From blissful, springy guitar ballads to a reinvigorated genre of semi-electronic, synth-pop, Kiwi songstress Anika Moa has battled the weary road of New Zealand's music scene for more than 15 years.
With a no-holds-barred love of performing in the provincial regions and settlements around the country, Moa admits her love of the "real" New Zealand still burns strongly as she embarks on her latest Queen at the Table tour, kicking off at Whangarei's Old Stone Butter Factory tomorrow night.
"I've played the Butter Factory a couple of times and I've always had a good time. It's always awesome, there's always really drunk people at my shows but I love them the most because they're the ones I pick on," the 35-year-old said.
"My mouth runs away from me all the time. I'm a little naughty but I mean well and I love singing and playing to people so I always get away with it."
Journeying to Whangarei to perform on multiple occasions, Moa said an array of memories spring to mind of her escapades in the sub-tropical North.