An uplifting sense of youthfulness

It worked for Justin Bieber, now Tauranga's own up and coming music teen is making a name for herself on the internet. Canterbury University student Jenee Tibshraeny talks with Bethlehem's Lydia Hollister-Jones about her success.

Bethlehem College student who unwittingly soared to the top of the iTunes charts says she has been humbled by the experience.
Seventeen-year-old Lydia Hollister-Jones' debut EP hit to number one on the iTunes New Zealand Singer-Songwriter Albums Chart only one day after its April release.
Lydia's swinging beats, pink ukulele and charming lyrics also saw her self-titled EP hit ninth overall on the iTunes Albums Chart.
Lydia says she was thrilled to have sold more EPs in one day than American indie folk star Bon Iver and to simply rank on the same chart as the Foo Fighters.
She credits her success to her supportive network of family, friends and fans.
Lydia says she was grateful that after buying her EP on iTunes, many of them were willing to go the extra mile and post links to iTunes on Facebook.
Juggling a blossoming music career with school work and her involvement in organising Bethlehem College's Stage Challenge entry as Cultural Captain, it is evident that Lydia is a hard worker.
"I'm doing what I love, so it's not really wearing me out. I just want to see where it takes me," she says.
Lydia acknowledges while her work is "100 per cent me", her producer Wayne Huirua gave her music a fuller sound. "He did a lot of the arrangements and added fun, quirky bits to my acoustic sound."
Singing about dancing badly and making daisy chains, Lydia's music conveys a refreshingly uplifting sense of youthfulness. Her sound is sincere.
Lydia's mother Sheena Hollister-Jones confirmed that her daughter "just has it".
Singing teacher Terri Collecutt has worked with Lydia for five years, and expected nothing less from Lydia's iTunes success. "I do think she will make her mark ... she's New Zealand's major up and coming thing."
Singing, playing the guitar and piano, Mrs Collecutt said that Lydia has transformed her poetry and reflective writing into upbeat, poppy music. "She's really coming into her own and people just love her for who she is."
Collecutt says this really came through in Lydia's live performances. Lydia has sung at Parachute Christian music festival for the past three years and has performed alongside Luke Thompson, Avalanche City, Matt Bodman, Dan Leigh, Hannah Fryett and Jessica Ross.
Lydia plans to exhibit her EP at a release show at the Bethlehem College Performing Arts Centre on June 3