989 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Single Of The Year | Won |
| 1989 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Best Female Vocalist | Won |
| 1989 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Best Album Cover | Won |
| 1990 | New Zealand Music Awards New Zealand Music Awards The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups.... |
Best Female Vocalist | Won |
| 1991 | ARIA Awards ARIA Music Awards of 1991 The Fifth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 25 March 1991 at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre in Sydney. International host Bob Geldof was assisted by presenters to distribute 24 awards... |
Breakthrough Artist | Won |
| 1992 | World Music Awards World Music Awards The World Music Awards is an international awards show founded in 1989 that annually honors recording artists based on worldwide sales figures provided by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . John Martinotti is an executive producer and co-founder of the show... |
Best Selling New Zealand Artist of the Year | Won |
| 1993 | ARIA Awards ARIA Music Awards of 1993 The Seventh Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 14 April 1993 at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney. Host, Richard Wilkins, was assisted by presenters, James Reyne, Elle Macpherson, Billy Birmingham, Tim Finn, Neil Finn and Daryl Somers to distribute 24 awards... |
Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1994 | ARIA Awards ARIA Music Awards of 1994 The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney... |
Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 1994 | ARIA Awards ARIA Music Awards of 1994 The Eighth Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards was held on 30 March 1994 at the State Theatre in Sydney... |
Best Adult Contemporary Album | Nominated |