January 4th, 2012
Flip flops, barbeques, beaches and ice blocks … the New Zealand way at Christmas!…and I was happy to be home for it this year!!
So nice to have family around and take some time to chill a little. I hope you all had a fantastic time with friends and loved ones…a special time for many but also a hard time for others. My heart goes out to my friends and family in Christchurch that had to go through another major earthquake two days before Christmas where many houses went without power and water…you guys are soldiers and you have our support, love and respect!
Leading up to Christmas there were lots of shows and I was so honoured to be asked to sing and feature in my home town at the “Christmas in the Square” … where the Mayor of Palmerston North greeted and congratulated me on my years successes (photo below) … It was an amazing feeling to sing with my band in my home town … where I haven’t sung in about 7 years. The crowd were amazing and I can’t wait until the next time. MC’d by an old school friend and now a DJ on one of the major radio stations in the country, the day was fantastic from start to finish (despite the rain lol)!
“Christmas in the Park” in Porirua, Wellington was also a fantastic success and the crowd were amazing…lots of friends I haven’t seen in a while were there also which was an added bonus!
It was nice to have a show where the States comes to NZ haha … and K-Ci & Jo Jo did just that. They did a fantastic show here in Wellington where I had the honor of performing at the after party…and having an evening full of humour and fun as we hung out to the early hours of the morning.
In this last month the Mayor of Wellington (capital of NZ) also sent me a letter of congrats and had me come to her office to meet…such an honor and experience to engage with such a fantastic person who genuinely cares for her city and works so hard to bring about positive changes…man I was getting a history lesson in there…it was amazing lol!
This last year has been so amazing and has definitely been a year of “first’s”… so grateful to everyone around me who has championed me along the way…I love you all so much and wish you God’s blessings for the New Year ahead.
Love,
Anita
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November 30th, 2011
Oh yeeeaahhhh….LA Music Awards and Billboard Top-40 you have rocked my world this month!!!!!! It was an amazing time as I …the first New Zealander ever…went to experience what many famous artists experience …the LA Music Awards Red Carpet!!!! Nominated for International Artist of the Year as well as Video of the Year was truly a humbling honor for this small town Kiwi girl! Happy to now announce I won the 2011 LA Music Award Video of the Year…whoo hooo!!!! Tons of media there, photos and interviews (i’ll be posting ‘em over the next few days) … I guess my single “Complicated” breaking into the Top-40 in the US didn’t hurt my chances ! hahahaha “
Continuing on to the East coast I did an assortment of shows …including The Ritz, Taj, The Duplex, Therapy, and Splash…opening for Grammy Award winner “Mya” (Getto Super Star and Lady Marmalade). It’s always so much fun being in NYC … and this time I got to see the Empire State building which was awesome!!!
Also touring with me was Suniula Daniels from Austraila’s Musicheads www.musicheads.com and my good friend Paulene Salvau-Tanielu from N.Z.…you guys make me laugh and having a little of NZ with me meant so much on this trip!! Thank you to all those who have championed me and stood by my side, believing in what I do as a singer…my heart is full of thanks to you and to the King of Kings for the love and encouragement I feel…I am grateful on this Thanksgiving Day!!
All my love,
Anita x
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October 6th, 2011
Another high-intensity US East Coast swing, keep ‘em coming ! Started in Richmond Virginia… 5 shows in 3 days..that’s the way I like to hit it haha! Kids Are Heroes, a youth charity supported by local entrepreneur Pat Hull and Virgin International’s Sir Richard Branson, was the highlight… so many young smiling faces and so much heart. Along with Kids Are Heros, 28 other charities will be given donations from the event. Kudos to all those who organised and were part of making it happen! One show after another, whether a fundraising dinner serenading Richard Branson at the Museum of Fine Art or rocking the rowdy fans at the RVA Music Festival in downtown Richmond, I enjoyed every minute!
While in Richmond I was also fortunate to get a chance to hang out and hear some amazing gospel singing… love love love the gospel sound!! In New Zealand we have great choirs but there is something so very special about a gospel choir in the US…what an amazing sound ! What a treat! Thanks James and choir director Larry Bland for inviting me to your fantastic Sunday afternoon performance! Then came a bunch of shows in the tri-state area …. Touche, The Ritz, Maritime Hotel, Therapy, etc. New York City is so fun to perform in… the city that never sleeps had me up all night haha!!!
By the way ….some wonderful news this week …my new US release “Complicated” has now hit No 3 on the Billboard Charts in the Breakout Hot Dance Club Play chart http://pulsemusic.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dance&action=display&thread=109955 … sandwiched between C&C Music Factory and Adele, pretty amazing company !! Woo-hoo !! So excited and thankful to the many DJ’s and Radio stations who have added my song to their playlists…oh yeeeaaahhh!!!! And Bobby, Orlando and Bernadette, you guys are working hard and making it happen, you are awesome!
