Review
“Heaven” featuring Mariea Antoinette
I like to listen to a song a few times before I write a review because there’s always something different I hear each time I listen and I feel something different each time I find.
“Heaven” by Yulia featuring Mariea Antoinette is very special in its simplicity, yet powerful in the way it is delivered.
This song also features other amazing musicians such as:
Bass: Tim Bailey Jr.
Percussion: Timbale Cornwell
Synth: Lew Laing, Jr. (who also serves as co-producer along with Yulia).
Mixed by: Joey Lomas
Mastered by: Patrick McGuire
How can you go wrong with this combination of passion driven and creative beings bringing forth such a timeless and beautiful work such as “Heaven”!
Let’s not forget about the angelic harp addition from Mariea Antoinette that adds such the right amount of quiet spice to this piece.
Yulia always produces fabulous music and what I love most about her is the fact that she collaborates with other talented artists such as herself (yes, real instruments are used by real musicians) and “Heaven” adds to her amazing catalog of classic music.
The song “Heaven”, has already received two Global Music Awards 2025 (two silver medals instrumentalist, new release) and was nominated on HIMAwards and InterContinental Music Awards 2025 before its release.
“Heaven” is another Yulia masterpiece that I urge you all to listen to and add to your music collection!
Paulette “Ms. Music” Jackson
Jazz Zone Promotions
Review
“Isaiah 40:31”
Isaiah 40:31 by pianist-composer Yulia and producer-composer Lew Laing Jr., opens with a rhythmic wonder, with key notes that rise to the angelic dance behind the keys. The rocking’ rhythm takes you on a melodic journey of expansion. It flourishes with a soulful expression to a cohesive union with the bass notes, slipping and sliding to new musical horizons, capturing the true essence of this scripture.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
Yulia’s flow musically brings you to an understanding of how life ebbs and flows through the backdrop of music through the golden thread of her heart. It causes you to witness how authenticity lends itself with awesome wonder, slow and steady and guides you to your purposed destination.
The outpouring of Yulia’s gentle ascent ignites with a faster rhythm that latches onto you. Somewhere in that corridor, one rises to its’ magnetic pull to a motivational dance within. It lands you right where you need to be, with joy that lifts you to higher heights. One can genuinely sense the angelic force that runs through Yulia’s hands as her heart openly takes flight to the rhythm of the music.
Producer extraordinaire, Lew Laing, Jr. ‘one of the most talented people in the music industry’ has worked with artists Paul Brown, Richard Elliot, Norman Brown, Rob Zinn, and Vandell Andrew just to name a few.
In addition, world-renowned bass player Timothy Bailey Jr., known for touring worldwide with artists Ariana Grande, Lalah Hathaway, Ruben Studdard, Charice, Judith Hill, Deborah Cox, and more adds to the stellar lineup that complements the tune propelling to its projected end. Success!
Isaiah 40:31 was mixed by four-time Grammy award-winning audio engineer Tre Nagella, who has worked with such phenomenal artists as Kirk Franklin, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, Blake Shelton, Snoop Dogg, and Travis Scott (just to name a few).
Yulia is no stranger to being recognized for consistently winning in top international competitions. Respectfully, Isaiah 40:31 has won awards even before its release! It has garnered two Silver medals at Global Music Awards 2025 as a winner, 1st, in composition, and 2nd, in listener impact: in motivational / inspirational categories. The song also became an award winner at the World Songwriting Awards - Winter 2025 (in the category "Best Musical Collaboration"), the IMDb-qualified Cine Vista Oasis Film Awards, the Tokyo Cinema Awards, and a nominee at the International Christian Film and Music Festival 2025.
Isaiah 40:31 is Yulia’s latest quest, ascending to new stepping stones to her continued greatness. Her humble heart and musical brilliance shine through on this tune. May she and Lew, experience heightened momentums as they grow forward expanding in their gifts, individually and together in the future. Bravo to them both!
Continued blessings,
Jaijai Jackson
The Jazz Network Worldwide & Not Just Jazz Network.
REVIEW
Paulette Jackson ~ Jazz Zone Productions
“Best Wishes” – Yulia
As I sit listening to Yulia’s newest release “Best Wishes” (July 14, 2023) and just two tracks in, one word came to my mind, BRILLANT!
I hadn’t even gotten half way into the album and was instantly blown away by Yulia’s gift and her passionate musicianship. Not only that, she has included other amazing musicians, (Sekou Bunch, Timothy Bailey Jr., Darrel Crooks, Gordon Campbell, James Gadson, James Manning, Andre Frappier, David Brunelle, Steve Alaniz, Vandell Andrew, Alexey Nikolaev, Merlon Devine, Sergey Ignatov), to add to her vision of this album and she definitely chose the right ones.
When choosing producers for a project, they have to see and hear your vision and really feel the spirit of your music and Yulia definitely found that in producers Lew Laing Jr., Michael B. Sutton and Sergey Ignatov. So much warmth and subtle power in each track. I heard something different and refreshing in each song. Sometimes a song can be too overpowering, too much is added and you can lose sight of it that is not the case with “Best Wishes”, it is sexy in its delivery. Yulia’s playing has an intimate, caring touch, whether it is a straight away piano or keyboard, there is no mistaking her love of the music she creates, and it shines through each track.
So, I jotted down a few of my favorites on this album; “When There’s Nothing Left to Say”, the cool sounds of the saxophone throughout this song was so beautiful and was a perfect fit to lead in and take you into another space. Next, “Keep the Faith”, the light but powerful touch of Yulia’s keys and subtle builds were strategically placed so beautiful I had to listen twice.
Although I named my two favorites, make no mistake that each of these ten (10) tracks, including her most recent single, “Two Rivers”, are so uniquely and masterfully done that listening to them will give you, as it has given me, a refreshed appreciation for real, pure music and musicianship. In music, your vision needs to be clear and concise but, without true emotion added, the listening audience won’t feel it either. I feel each and every track on “Best Wishes”, Yulia is music!
Yulia shared with me in conversation, that of the ten (10) songs on this album, seven (7) of them visited various international music competitions, receiving high marks from judges and prestigious awards such as: World Songwriting Awards, International Indie Songwriting Contest and the International Christian Film & Music Festival just to name a few, which is a testament to the brilliance of Yulia’s music.
I high recommend that you add Yulia’s “Best Wishes” to your music collection. It will be a delightful addition.
To learn more about Yulia and her music, please visit her website: www.YuliaMusic.com. Also, be sure to follow her on Twitter and Instagram: Yulia_Pianist and YouTube: @YuliaPianistComposer.
Paulette Jackson
Jazz Zone Promotions
