Anika Moa "Thinking Room" 2001

After bursting into the limelight in 2000 with a US album deal and an opaque song, ‘Youthful’, that hinted at experience beyond her years, Anika Moa captured hearts and minds with her crystal clear melodious voice, down-to-earth manner, whip-smart humour and knack for writing catchy, heartfelt pop songs.
Anika Moa has had an ambivalent relationship with stardom, turning her back on a US record deal to nurture a career as a singer-songwriter in Aotearoa, and producing music on her own terms. An intriguing career full of twists and turns that defined her artistic identity has followed.
Born in Papakura, Auckland in 1980, but raised in Hornby, Christchurch, Anika Rose Moa descends from Ngāpuhi and Te Aupōuri on her father Tia’s side. Moa’s passion for music was instilled in her by her (English) mother Bernadette, and as she and her siblings got older they sometime joined Bernadette onstage with her band.
Her performance debut came at eight years old, performing at a talent quest at Hornby mall, singing ‘Pink Cadillac’ by Natalie Cole – she came second.
Moa met her father when she was a teenager, a turning point for her as he introduced her to the guitar.
Throughout her career, Moa’s songwriting influences have been varied, but female singer-songwriters have always been inspirational. “I love lots of music, but if I’m honest, it would have to be … Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell … it’s that whole strong great woman singer songwriter styling.”
After meeting her father at age 13, Moa started writing songs. “My dad … he put a guitar in my hands and said 'play the guitar', so I started playing it,” she says. “My mum was in a band as well, so every Thursday Friday, Saturday I’d go to her gigs with her, and watch her, and just be in awe of her! I used to think she was like Madonna! A superstar.”
Moa’s ambition grew while attending Hornby High School, joining musicals and choirs, as well as rock groups, and falling deeply in love with music. This learning ground wasn’t always easy going.
“It was a real boys group, [they] were like 'you can’t sing, you can’t play guitar, you can’t write music,'” she admits. “That fired me up. I was like “you’re dumb, spazzy and ugly, and you know what? You can’t play your instruments either!” So I learnt how to play guitar. I didn’t need to learn how to sing, I already knew how to sing.”...to be continued... - Amanda Mills and AudioCulture
trax:
01 Good in my Head 02 Flowers for You 03 Falling in Love again 04 I Talked to You 05 My Son 06 Holding Me High 07 Mother 08 Youthful 09 God In His Culture 10 Everything's the same
…served by Gaius…