Those who know me really well will tell you that music and film are my passions in life.  This page is about my musical interests, my favourite artists and albums I couldn't live without.

I play (or at least attempt to play) the violin and guitar.  I did cello for a term at school and wish I hadn't been so busy cause I didn't really concentrate on it.  I have some basic keyboard knowledge and I love experimenting with my drum machine and beats - drum machines rule!!!

FAVOURITE ARTISTS

Quite a few people ask me who my favourite singer or band is and I can never decide, cause there's such a huge list to choose from.  These are musicians that I really admire:

Bic Runga - (she's a New Zealander so you Australians better keep your grubby hands off her national identity!)
An amazing voice, fine songwriting ability and a very nice young lady (met her twice!).
Check out: Drive (1997).

Björk - after listening to 'Homogenic' my views on music and boundaries/genre definitions were changed radically.  I love how she experiments with everything and can still create emotional, human music using technology.  The way she blends real instruments (harps, strings, celeste, organs etc) with electronic beats has been an inspiration to many musicians.  And then there's her voice - some can't stand it but I really admire her abilities!
Check out: Homogenic (1997) and Vespertine (2001).

Tori Amos - didn't start listening to her until 'From the Choirgirl Hotel', but I was hooked the instant I heard it.  'Spark' remains my most favourite Tori song, and the first I ever heard.  Since then my Tori Amos collection has grown rapidly.  Her music is beautiful, haunting and just damn great - a lot of her stuff makes me feel 'safe', if that makes sense.
Check out: Boys for Pele (1996) and From the Choirgirl Hotel (1998).

Jewel - brilliant songwriter and a really great live performer (she's quite funny!). She's very gifted in her songwriting, poetry and singing, and she gave a wonderful acting performance in Ang Lee's "Ride with the Devil".
Check out: Pieces of You (1996) and This Way (2001).

Portishead - introduced me to the wonderful world of trip hop.  Plus, Beth Gibbons has one of the most arresting voices I've ever heard.
Check out: Dummy (1994).

Garbage - Shirley Manson is the coolest :-)  These guys rock.
Check out: Version 2.0 (1998).

Dido - I'm sure I was the first (if not one of the first) person to have her album in New Zealand.  Her haunting voice had me hooked the second I heard it on 'Roswell'.  I think she has great potential as an artist.
Check out: No Angel (2000)

PJ Harvey - Nobody rocks quite like the lovely Ms. Polly Jean Harvey who I finally got to see in concert at BDO.2001!  It's really great when she's performing harder material (early stuff like 'Rid of Me' or more recent tracks like 'Kamikaze' and 'This is Love').
Check out: Rid of Me (1993) and To Bring You My Love (1995).