Gigs best way to celebrate Kiwi music
New Zealand Music Month is a time to celebrate home-grown music - one of Shannen Petersen‘s favourite things in life.
The year 12 pupil makes up one half of Palmerston North Girls’ High duo Fruit Juice Parade, playing guitar and singing alongside Tharushi Bowatte on drums.
Rockquest heats take place Friday, and the duo are polishing up their performance ready to take part.
‘‘We formed about two years ago. It’s indie-pop rock, teenage stuff.
‘‘We write things that we enjoy, it’s a whole mixture of things,’’ Shannen said.
‘‘I just like being able to perform and show other people the music that I create around here, there’s a lot of emphasis on original music, and I find that’s really helpful because it just encourages it.’’
This will be her fourth Rockquest. Fruit Juice Parade won the People’s Choice award last year, and Shannen picked up a songwriting award the first year she performed, with band Pixie Dust.
She also performs under the name Shannen with singersongwriter material, and as SP for experimental electro gigs.
‘‘I play weird electro music. It’s just really experimental, I’ll push a button, it makes this sound, and I like figuring out what things work.
‘‘I never seem to stick to the same sort of sound, what I do changes a lot.’’
Other musicians have had a big impact on her creativity, she said, and vary through a huge range of styles.
From 1970s country rockers Dr Hook, to millennial pop princess Taylor Swift, to Auckland grass roots indie drum and guitar duo Carb on Carb.
‘‘I really relate to Carb on Carb’s music, and their guitarist is quite influential to me.
‘‘It’s really nice to see what they can achieve as a two-piece, like Fruit Juice Parade.’’
She makes a point of getting out to see live acts often, and says Palmerston North is lucky to have a good range of venues, especially good all-age venues.
The Stomach and Snails are favourite spots.
‘‘That’s important for young people - and you have to have young people coming onto your music scene, otherwise how are you going to sustain it.
‘‘Music is definitely a part of my identity.
‘‘I guess I do it because it’s a lot of fun, but also really cool seeing other people get a kick out of it.’’
New Zealand Music Month is the perfect opportunity to explore our home-grown sound, she says.
‘‘I think it’s pretty cool and really important to celebrate it and support it, because New Zealand has a lot of really cool musicians who play great music.
Shannen is playing as part of the Doofs and Books gig for NZ Music Month, which is free at the Palmerston North City Library on Thursday, from 7.10pm.
She will play an electronic set as SP.
Other artists Researchintospeed, Techno Club and Cystre. include Takaro