Julia Dales music career has seen appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres show, MTV and CBC’s The National. She got her musical start making YouTube videos in her Victoria Hall residence room at Queen’s.

Dales will return to Kingston tomorrow to open for Jeremy Fisher at the Mansion.

“I’m really excited to come back and play. I actually wrote a song while I was at Queen’s,” she said.

She has never performed her own show as a Queen’s student. Her earlier performances featured beatboxing versions of popular songs by Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and MC Hammer.

She said she started writing her own songs at Queen’s in her residence room.

“It was nice to kind of have my own place to write music,” she said.

After her first year at Queen’s in 2009, Dales decided to take a break from school to pursue her music career.

She spent her summer recording, but she has no definite plans for an album. Dales is giving out free live CDs during shows and providing free web downloads.

She’s steadily built up her set by adding a loop pedal, which allows her to beatbox and sing during her performances.

“Before this year I honestly didn’t ever play my own songs,” Dales said. “So with the loop pedal and me being able to beatbox and sing, it’s pretty much a new set this year.”

Dales’ live set usually features original songs, beatboxing and crowd requests.

“I like to make my shows more intimate and give the crowds a say in what they’ll hear.”

Julia Dales plays the Mansion tomorrow at 9 p.m., opening for Jeremy Fisher.