Kiwi singer releases first single

I ran to her still on the ground, I literally dragged her off the road as this big black car was coming. She ended up with this huge haematoma on her forehead and I said, 'we gotta take you to the hospital'. But she still wanted to party.

Friendship is hauling a friend out of harm's way when she has passed out drunk on the road.

We've all had our moments.

Songstress Marama Rice (known as Moone) from Te Puke says the essence of her music is "all about women standing up and reclaiming themselves".

The songwriter will perform her single DLB in Te Puke at the end of the month.
DLB is a rocky number inspired by a crazy night Moone had out on the town with her BFF a few years ago.

"When I think of DLB it's about loyalty and friendship and being there for your mates. We really need to look after ourselves, that's what my songs are all about."

Moone can't stop giggling when she tells the story how DLB came to be.

She and two buddies were on a girls' night out in Mount Maunganui.

"We got outside and my friend crossed the road and she literally like, she passed out, and she landed on her head.

"I ran to her still on the ground, I literally dragged her off the road as this big black car was coming. She ended up with this huge haematoma on her forehead and I said, 'we gotta take you to the hospital'. But she still wanted to party."

Her friend defiantly refused to go, so Moone stayed up all night checking on her.

"That's the thing, I'll be there for her no matter, I don't care what people think if she falls on the ground drunk, I'm going to be there for her."

DLB references her friend going "loco" and how she is "electric pink" (hilariously, her friend tried to hide the massive growth on her forehead the next day by having her face painted with pink flowers).

Moone, Tapuika, Ngatai Maru Kukere affiliated, has built a home on family land on a kiwifruit orchard close to Te Puke.

She feels she has come full circle in so many ways. The property is where she spent much of her youth.

Moone studied music for years, starting at the Christian City Church Ministry Training College, School of Creative Arts in Sydney and majoring in contemporary vocals. She owned and operated Soundbox Studios in Sydney for several years.

Coming full circle, Moone can not believe her return gig is in the very place where grandfather Harry Rice and her aunty Josephine Rice performed. Harry was Little Park Theatre's pianist in the 1950s and her soprano aunt Josephine acted. Her photo is still on the wall of the theatre. More recently, Moone's daughter played the lead in Snow White last year at the theatre.

Moone's intimate gig is at Litt Park Theatre in Te Puke on Friday, September 28 (now sold out) where DLB will be released to an intimate audience and will then be available for download from digital stores.

Moone took a hiatus from the music industry for a decade to bring up her two children up.

Now teenagers — Indie is 13 and Jazz is 15 — it's time to return to the limelight.

Now she's a regular on the local gig scene playing original music at The Rising Tide, Pap House, Crown & Badger, Cornerstone, Waihi Beach Hotel, Vaudeville, The Social Club and The Office. She opened for Apollo Steamtrain's album launch this year.