Yulia, who came to New Zealand in 2002 as a Russian immigrant, won two Tui Awards three years later for best female solo artist and highest selling album for her debut album, Into the West.

After her tour of Blenheim and the West Coast she has a few Christmas concerts in Auckland before heading home to Russia to visit her family and travelling on to London, where she has had interest from the music industry.

"My manager introduced me to a few of his contacts over there who have been listening to my albums Into the West and Montage and want to see me perform."

If all goes well, she plans to stay in Europe. "I would ideally like to last a while and work all over the world," she says.

For her shows this weekend, Yulia will perform her favourite songs from both albums, along with some new numbers she has not performed before.

Also a songwriter, her favourite genre is folk music.

"It's something I was raised with and I find it easier to write.

"It tells a story and you can communicate with the audience without saying anything, just by singing."

She will sing some of her new folk songs in Russian and English at the concerts.

Yulia will perform at the Marlborough Centre at 8pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Tickets are available from the venue.

Source:  Marlborough Express