This one's for mums and bubs

Anika Moa is giving back after the success of her Pledge Me campaign. Photo/supplied

Anika Moa is putting on a show her youngest fans next week, as she tours with her latest album, In Between Nap Times. The mother of three is giving back to all those who supported her in producing Songs for Bubbas 2, with just a gold coin donation (and a tot!) required to take in the action.

The intimate show is expected to draw a crowd of nappy clad fans along, with their parents, and that's exactly what Anika wants.

Moa expects children will be "dancing and screaming and crying, all at the same time", in her first tour for children.

Despite this being her second childrens' album, she has only done "about three or four kids shows".

However, she has presented her music to her most critical audience, many, many times.
"I have kids myself, so they're my actual, real audience, and they judge me quite harshly," she said.

She has planned each concert to take place outside times when young fans might be a little on the cranky side. As a result, the In Between Nap Times Tour fixtures take place at exactly that - outside of the hours little ones lie down for a nap. Moa will not be so lucky, conducting two shows a day, all around New Zealand from Levin to Westport.

Providing insight in to the creation of the album, she tells of the major source of inspiration: "My muses and focus group is my own children and Songs for Bubbas 2 is joyfully jammed with 12 songs which have them dancing with delight and which have earned their personal stamp of approval," she says.

The album takes young listeners on an imaginative journey, from escaping wild animals, to being popped in a witch's stew.

Along the way, they meet a naughty martial arts-obsessed rat who likes to Chop! Chop! and a loveable rogue of a Taniwha.

The album helps teach te reo with a cover of classic Maori song A Haka Ma and a rendition of E Te Ariki to send the little one off to sleep (with all these dreams in their heads). "What I really like about it is that I get to entertain children and parents don't go crazy having to hear The Wiggles or Hi5," Moa says.

The shows will also have tea towels and baby onsies available to buy, designed by Hayley Bowis, as well as both Moa's albums.

I have kids myself, so they're my actual, real audience, and they judge me quite harshly.

Anika Moa

With its production funded by a Pledge Me campaign, Songs for Bubbas 2 follows on the runaway success of Moa's first Bubbas album.

Moa says this tour is simply about giving back to those who through Pledge Me have helped her produce the new album.

By only asking for a gold coin donation, the tour was "a thank you" to her littilest fans.

the fine print
What: Anika Moa Songs for Bubbas 2
Where: Tauranga Art Gallery Atrium
When: 27 April, 3.30pm
Entry: Gold coin and a baby