Anika Moa

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

Like Bic Runga, she entered the Smokefreerockquest, and after recording a demo in Christchurch, Atlantic Records, a giant, New York-based label 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 No. 1 on New Zealand album charts in 2001.

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 Maori heritage; the legacy of culture, land and tangata whenua”.

We recommend: Anika Moa resources

Our online resources:

• Radio rules the airwaves NZ music from 1900 to today.
• Music websites, bands and reviews on Pulse, our youth site.

Our Internet Gateway recommends:

• Anika Moa’s website features posts of her latest gigs and news. She is currently busy recording for her third album.

Browse the resources in our libraries:

• Recordings of Anika Moa in the library catalogue, including compilations.