Bay of Plenty musician Julia Turner, aka Juri Laurènt, is an ACC recovery partner by day and a singer-songwriter by night.

Turner was born and raised in Rotorua before she lived in Tauranga for many years. After gaining international recognition for her single ‘No Letting Go' in 2019, this week she was named as a finalist in the 2020 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) for her song ‘Shiver'.

'My musical career has been a journey with many highs and lows,” says Juri. 'I've always been interested in writing poetry and that progressed into lyrics.

'It took some time for me to bring melodies into the mix but once that happened, the flow of writing songs came quite quickly.”

Juri was then encouraged to start singing by her mum who was in a duo with her stepdad at the time which allowed her access to a home-based studio.

'The realisation or desire to be a singer-songwriter didn't hit until I was 21 and it has been a journey of experiences. Lack of confidence, to confidence, personal growth, vulnerability and learning since then.”

Whilst initially writing folk, blues and alt country a strong desire to perform more pop songs required the right collaboration.

'It wasn't until I moved back to Auckland in 2018, experienced massive heartbreak and connected with an incredible producer called Ben Malone that my alt pop persona ‘Juri Laurent' came about.

'We have recorded eight songs, released five and the sixth is due to be released on 26 March.”

Their first song as a collab, ‘No Letting Go', was released in September 2019 and became a finalist in the International song writing competition later that same year and a semi-finalist in the Unsigned Only category of the same competition for 2020.

'This felt like massive confirmation that I was finally doing the right thing at the right time. Perusing music is not easy, it's very fickle and not remotely guaranteed – but it's my passion and the risk is worth it.”

Juri lists the likes of Eva Cassidy and Leonard Cohen as having a 'massive influence” on her musical career so far.

'The inspiration for Juri Laurent is a mixed bag – from 80's pop artists to 90's fashion flair with a little bit of French noir. I think the trick is to not put Juri in a box.”

The promising Kiwi talent recently released her fifth single ‘Famous'.

'It's about being in a non-committal relationship that was very off and on,” says Juri. 'I was invested in that situation more so than anything and my thought process was very tongue in cheek that one of these days I will be successful and well known and he would wish we were still together. The song itself is not conceited, but more ‘fun and flirty' and performed with a wink.”

'To be completely honest, the man in question, this was his least favourite song of the eight. He said that with a wink.”

Juri is also a recovery partner at ACC a role that she loves.

'For me, the ability to have a positive impact on people when they are at their most vulnerable is what I enjoy most about the job,” says Juri. 'I enjoy really connecting with people and this role offers that in so many ways.”

Juri also believes that her desire to connect with people and her sensitive disposition as an artist helps her in her role.

'The roles of recovery partner versus musician couldn't be more different, yet they also demand the same thing. They both demand focus and structure, attention, integrity and discipline. In my role as a musician I get be floaty and free but at work I need to reign that creative side in and be decisive and responsible.”

When it comes to her own life, Juri believes that music is her salvation.

'Playing and writing music is honestly what saves me, because it's my creative outlet and anyone who is creative thrives on that release,” Juri says.

'I don't keep a personal diary, but music is that for me. It's where I air my dirty laundry and my deepest thoughts. I am 100 per cent honest with everything I write. If you want to know exactly how I feel or felt in any moment just open Spotify.

'My dream for my music is simply to leave an impact on people. It's my main form of release and expression and to have that received well by a wide audience would be lovely. Who knows what could happen from there?”

Download Juri Laurènt's new single ‘Famous' on Spotify or iTunes.