Singer to hit global stage
Te Puke singer Moone will next week go from intimate theatre to the whole world in the blink of an eye.
Moone (Marama Rice) will perform her debut single DLB
( Drunk Little Bitch) at Litt Park Theatre at the same time as it is released for download internationally.
She has a very strong connection with the theatre.
“My grandfather and my aunt, they were actually senior members from the very beginning,” she says.
Harry Rice was a concert pianist and also played for silent movies and Josie Rice was an opera singer. Her picture is still hanging in the theatre.
“She was in one of their fist shows, Dial M For Murder,” says Moone.
Last year Moone’s daughter Jazz Grindley-Rice played the title role in the Te Puke repertory production of Snow White.
“It’s a great little iconic theatre and I’m really happy to be playing there. It’s my debut on the stage and to be able to be there is pretty special for me.”
She says she loves the intimacy of the theatre.
“People will be able to meet me and see me and the fact that it’s my home town is pretty important to me.”
The single is drawn from personal experience and tells the story of unconditional friendship, the tale of what it means to have a true friend expressing trust, love and acceptance.
The song was inspired by her best friend.
“We sat next to each other in typing class when we were 12. Michelle would always come to my dance recitals and then come on holiday with me to my grandparents in Te Puke — we would go to the Mount, sunbathe and check out boys.
“We talk every day on the phone and still laugh at each other’s jokes.”
The song was written about a night the pair went out on the town down the Mount where her bestie decided to cross the road, fell and knocked herself out.
“I picked her up off the road as a big black car was about to run her over. She gained a massive haematoma on her forehead, but still wanted to party.”
Moone studied music at the Christian City Church Ministry Training College, School of Creative Arts in Sydney and majored in contemporary vocals. From 2000 to 2007 she owned and operated Soundbox Studios in Sydney.
“I had performed, but I was pretty much running the recording studio and a lot of my energy went into other artists and looking after them and making sure we got the best out of them.”
But now she is the performer. “This is a dream I’ve had since I was a little kid and it’s actually my turn.”
Moone’s original repertoire encompasses everything from soul to jazz, and even reggae.
“A lot of my stuff is about women reclaiming themselves — that’s come from my own experience. I’ve lived a little.”
Moone will be singing at the launch of Karyl Gunn-Thomas’ book My Story on September 27 at the Vector Group on Oxford St and then at the sold out Litt Park Theatre gig the following evening.