Birth name Anika Rose Moa Role Musical Artist Genres Pop Spouse Azaria Universe (m. 2010) | Years active 1999–present Music group The Adults Name Anika Moa | |
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Born 21 May 1980 (age 44) Auckland, New Zealand ( 1980-05-21 ) Origin Christchurch, New Zealand Instruments Guitar, percussion, keyboards Labels Warner Music NZ/ AtlanticEMI Albums Songs for Bubbas, Thinking Room, In Swings the Tide, Stolen Hill, Love in Motion Similar Anika Moa discography, Johnny Devlin, Johnny O'Keefe Profiles | ||
Anika moa god in his culture
Anika Rose Moa (born 21 May 1980) is a New Zealand recording artist. 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.
Contents
- Anika moa god in his culture
- Anika moa youthful official music video
- Early life and career
- 20072012 In Swings the Tide civil union and Love in Motion
- 2013present Peace of Mind separation and Songs for Bubbas
- Activism
- Awards and nominations
- Discography
- References
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).
Anika moa youthful official music video
Early life and career
Anika Moa was born on 21 May 1980 in the New Zealand city of Auckland, but grew up in Christchurch. She is of Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri and Pakeha descent.
Later she signed a record deal with Warner Music in New Zealand and Atlantic Records in New York, where she recorded her first album Thinking Room. 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".
Moa came out as openly lesbian in 2007, and entered into a civil union with Australian burlesque dancer Azaria Universe (Angela Fyfe) in February 2010. Fyfe became pregnant with twins in 2011. 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. To support the album, Moa embarked on a nationwide tour from 21 October 2010 to 4 December.
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–present: Peace of Mind, separation and Songs for Bubbas
In February 2013 Moa released Peace of Mind with Boh Runga and Hollie Smith. 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.
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. She is a strong critic of the National-led government.