Julissa 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 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 and was licensed to 10 countries, which led to performances in clubs across Europe and the U.S. She released her second single, “Predator”, in October 2010.
