Anika Moa

Anika Rose Moa (born 21 May 1980) is a New Zealand recording artist and television presenter. After signing to Atlantic Records in the United States she released her debut album Thinking Room in 2001, aged 21. The album reached the top of the New Zealand Singles Chart and yielded four hit singles. Moa's music won the attention of record company executives after they heard a song she had sung at the Smokefree Rockquest while still a teenager.

Anika Moa
Anika Moa performing in Wellington, June 2010.
Background information
Birth nameAnika Rose Moa
Born (1980-05-21) 21 May 1980
Auckland, New Zealand
OriginChristchurch, New Zealand
GenresPop
InstrumentsGuitar, percussion, keyboards
Years active1999–present
LabelsWarner Music NZ/ Atlantic
EMI
Partner(s)Natasha Utting

Moa has been the subject of two documentaries by filmmaker Justin Pemberton: 3 Chords and the Truth: the Anika Moa Story (2003), recounting the story of her signing to Atlantic and the release of her first album, and In Bed With Anika Moa (2010).[1]

Early life

Moa was born in Auckland but grew up in Christchurch where she attended Hornby High School.[2][3] Her father Tia was Māori (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri) and her mother Bernadette is of English descent.[3]

Music

Moa signed a record deal with Warner Music in New Zealand and Atlantic Records in New York, where she recorded her first album Thinking Room on which is the track In The Morning which talks about her abortion in 2000.[4] Moa grew homesick during her time in the United States, and became increasingly uncomfortable with the imagery used to promote her. In 2002 she returned to base herself in New Zealand.

She released her second album Stolen Hill on 1 August 2005, describing the album as "more sparse" and true to herself, compared to her first. The album was certified gold. She toured New Zealand in October of that year.

In 2005 Moa was one of many New Zealand musicians who contributed to single "Anchor Me", which commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior.

2007–2012: In Swings the Tide, civil union and Love in Motion

In October 2007 Moa released her third studio album, In Swings The Tide, which went platinum and won a number of rave reviews. For the first time she was credited with producing the album alone. In 2009 The New Zealand Herald named Moa as one of the "Top 10 Kiwi music successes of the past 10 years".[5]

Moa came out as openly lesbian in 2007,[6] and entered into a civil union with Australian burlesque dancer Azaria Universe (Angela Fyfe) in February 2010. Fyfe became pregnant with twins in 2011.[7] Fyfe was a major inspiration for Moa's fourth album, Love in Motion, which peaked at number four on the New Zealand Albums Chart after its release in March 2010.[8] To support the album, Moa embarked on a nationwide tour from 21 October 2010 to 4 December.[9]

Moa has collaborated with many New Zealand artists including SJD and Bic Runga. She has also performed with band Dimmer, in a backup and touring capacity. She has DJed under the name DJ Unika.

2013: Peace of Mind, separation and Songs for Bubbas

In February 2013 Moa released Peace of Mind with Boh Runga and Hollie Smith.[10] Around that time she and Azaria Universe separated, and have joint custody of their twins. In November 2013 she released a children's album titled Songs for Bubbas.[11]

Television Work

All Talk with Anika Moa (2016–2017)

In September 2016 Moa debuted her interview talk show All Talk with Anika Moa, which was broadcast for the Maori Television, developed with support from NZ on Air. The show is filmed in front of a small studio audience, and has featured appearances from a number of New Zealand celebrities including actor Temuera Morrison and musician Stan Walker.[12] There were two series developed, each consisting of 10 episodes, as well as a special episode highlighting moments from the series. The final episode of series two aired in July 2017.[13]

Anika Moa Unleashed (2018)

In March 2018, Moa debuted a new interview show, Anika Moa Unleashed, available online through TVNZ OnDemand. In 2019 the show started showing on TVNZ 1 on Saturday nights.[14] The show features Moa visiting the homes of notable New Zealand celebrities, public figures, and personalities. She has reportedly signed to develop twelve episodes.[15]

