The award-winning musician on what makes her happy
Famous for her grounded, no-nonsense approach, award-winning musician Anika Moa is a woman who knows that reaching in is just as important as reaching out
These days, life in Anika Moa’s world is defined by love—for her music, for her family, and for her new partner. Her latest album is appropriately called Love in Motion, and her wife—Anika is gay, recently joined in civil union with circus performer Azaria Universe—is never far from the conversation. In marriage, Anika has found a muse, a sometimes manager and a best mate. “She’s very efficient. On tour she’ll be the one getting us all up in the morning for a run. And I’ll be saying, ‘Go away, stop organising me!’”
This is said with a loving laugh, as is just about everything else when I talk to Anika at her central Auckland home. When the subject is not her music or her wife, we talk about whales. “God I’m sad,” she says, referring to the recent beaching deaths of dozens of whales in the Far North.
“I helped with a documentary about whales that looked at why they die this way. There’s been all this study about why they do it and still nobody knows for sure. There are three factors: the lay of the land; sandbars that can mess with how they hear things and communicate; the weather. And then, if one is sick and drifts toward shore, they all follow, like a family. To stay with it.”
It seems that she relates well to their plight. Anika speaks with pride of both her own and Azaria’s family, and spending valuable time with each is a large part of their life together. Aside from family, Anika says her life is all about music. “I write, I play … I’d listen to a gig every night if I could. My life is music, music, music.”
Anika has been performing all her life, and is constantly in collaboration with other artists—most recently with Shihad’s Jon Toogood. This year will see her tour for two months promoting Love In Motion, as well as working on a new project: an album in Maori. “It’s important for me to stay connected with the language,” she explains, but admits the reality is harder than she thought.
“I want to adapt my sound, and pop writing, to this very old language. It’s hard, but I know I can do it. I want to bring it to a wider audience, show people that it’s beautiful,” she says. “I want to see it in a contemporary setting, on store shelves, right up the front.”
Anika is used to doing things her way. She famously turned her back on a lucrative yet soul-destroying US record deal early on, and has chosen largely unbeaten paths ever since. She came out in 2007, and has admitted family violence in her past. She is a tireless supporter of Women’s Refuge.
“I’m not a person who walks into a charity event to just say hi,” she tells me flraising lots of money that doesn’t go on venues and expenses … it goes straight to the houses.” She is referring to the Women’s Refuge houses in New Zealand, which help women and children affected by domestic violence; the organisation helped almost 30,000 victims in 2006 and relies heavily on public donation. Next year, Anika is planning to organise a concert by women performers to help aid the cause, and she recently used Trade Me to raise $7,000.
Anika is a natural activist with authentic commitment. “It’s real simple,” she says. “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.” She’s also not afraid to scrub up and show support for her more glamorous friends, attending several New Zealand Fashion Week functions.
“I love getting dressed up. It’s not about playing the game, it’s about being there for people I know, getting behind them,” she says. “And when I want to get away, I get away. We go up north, we see our families, I write my music. We just go.”atly. “I want to take part in direct action,
Angela Crane
Anika Moa hits the road on October 21 for a 21-date tour of intimate solo shows, passing through most small towns; see www.anikamoa.com for dates. Love in Motion: Special Edition is out on October 18. Phone 0900 REFUGE to make a $20 donation to Women’s Refuge
