Anika Moa

AFTER 12 YEARS IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS, NUMEROUS APRA SILVER SCROLL NOMINATIONS, A DEBUT DOUBLE PLATINUM ALBUM WITH THINKING ROOM, PLATINUM STATUS WITH HER THIRD ALBUM IN SWINGS THE TIDE, MOA COULD BE TERMED A MINOR VETERAN. BUT THAT WOULD SUGGEST SHE HAS LOST THE CONFESSIONAL NATURE THAT HAS BECOME HER SIGNATURE IN THE WORLD OF POP MUSIC. SHE MAY BE TURNING 30 THIS YEAR, AND LIFE EVOLVING TO INCORPORATE NEW AMBITIONS - BUT AS ALWAYS - ANIKA MOA LAYS BARE HER SOUL & CASTS A TENDER AND CHEEKY GRIN ACROSS EVERY SONG AND CROWD.

EVOLVING FROM THE 18 YEAR OLD HANDPICKED TO DISCOVER FAME AND FORTUNE IN NEW YORK CITY - TO AN INDUSTRY SAVVY AND UNDENIABLE, STILL VERY ‘HARD-CASE’ MAORI GIRL FROM ROUND-ABOUT CHRISTCHURCH. THE COMMON THREAD THAT TIES HER HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO THE ARTIST WITH THREE POIGNANT AND SUCCESSFUL ALBUMS IS HER NATURAL KNACK - AN INSTINCTIVE POP SENSIBILITY.

ALMOST EVERY SONG YOU’VE HEARD THROUGH ANIKA MOA’S CAREER TAKES YOU INTO HER VERY PRIVATE SPACE, A TENDER PLACE WHERE SHE PLAINLY WEARS HER HEART ON HER SLEEVE.
EACH ALBUM HAS BEEN PART OF ANIKA MOA’S MUSICAL EVOLUTION AND A REFLECTION OF IMMEDIATE INFLUENCES. WHILE HER FIRST ALBUM THINKING ROOM COULD BE COINED CONFESSIONAL POP, HER SOPHOMORE EFFORT STOLEN HILL IS COLOURED WITH A JAZZ/BLUES BRUSH, THE THIRD ALBUM IN SWINGS THE TIDE DISTINCTLY COUNTRY TINGED; THE NEW ALBUM TRADES THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR THE ELECTRIC, AND MOMENTS OF LACONIC ROCK IS THE RESULT.

RECENTLY MARRIED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, MOA’S PARTNER IS HER MUSE AND MANY OF HER SONGS ARE THE RESULT OF BEING SEPARATED FROM LOVED ONES. WITH A LIFESTYLE CAUGHT IN THE TREADMILL OF RECORDING, PROMOTING AND TOURING AN ALBUM, HER LYRICS ARE THE THING THAT BRINGS THOSE PEOPLE CLOSER WHEN THEY ARE FAR AWAY. IT IS ONE OF ANIKA MOA’S ETHEREAL AND INTIMATE TRUTHS, THE FLIPSIDE TO HER CASUAL AND EARTHY NATURE.

WITH A SHOWCASE TOUR FOR THE NEW ALBUM COMING UP IN MAY AND A TOUR DE FORCE OF NEW ZEALAND SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER, ANIKA IS LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING THE NEW ALBUM AND OLDER CLASSICS TO HER LEGION OF LOYAL FANS. AFTER THAT SHE IS PLANNING ON A NEW PHASE IN HER LIFE.

SO WHETHER THIS IS ANIKA MOA’S SWANSONG OR THE NEXT CHAPTER IN HER POP VISION, WE CAN BE SURE THAT LOVE IN MOTION IS ANOTHER TIMELESS SNAPSHOT OF A WOMAN TRAVELLING WITH THE EBB AND FLOW OF LOVE AND LIFE. THESE ELEMENTAL FORCES PROVIDE US WITH ANOTHER POIGNANT ANIKA MOA ALBUM, ONE THAT CONSOLIDATES ALL THE OTHERS, FLYING THE FLAG FOR CONFESSIONAL ART AND POP PERFECTION.