Introducing

I'm a strummer, essentially - I like fingerpicking but I'm not very good at it. I mix folk, blues, ballads, country, rock, hip-hop, jazz, soul and funk. Sometimes all at once! My songs are all hooky - there's something in them that catches your attention. I love big fat choruses that people can sing along to!

Who/What have been your main musical influences ?

Everything! Primarily Beatles, Crowded House/Split Enz, Radiohead and The Smiths...but I can add to that Portishead, The Doors, Abba, Oasis, Marvin Gaye, Madonna, David Bowie, Rolling Stones, Paul Kelly, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Che Fu, Paul Ubana Jones, Bell X1, John Mayer, The Frames, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, and Frank Zappa. And more... Locally, we are blessed to be such a musically gifted little community...as host of the Open Mic night I am in contact with fantastically gifted people all the time, although I'd like to pick out Tyree, Lukin Marlow, Hinemoana, Karen C and Danilo in particular for their commitment to their craft - also, Tyree Robertson especially for providing me with encouragement to pursue my music, and, of course, my songwriting partner Stu for doing the same.

There are so many! I'd have to say when my band played at Live Wire for the second time. We got Stu up to play some lead guitar on some songs, played WAY too loud, got everyone dancing...I was on stage for almost 5 hours! My sweat was sweating.

musicaldream: To be a full time musician, record some classic albums and be remembered as a great songwriter. Also, to help my friends achieve their musical dreams.

Lots of recorded music, but the best way to listen to music is live. I strongly recommend a Wellington band called OdESSA. Their live shows are 3-hour funk/soul/rock workouts that you HAVE to dance to!

It is wonderful to find out that there are so many incredibly talented people on the coast. I live in Wellington, but I was born on the coast and never find it difficult to get up - particularly if I get to hear such wonderful performers!