Anna Coddington
Gig Seeker Pro

Anna Coddington

Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand | INDIE

Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand | INDIE
Band Pop Alternative

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Anna Coddington- The Lake review"

Anna Coddington's debut album, The Lake, was quite a surprise when I received it. With many people comparing her to Bic Runga and Anika Moa I was not disappointed that Anna added her own flavour and style for a uniquely outstanding album. Anna has toured in Bic Runga's band and added back-up vocals to her last album, Birds. You can also hear Anna on Anika Moa's last two records with Anika in return adding vocal harmonies on The Lake.

This is not without an outrageously talented band supporting her with Ned Ngatae, guitarist (Dimmer, Hollie Smith), Riki Gooch on the drums (Trinity Roots), Chip Matthews on bass guitar (Open Souls, Anika Moa) and on the keyboards is Steph Brown (Che Fu, Nathan Haines, Open Souls). With a solid history in the industry and band credits like you would never have believed, helps to make up this fantastic album.

The first single from the album "Hold you here", has a real kiwi feel about it which has played in my car enough times to have the kids start singing along on the road. My favourite track on the album is "T-Shirt" but this has not yet made the sing along classics my travels have yet experienced.

If you like the work from Bic Runga and Anika Moa you will not any way be disappointed by investing in this album. - muzic.net.nz


"Anna Coddington - 20 June, Mighty Mighty"

Cosy lighting, crimson curtains, mesmerising toilet graffiti and an unfailing ability to showcase top-notch New Zealand talent, are some of the attributes that make Mighty Mighty a superb bar to kick back and slowly drink the night away... this certainly rang true the night Anna Coddington came to town to celebrate the release of her solo debut album, The Lake.

This coming of age album (as one magazine condescendingly termed it) is a pretty big deal for Coddington. Any New Zealand music publication circulated in the last month will tell you that she has been kicking round the music scene for a while (notably with her bands Handsome Geoffrey and Duchess, as well as collaborating with the likes of Bic Runga, Anika Moa and Tim Guy... impressive...) So, I guess the nationwide tour is a chance for Coddington to tell the New Zealand public... Bam! This is what I've got!... and judging by the packed bar, there were plenty of people willing to listen.

With casual effortlessness Coddington and her band graced the stage just after 10.30pm and exploded with the no-nonsense single Come Now. From the opening note I was captivated by the sincerity of Coddington's voice and the sophistication of her lyrics... I was hanging off her every word and drumming the tabletop to the tight rhythm and beautiful harmonies... this intensity grew with each song... Sweet, Sweet Nothings... Never Change... T-Shirt...

Until... a human wall formed between those seated and the band... my sense of pride at having secured a table centre stage was crushed as Coddington became a half levitating head. It wasn't until my personal favourite track Sentences was played that I negotiated my way through the wall... It suddenly dawned on me that everything in life has a purpose and at that particular point of time the wall's purpose was to shield the crowd from the 1960's go-go-monster-mash-esque dance moves assaulting the dance floor... thank you wall.

So besides that hiccup, which lets face it had nothing to do with Coddington, it was an incredibly impressive set. The backing band was superb and very tight (many of whom are accomplished musicians in there own right... Ned Ngatae, Chip Matthews, Riki Gooch) and Coddington captured the essence of a remarkable performer. I honestly could have listened to them play all night.

Now... if you're kicking yourself for missing Coddington play this time round, don't despair... the way I see it you've got two options. Firstly, get a group together and road trip to the Tussock Tavern in Ruapehu this Saturday (apparently the tavern makes nice pizza...) or secondly, patiently wait for the 1st August to rock round and catch Coddington play live with Anika Moa at Bar Bodega... wow wow wow. - texture.co.nz


Discography

"The Lake"- LP (2008 Tea Set Records)
"Duchess"- EP (released with former band Duchess, 2005 Tea Set Records)

Photos

Bio

Raglan at heart, but well recognized throughout the country, Anna has established a reputation as one of New Zealand’s true songwriters and performers. Since her release of Cat and Bird in 2011 Anna has been drawing on the collaborative projects she's been involved in (Fly My Pretties, Street Neighbourz, Dick Johnson's latest releases, and co-write with Dmitri Tikovoi (Paris)0 to create an album that shows her growth and progression.

Maintaining the quirky pop style that is uniquely Anna, the new material is more beats based and deeper in arrangement and creative exploration. Moving on from the previous guitar based rhythms to involve a great range instrumentally and musically.

She translates this musical progression seemlessly in her live show whether it be the two piece or full band versions of the show. Her energy and vibe are enchanting and her audience are embraced into the full experience. Word on the Street sums it up perfectly "she is an excellent songwriter, a deeply talented vocalist, and has a gorgeous unassuming style about her: one of New Zealand’s true treasures."

Anna Coddington is one of New Zealand’s foremost heroines of independent pop music, as is clearly evident on her debut, self-produced album “The Lake”, released in June 2008.

Anna has been quietly kicking around New Zealand’s music scene for some time now. She has been heard singing in the background of some well known tunes by New Zealand artists like Bic Runga, Anika Moa, SJD, Dimmer and more, or in the foreground of a handful of casually released pop gems by her former bands Handsome Geoffery and Duchess.

Anna grew up in the sleepy seaside town of Raglan, New Zealand. By age 11 her Dad had taught her the 4/4 rock beat and she was clanging away on the drums with gay abandon, by 14 she had wrangled a few guitar chords out of her Mum, and by age 16 she was fronting and writing for her first band, Handsome Geoffery.

Anna later filled the same roles in four piece band Duchess- a more mature and refined distillation of her talents. She co-produced, with Edmund McWilliams Jnr (aka. Ed Cake of Bressa Creeting Cake fame), the six-track "Duchess" E.P, which was released independently in 2005 and distributed by Rhythmethod. It included the singles “You Buried Me Alive” and “Raglan City” (which won the 2007 Juice TV “People’s Choice” award).

When Duchess disbanded in 2006, Anna toured nationally and internationally as support act and backing singer for other New Zealand artists, but by 2007 an overwhelming desire to focus her creative energy back into her own tunes took hold, and put into motion the process which culminated in her album, “The Lake”.

Ms Coddington has a unique talent for writing beautiful songs with a twist of reality, making "The Lake" a delightfully engaging album.

Etc etc.