Heading back over in November, for the LA Music Awards ceremony (nominated in two categories!), east and west coast shows, tapings, and collabs … third time’s a charm !!
On a special note… my thoughts and prayers go out to the family of my special friend Mike who has just passed away…lots of love to you guys…
Anita xx
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August 18th, 2011
Let me start off by saying thank you to all of you who have supported me and encouraged me through my US Tour on Facebook, Twitter, My Space, emails etc etc. It was my first tour EVER in the clubs and I absolutely loved it ! One of the highlights was performing on the same stage as had Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Beyonce at Manhattan’s famed “Splash” club in NYC, for a Bravo TV sponsored event that also featured tv personality Countess Luann from NYC Housewives…she’s such a character ! And wow, who would have thought that you could cram 2500 people into a club lol! What energy !
The Hamptons was also the bomb (check out the advertisment they did http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiFknaKEc4s), Sag Harbor on a Friday night is teaming with people and Montauk is so beautiful ! …on this one I had the band, they always do an amazing job…and the crowd loved them!! Thank you Jessie, Fro, Darryl and Ron xx
Next up was the DJ Times/Promo Only Music Convention in Atlantic City, where I got to debut my new dance radio single “Complicated” to all the radio and club dj’s from around the US with a standing-room only performance at The Showboat …and even got to see 50 Cent perform…was O for Owesome!!!! My managment team are amazing and I couldn’t do it without you guys…love you long time!!!
Another Club Tour is in the works for September along with a number of full band shows, so I’ll be coming back very soon! Although I must say that I missed NZ, so it’s nice to be back home…even if I have had to swap hot sunshine for wintery blasts! First time Wellington has seen snow since the 70’s!!! We’re definitely enjoying the novelty! 
OK, time to go and throw some snowballs …where my friends at?! haha
Love you guys! Anita xx
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June 21st, 2011
It was so exciting going to Florida…my fist time ever and I had an extra day to explore! First stop was to attend to some business, and check the backline out for the St. Petersburg All Star Rock Tour concert. The place was quite a surprise with no studio sign out front …outside it looked like an old 1920’s movie theatre, we were wondering if we got the address wrong…but walking inside was like finding hidden treasure. An amazing studio..one of the biggest I’ve seen, and used by the best….J Lo ! Antique and specialized gear everywhere, with an amazing staff…..who could have known!?! They keep it on the down low and exclusive, and I can see why! So I met one of the super-tech’s there, “Mad Mike” …he not only fixes the gear but also invents gear to use….I tell you it was like devouring chocolate, listening to him speak and learning and exploring his cavern of inventions, toys and tricks, wires, concoctions, you name it …I thought I was going to get to explore Tampa the City, but instead I marvelled like a student in a science class learning about and being introduced to never before seen instruments…it was unbelievable!
The “All Star Rock Tour” show was 20 mins away in St. Petersburg, Florida. It was held in a beautiful 2500 seat theatre on the bay next to a museum. Once again I had the privilege to open for this great bunch of guys, such a amazing band of top 40 singers/musicians…and to be accompanied by my New York band was amazing! The audience was energetic and embracing as always, I think I made a few people blush !! haha….I enjoyed having fun with you all….you were fantastic!
Thank you for all the beautiful comments and messages I have received since the show…I look forward to the next time I am in Florida…this time was far too short! Lots of love to you all! Anita x
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May 27th, 2011
I’m so soaking up this beautiful weather at the moment here in the States, cause I’m headin’ home in a couple of weeks, straight into winter!! Oh well it’s all good…!!
So, Rochester ! The day started with a signing at the House of Guitars which has been open for 47 years!! People tell me it’s definately on their “bucket list”, an amazing music store, apparently the largest in the world…lighting and a stage for signings, a CD/record store, a music school, a studio, and mega-tons of musical equipment for sale everywhere the eye can see. I got the guided tour and saw the wall of fame….honestly you can’t look at one corner that isn’t covered, it’s amazing! What an honor to sit with the All Star Rock Tour participants, music legends Orleans, Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, & Deep Purple), John Cafferty and Robbie Dupree, and sign some swag and posters for the Tour.
From there it was off to sound check to get ready, and before I knew it I was on stage in RockChester!…The Armory, what a fantastic venue, holds 5000 people. Apparently the guy who bought it paid $1 for it back in the day, the city didn’t know what to do with it…really amazing, as it is in fact like a castle (literally)…no doubt he had a lot of work to do on it, but it really has a fantastic vibe…
The concert was so exciting, an amazingly energetic audience that rocked out the whole time…you guys were awesome! I so enjoyed jumping on stage at the end of the night to join in with the All Star Rock guys, chiming in on so many great and memorable melodies from back in the day. Looking forward to the next time already!
