Post by Raymond on Aug 15, 2005 1:48:00 GMT
thesundaymail.news.com
Wild, wild Westenra
RITCHIE YORKE
14aug05
WHILE other 18-year girls might listen to the likes of Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne on their iPods, classics princess Hayley Westenra has a more substantial form of pop music in mind.
"Let me think for a moment," she giggled down the phone line. "I generally listen to music on my laptop and I like to hear The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and John Legend.
"Ah, John Legend," she sighed. "Have you heard him? Isn't he amazing? Isn't he fantastic?"
Westenra is sitting in the Christchurch office of her record company, undergoing a relentless series of interviews to underpin the launch of her second international album, Odyssey.
"So many people here in New Zealand haven't heard of John Legend yet. And he's supporting the Black Eyed Peas, another of my favourites, on their tour down here. I can't believe that I'll be missing out on that," she said, momentarily deflated.
But global opportunities beckon for the rapidly-emerging young classics superstar who now makes her home in London. She was back on Kiwi soil for only a few days to ground herself and to launch the keenly-anticipated follow-up to her 2003 debut album Pure.
Yesterday she went to Sydney for an intensive promotional schedule before heading back to her adopted home, a rented flat in the British capital.
You'll be seeing and hearing lots of her this week as the publicity machine ramps up. It's entirely possible that the young singer could become the most famous Kiwi in the world. Perhaps even the successor to the great opera diva, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Even though she would appear to have the world at her feet, in some ways Westenra remains a typical teen. She doesn't entirely eschew a taste of light musical confectionery.
"I don't mind some of the catchy songs by people like Britney and Avril. But I wouldn't say they're my favourite artists of all time.
"I just find that older artists who have been around for a while are so much richer in their material, and a bit more soulful."
Odyssey features a duet between Westenra and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
"His album was the first record I ever bought when I was 11. It was one of the highlights of my life to support him on tour in Australia and New Zealand.
"Just listening to his voice, you visualise that he'd be a very nice person. And I wasn't disappointed. There are no airs whatsoever."
Westenra's version of the Joni Mitchell classic Both Sides Now is a surprising addition to her recorded repertoire.
"I think it's such a great song. I love the lyrics in particular. I think they're beautiful and poetic and I do wish I'd written them myself. I only discovered Joni Mitchell about a year ago."
Westenra said an Australian tour for early next year would be announced later this year, and she is confident that - for the first time - Brisbane will be on the itinerary.
Her only Queensland performance so far was an industry-only showcase at the 4MBS radio studios in Coorparoo.
"I loved Brisbane on that visit," she enthused. "The weather's great there, isn't it?"
Edit: I fixed the link by hiding the full url.
Richard
Wild, wild Westenra
RITCHIE YORKE
14aug05
WHILE other 18-year girls might listen to the likes of Britney Spears and Avril Lavigne on their iPods, classics princess Hayley Westenra has a more substantial form of pop music in mind.
"Let me think for a moment," she giggled down the phone line. "I generally listen to music on my laptop and I like to hear The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and John Legend.
"Ah, John Legend," she sighed. "Have you heard him? Isn't he amazing? Isn't he fantastic?"
Westenra is sitting in the Christchurch office of her record company, undergoing a relentless series of interviews to underpin the launch of her second international album, Odyssey.
"So many people here in New Zealand haven't heard of John Legend yet. And he's supporting the Black Eyed Peas, another of my favourites, on their tour down here. I can't believe that I'll be missing out on that," she said, momentarily deflated.
But global opportunities beckon for the rapidly-emerging young classics superstar who now makes her home in London. She was back on Kiwi soil for only a few days to ground herself and to launch the keenly-anticipated follow-up to her 2003 debut album Pure.
Yesterday she went to Sydney for an intensive promotional schedule before heading back to her adopted home, a rented flat in the British capital.
You'll be seeing and hearing lots of her this week as the publicity machine ramps up. It's entirely possible that the young singer could become the most famous Kiwi in the world. Perhaps even the successor to the great opera diva, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
Even though she would appear to have the world at her feet, in some ways Westenra remains a typical teen. She doesn't entirely eschew a taste of light musical confectionery.
"I don't mind some of the catchy songs by people like Britney and Avril. But I wouldn't say they're my favourite artists of all time.
"I just find that older artists who have been around for a while are so much richer in their material, and a bit more soulful."
Odyssey features a duet between Westenra and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
"His album was the first record I ever bought when I was 11. It was one of the highlights of my life to support him on tour in Australia and New Zealand.
"Just listening to his voice, you visualise that he'd be a very nice person. And I wasn't disappointed. There are no airs whatsoever."
Westenra's version of the Joni Mitchell classic Both Sides Now is a surprising addition to her recorded repertoire.
"I think it's such a great song. I love the lyrics in particular. I think they're beautiful and poetic and I do wish I'd written them myself. I only discovered Joni Mitchell about a year ago."
Westenra said an Australian tour for early next year would be announced later this year, and she is confident that - for the first time - Brisbane will be on the itinerary.
Her only Queensland performance so far was an industry-only showcase at the 4MBS radio studios in Coorparoo.
"I loved Brisbane on that visit," she enthused. "The weather's great there, isn't it?"
Edit: I fixed the link by hiding the full url.
Richard
