The Song:

Into the West was composed by Fran Walsh (Peter Jackson's wife), Howard Shore and Annie Lennox and originally performed by Annie Lennox for the movie The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King.

In the movie, the song was conceived as a bittersweet Elvish lament sung by Galadriel for those who have sailed across the Sundering Sea. Several phrases in the song are taken from the last chapter of the book The Return of The King.

However the song was also partially "inspired" by the premature death from cancer of a very young NZ filmmaker Cameron Duncan. Both Peter and Fran and some of the members of the LOTR team had formed a close relationship with this young man.

The song won the OSCAR (sung by Annie Lennox) for Best Original Song at the 76th Academy Awards.

It has since been recorded by young NZ singer Hayley Westenra and also Yulia Townsend.

Yulia:

Yulia and her mother arrived in New Zealand from Russia in 2002. She learnt enough English within 6 months to be able to attend school in Christchurch, NZ. Her debut Album 'Into The West' was released in October 2004, and by October 2005, she was the recipient of 2 Tui Awards for 'Highest Selling New Zealand Album and Best Female Solo Artist. Yulia became a NZ citizen at the end of 2005.

In the video clip here, you see Yulia at about age 17.