…but now, on with the (next) show… in St. Petersberg on June 4!
Hope you guys are well, love you heaps, Anita x
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May 24th, 2011
Back in New York City baby, third time since January, its on!… 4am starts, here we go again haha!
Back from Europe after some fantastic shows, headed straight into rehearsals to get ready for the next two weeks of shows in the US.
So good to be working again with my amazing NYC band…so talented and easy to work with! First show on Thursday 19 May was at the R-Bar…talk about an amazing night … The place was packed out, roudy, and dancing and singing with me. I had a couple of guys from the crowd up with me rocking the La La La hand tutting moves…for 10 minutes…was so much fun…you know that was the longest version I have done of that song everrrrrr lol.
We also had the film crew for the reality tv series “Almost Famous” covering the show…I can’t wait to see the footage…such a good night!
Next show Rock-chester NY with the”All Star Rock Tour”…yeeeaahhh!! Enjoy the pics Love
Anita x
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May 17th, 2011
One of these trips im actually going to get a few days to take a good look around London haha…always such a short visit! At least I did get to see Trafalgar Square from a double-dekka bus which was cool! Another great couple of shows on the 5th & 7th of May (was a cool buzz to hear that Suga Babes, Miley Cyrus and REM had sung on the same stage!)…the crowd were amazing and I was my normal cheaky self lol, got that fellow blushing hard out !! :) I was happy to see some beautiful weather in the UK after coming from a wet and soggy Wellington! …I think I should do an All-Year Summer Tour, sunshine and street cafes all the way…anyone wanna come? After the shows in London I headed to Paris for a few days…great meetings, vibes and mega yum food..now off to the big apple to kick off a tour in the US. I miss my home and beautiful family, but I love my fans and the shows we’ve been doing…always a great feeling traveling and connecting with my peeps far and wide ! So next show’s in NYC on the 19 May on The Bowery, gonna be a rockin’ one ! Take care and God bless, Anita xx
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May 9th, 2011
It’s only been three weeks since I got back to NZ … and boom, here I am on the other side of the world once again. Third trip this year … I miss home every time I go … but things just get more and more exciting!
So after 24 hours of travelling I reached NYC …. I don’t know what was up with me but I couldn’t sleep at all on the plane, Qantas had too many good movies … With my adrenaline riding high I was all good, so headed straight into meetings until the early hours of the morning. And of course, after a great dinner meeting with my manager Bernadette, I come out to find my car had been towed … Man NYC is relentless … had to get upway early the next morning to retrieve it before a studio session and catching my onward flight. …ahhhhh…. !!
With my car “out-of-jail”, I headed to Queens and had a fantastc studio session with my music producer and remixer on the new remix of Complicated (due to be released in June)…man these guys have had so many hit records with Beyonce, Celine Dion, J Lo etc…was such an honor to be working with them! …but more on this soon…
So I’ve just arrived in London to perform a couple of shows at the London City Showcase Music Festival, staged in the Piccadilly Circus district. Thought I’d finally have some time to check out this great city…but could not sleep for the life of me…finally drifted off at 11am and slept the whole day lol… Will have to swing past Big Ben I guess, to get my body clock changed over to this side of the world haha.
Lots of exciting things planned for this trip, am in Europe for the next couple of weeks with tasty gigs and people and places and things, I’ll bring you guys right to the center of the action with some photos on my next blog…
Thinking of you all and hope you are well, Lots of love,
Anita xx
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March 31st, 2011
Wow, what a week ! 5 days in Los Angeles, more Darth Vader and Sidewalk Stars than Aladdin can shake a magic carpet at !! hahaha
So the week started with the filming of several segments for the new reality TV show “Almost Famous” starring Bernadette Brennan… the crew followed me through Hollywood, sitting for a meeting with Bernadette and my new radio promoter, doing our hair at Blo, and vibing with kooky characters in Hermosa Beach…
The week then continued with the LA Music Awards nomination ceremony, it was awesome performing at the infamous Whisky A Go Go on Sunset strip. I feel so privileged to have received two nominations, for “International Artist of the Year” and “Music Video of the Year” for La La La… The LA Music Awards night is at the end of October, another trip to LA is a for-sure !!
… And of course, a week in LA would not be complete without a few Hollywood celebrities and checking out the clothing stores!! Yeah ! Back home for a few weeks now, gonna try and enjoy some Kiwi sunshine before heading back over to tour Europe and the USA in May… Hope you guys are all well! Heaps of Love, Anita xx
Photos: Suzi Roks Photography www.suziroks.com; Mickey Yeh Photography
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