Anika Moa

Anika Moa was born in Auckland on 21 May 1980, and grew up in Christchurch.

Like Bic Runga, she entered the Smokefreerockquest. After recording a demo in Christchurch, New York-based label Atlantic Records invited her to the Big Apple to meet the boss. Anika performed a bunch of her songs barefoot in his plush office and landed herself a record contract. Thinking Room, her first album, debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand album charts in 2001.

She is has been nominated for multiple Silver Scroll Awards and won Best Female Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year at the 2002, New Zealand Music Awards and won Best Female Solo Artist in 2008 and 2010.

Moa toured extensively on the back of Thinking Room, and the record company had arranged for two years of touring and interviews in the United States, but Moa decided to turn her attention back to New Zealand.

She released her second album, Stolen Hill, in 2005. On her website, the album is described as addressing political, cultural and personal issues in more depth than on Thinking Room. Her songs explore the notion of Aotearoa’s nationhood and in particular the recurrent themes of her own Māori heritage; the legacy of culture, land and tangata whenua.

In swings the tide was released in 2007, and Love in Motion in 2010.

Find out more

• Anika Moa’s website features posts of her latest gigs and news.
• Search our catalogue for recordings of Anika Moa, including compilations.