Julissa Veloz

Julissa Veloz 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 Carrillo Music owned by Rod Carrillo.

In 2010, Veloz released her debut single, “Take Control”, which went Top 10 in eight countries . Later that October, Veloz released her second single, “Predator”, which entered the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart at #44 and climbed to #19. Her collaborations with Carrillo Music have spawned her recent success with her singles “Mayhem,” (US Dance #19) “It Would,” and “Very Brady Day”.

Veloz was born on September 8, 1988, in Newark, New Jersey. 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 Justine 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.