Anika Moa reunites the song and artist
The singer performs with well-known New Zealand musicians for her new series. She talks to Sarah Nealon.
Singer, radio host and television presenter AnikaMoa, pictured with Six 60’ sM atiu Walters, is back with another celebrity interview series. In Anika Moa Reunited she chats to New Zealand musicians including Rikki Morris, AndrewMcLennan (from Coconut Rough), Mikey Havoc, and Ardijah’s Betty-Anne Monga. Here, Moa says she is ‘‘reuniting the song with the artist’’. In each episode, the musician guest performs one of their biggest hits and Moa joins in. Moa has four children and lives with her partner Natasha Utting in Auckland. This year she took up running, quit Facebook and turned 40.
What is Anika Moa Reunited all about? It’s very similar to (Anika Moa) Unleashed, but because it is about musicians it’s a little bit more serious because they are a little bit kind of diva-ish. Working with musicians is like working with sensitive little puppies. You have to stroke their egos every twominutes, and I know that because I ama musician. And I say that off the cuff because it was actually really fun. Half of them were my friends. It’s pretty upbeat, a little bit quirky, mostly wrong. But the best thing about it is the song at the end because I get to sing along with these artists who I admire.
Were you star-struck by any of them?
Well, I loveMikey Havoc. He reminded me of me. He had a lot of energy, a lot to say. He’s kind of a comedian as well in a sense. I really enjoyed talking to him. It was an illustrious interview. Betty-Anne Monga from Ardijah was amazing. I’ve always looked up to them. I actually did talent quests back in the 80s singing Ardijah songs. So I felt really happy when I got to do harmonies for her songs.
I really enjoyed Six60. We interviewed Six60 and they were really gentlemanly. I was like, ‘Boring. Could you be a bit more rock starish?’ But they just weren’t. They were just too gentlemanly for me. I love a good ruffle, but they just weren’t ruffling me. They were really kind and caring and beautiful. I loved it – but I hated it.
When you were a kid, what did youwant to be when you grewup?
A singer. My mum and dad sung. I wanted to play for the Black Ferns at one stage. But I choose a scholarship for amusic school over that.
You write songs for adults but you also have your Songs For Bubbas, the albums you made for children. What’s the toughest audience – adults or children?
Children get into it and dance hard out. They have no inhibitions, whereas adults take a lot longer to warmup to me. I like my bubbas’ gigs because they are just really fun. Children are just beautiful. They don’t care. They dance and they scream.
You hit a big milestone this year when you turned 40. What’s the best thing about being this age?
I don’t even want to talk about it because it was a lockdown birthday. I was planning on going to Greece. So I’mstill a little bit cold on that.
You’re well known in New Zealand. What’s the most fun thing about being famous?
I don’t know. I don’t even think about it. I love it when people come up to me and talk to me as if we’re best buddies from the start. When I talk to people I get their stories out of them. I ask them questions. I’mreally interested in people so I love that social interaction.
What’s the most challenging thing about fame?
I think when people critique you on social media, that’s why I’mnot on social media [Facebook; Anika is on Instagram] because it’s too hard. Your focus needs to be driven in other ways. People go, ‘This isn’t right or your kids aren’t wearing a helmet or your song isn’t good enough’. I don’t have time for those people. I find them irritating and annoying.
Anika Moa loves: Meditating:
Because it grounds me. It brings me back to Papatu¯a¯nuku [Earth].
Running: It’s another thing I’ve started doing. It was before lockdown and I was just feeling mentally unwell. Not depressed. I was just feeling low. Running gives you a really good high. I just started running and it’s been amazing for me, life-changing. I try to go about three or four times a week.
Singing: It grounds me as well.
Anika Moa hates: Auckland traffic:
I don’t even need to explain that.
When people slurp their food: It’s disgusting and annoying and a sound I can do without.
Peas: They smell gross. – TV Guide