Other Appearances

In April 2018, Moa had a stint as a television presenter for the current affairs programme Seven Sharp, filling in for Jeremy Wells. She co-hosted alongside Hilary Barry for several episodes. Her final broadcast was on 20 April.[16][17]

Activism

In December 2012, Moa starred in an online video campaign supporting gay marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Hollie Smith and Boh Runga, as well as Olympian Danyon Loader and former Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard.[18] She was openly critical of New Zealand's National-led government until it left office in 2017.[19]

Awards and nominations
Anika Moa performing "Running Through The Fire" at the 2010 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.
APRA Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005[20] "Stolen Hill" APRA Silver Scroll Nominated
2008[21] "Dreams in My Head" Nominated
2010[22] "Running Through the Fire (Storm)" Nominated
New Zealand Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2002[23][24] Thinking Room Album of the Year Nominated
Top Female vocalist Won
International Achievement Nominated
"Youthful" Single of the Year Nominated
Songwriter of the Year Won
2006[25] Stolen Hill Best Female Solo Artist Nominated
Best Aotearoa Roots Album Nominated
2008[26] In Swings the Tide Nokia Album of the Year Nominated
Mazda Best Female Solo Artist Won
2010[27][28] Love in Motion Vodafone Album of the Year Nominated
Mazda Best Female Solo Artist Won
Best Pop Album Nominated

Discography
Main article: Anika Moa discography

References
  1. "The Docufactory Website". The Docufactory Ltd. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  2. "Anika Moa". Christchurch City Libraries. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  3. Mills, Amanda (9 June 2015). "Anika Moa Profile". AudioCulture. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  4. siena.yates@nzherald.co.nz @siena_y, Siena Yates Siena Yates is deputy head of Entertainment for the New Zealand Herald (19 September 2018). "Wahine toa: Anika Moa opens up on abortion, sexism and coming out". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  5. "Top 10 Kiwi music successes of past 10 years". The New Zealand Herald. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  6. "Kiwi music star Anika Moa: "I prefer women"". GayNZ.com. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
  7. "Double trouble for Anika Moa". Stuff.co.nz. 6 February 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  8. "Anika Moa — Love in Motion". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  9. NEWS: Anika Moa NZ Tour October - December 2010 Archived 14 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Rip It Up Magazine - Retrieved 9 July 2010
  10. "Album review: Anika, Boh and Hollie, Peace of Mind - Entertainment - NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 7 February 2013.
  11. "Anika Moa Releases Her First Kids' Album". scoop.co.nz.
  12. Chapman, Madeleine. "A star is born: The horror of being thrust into the spotlight at a NZ talk show taping". The Spinoff. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  13. "All Talk with Anika Moa". Maori Television. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  14. "Anika Moa Unleashed". TVNZ OnDamand. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  15. Yates, Siena. "New Kiwi TV show Anika Moa Unleashed 'goes way off the rails'". NZ Herald. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  16. "The greatest hits from the Anika Moa and Hilary Barry era of Seven Sharp". The Spinoff.
  17. "Seven Sharp host Anika Moa says 'bugger it', and gets another moko". Stuff. Stuff Limited. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  18. "Marriage equality 'about love'". 3 News NZ. 6 December 2012.
  19. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11714734
  20. Kara, Scott (29 July 2010). "Silver Scroll award short list named". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  21. "APRA Silver Scroll Awards 2008 - Announcing the top 20 NZ songs of the last 12 months" (Press release). christchurchmusic.org.nz. 10 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  22. "APRA Silver Scroll Awards 2010" (Press release). Australasian Performing Right Association. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 26 August 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
  23. "NZ Music Month". NZ Girl. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  24. "2002 NZ Music Awards: They oughta be congratulated..." NZ Musician. 10 (3). June–July 2002. Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  25. "NZ Music Awards finalists announced". muzic.net.nz. 6 September 2006. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  26. "Flight of the Conchords sweep Music Awards". The New Zealand Herald. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  27. Sundae, Hugh (1 September 2010). "NZ music awards finalists announced". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  28. "Gin Wigmore scoops music awards". Stuff.co.nz (Fairfax New Zealand). 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
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