Teen prepares to launch first album
After two years in development, a 16 year-old singer-song writer from North Canterbury is preparing to release her first-ever major recording.
Nakita Turner, from Woodend, gained global recognition last year when she released the antibullying song One Voice. She went on to produce an online discussion resource on bullying for teachers, youth workers and young people in a bid to make her message more accessible. Her song and online resource has been used around the world, including in the United States and Brazil.
‘‘It doesn’t take much to be a role model if you do the right thing,’’ Nakita says.
Now signed to Smoke Music Management in Auckland, the year 12 pupil at Middleton Grange School is preparing to record her first EP.
In 2013, Nakita performed on Parachute Festival’s main stage as part of a talent competition, where she sang to over 20,000 people. After coming second, she joined the Parachute Music’s artist development programme for two years.
‘‘I wouldn’t think that just from entering that competition I would get to this,’’ she says.
Her EP would be released independently of any record label next year.
Although nervous about the new path her music would take, Nakita is excited about mentoring opportunities and moving one step closer to her goal of becoming a professional artist.
‘‘It’s amazing feeding off them and they show you what it’s like,’’ she says.
She is yet to discover her own individual sound and style for the release, but took inspiration from the likes of artists Jared James and Ella Eyre.
With five to seven songs to write, Nakita has spent much of her time writing lyrics, which she would soon deliver to her song writers.‘‘It’s almost a job on top of school work,’’ she says.
‘‘School work does suffer a little bit but if this is what I’m going to do after school it’s worth it.’’
Ahead of the release, Nakita was invited by Spark My Potential to join an online crowdfunding initiative to help aspirational New Zealanders realise their dreams faster.
‘‘I am going at this alone so would love the support from the public to make this dream a reality.’’
She hopes to gain $12,000 to cover her song development, recording and studio costs, mixing and mastering, along with EP photography and artwork.
Nakita’s fundraising project closes on July 20.
Although her sound could change, her messages would remain the same.
‘‘I write meaningful songs. I would hate to see my self in the future not doing that.’’
She said she could not imagine life without music.
‘‘It’s like my diary. Anything I go through, I put it in to songs. It’s a bit of a therapy thing.’’