Bio

Growing up in suburban New Zealand in the 1970's proved to be a great stimulus for playing music. Not only did my father sing and my mother play piano, but my two elder sisters and my brother all played musical instruments. I was even dragged off to church every Sunday, where I sang in the children's choir. We made an album that both my sister and father participated in - my first recording.

After learning and abandoning the piano (around the age of 11) I became obsessed by guitars, and desperately saved money and traded up items until I could afford my first electric - a Kasuga SG copy. My close group of outcast friends were also learning guitar and bass, and we played throughout our school years.

It wasn't until I was 17 and at Wellington's Victoria University that we formally created our first group and performed live at a number of Uni events. Soon after, The Magic Roundabout was born, originally a fairly esoteric acoustic band that later incorporated drums and violin for added range and power. We rapidly became established on the pub circuit and frequently travelled to Auckland where we shared the stage with some inspiring musicians. The New Zealand Arts Council granted us a certain amount of money to record an EP and film a video. Although the recording was made, it was never produced as our 'manager' essentially stole the money. Young, disillusioned, depressed, we went our separate ways.  My path eventually led me to Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1990.

Working in a busy central city Youth Hostel was a great way to meet travellers and musicians. June Frost was the band that resulted from these multiple meetings. With an Australian didgeridoo player, a French drummer, German violinist, English bass-player, and myself, we were an unusual addition to the Scottish music scene. Playing as far afield as the Shetland Islands, we eventually started to turn our attention towards mainland Europe. Working with the producer Keith Mitchell (The Cocteau Twins) we finalised our first album June Frost and headed to France, Germany, and Spain.

The financial advantages became quickly evident. We were invited to perform in a number of major festivals and toured continuously. This pushed us to relocate permanently to France, and we began work on our second album. The natural lifespan of the project was, however,  nearing its end, as the disparate nationalities - originally the force of the group - also pulled the members in as many different directions. We still had time to release our third and final album Wish Me Luck in 1998, which still testifies to this turbulent and emotional period.

I returned to New Zealand, but after so many years away had great difficulty readjusting. Making music in Europe had been my life for a number of years, and at the incitation of friends and colleagues, I relocated back to France. This time I was more focused on writing and recording as a solo artist, and I moved to a remote and inspiring house in the French countryside. Despite the fact that I was performing radically fewer concerts, I paradoxically felt like much more of a musician, as I consecrated a year (2002) to writing and recording my first solo album Microclimate essentially on my own.

This was followed by another, larger studio album in 2005, with the help of some talented Jazz musicians. 2+2=22 is an ode to life, following the birth of my son. Making music and having a family was going to prove complicated, but was also a great way to reflect upon my path and priorities.

Hellos and goodbyes, births and deaths. My daughter arrived in 2008 and had time to make the acquaintance of my very close friend Jean-Christophe Massinon, an artist from Nancy who had always encouraged me, provided artwork for me (like the cover of 2+2), and who I had played for at exhibition openings and events. His premature death in 2011 left many of us shaken, and when the pain had dulled, I started work on my most recent album You are Here. And his seeming presence was important as I let him inspire me a last time to finalise this collection of songs.

Since this period I have continued to write, travel, record, live, and have recently moved to Switzerland. And if you have managed to read all of this then a) congratulations, and b) know that I am ready and motivated to perform for you, choosing from the collection of past, present, and future songs that are the culmination of all these experiences. See you soon!

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