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Moana Leota
Also known asMOZIE
BornFebruary 7th, 1999
Wairarapa, New Zealand
GenresSoul, RnB
Occupation(s)Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Artist, Vocalist

Moana Leota aka MOZIE (born February 7, 1999) is a singer-songwriter, actor and vocalist of Samoan and New Zealand European descent based in Wellington, New Zealand.[1] Leota has been performing in New Zealand's commercial, arts and music industries from a young age.[1][2] She was the voice of the Interislander ad (2013) for a decade and has been an active soloist for community and national events as well as a backing vocalist for national and international touring artists.[3] As an actor, Leota toured internationally to the US and Mexico with Le Moana Productions as the lead in Fatu Na Toto and as a vocalist (2014, 2016, 2018). She recently toured New Zealand, UK and US with Bret McKenzie as a backing vocalist for his most recent album.[4]

Under her stage name MOZIE, Leota released her debut single Not Done Loving (2022),[1][5] and was praised for her original Soul / RnB sound.[2][6][5] Leota received funding for a second single through NZ On Air's Pasifika Music Single funding grants.[7]

Early life

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Born in Wellington in 1999, Leota grew up in a family of strong singers in the Wairarapa.[1][8][2] Her father is Samoan and her mother, an artist, is New Zealand European.[7][2] Her early musical influences were Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Sinead O'Connor, and her own mother and aunts.[2]

Leota was a returning solo act for the Sarah Lilli Family Concert (2010, 2012.)[9][10] She was also a returning soloist for the annual Christmas Carols show held at the Government House (2014, 2015.)[3][11] Her first professional work was as the voice of the Interislander ad (2013) which ran for 10 years. Leota recorded the jingle when she was 11.[3][12] She went onto lend her voice to Tip Top Real New Zealand Summer Commercial (2013) that same year.[3][8][6][1]

Moana Takes Flight (2014)[3] was a fundraising concert initiated by 13-year-old Leota to raise money to visit her grandparents in Malawi with the plan of giving out 10 ukuleles to local children and teaching them to play.[13][14] The concert featured Leota, Little Bushman, Warren Maxwell and Wellington International Ukulele Orchestras Steve Jessup.[13] Leota herself learned to play the ukulele by watching YouTube on the family computer and joining her community ukulele group, with a majority of elderly attendees, at the age of 10.[7] In the end, she took 30 ukuleles to Malawi and gave them out to the village children of the Nyika Plateau.[7]

Fatu Na Toto (2014)[3][15][16] was Leota's first live theatre role in which she was the lead.[13] The live theatre show was a Le Moana Production directed by Tupe Lualua.[17][18] The show was first performed at the Wellington Fringe Festival.[17][3] Leota would go on to work for Le Moana Productions throughout her youth as an actor, vocalist and team member going on tour nationally and internationally.[7] Leota and Le Moana took Fatu Na Toto to the Tempo Dance Festival (2016), Sandiego Fringe Festival (2018) and throughout the US and Mexico (2018).[17][3]

Education

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Leota moved back to Wellington, New Zealand to study commercial music at Massey University (2018), where she met and started writing music with her long-time collaborator, Hunter Paranihi.[7][2][1] After a year studying commercial music both Leota and Paranihi decided that a change of course was needed to explore their artistry in depth.[7] Both found courses at Te Auaha in 2019, Leota began her study into the Musical Theatre course and Parahini went into the Music course.[7] There she gained a diploma in Performing Arts and in her further studies gained a Bachelor in Creativity (2020.)[3] While at Te Auaha Leota and Paranihi continued to write and collaborate together producing work Leota is very proud, including work on her debut single Not Done Loving (2022.).[7][1] Moreover, during her time at Te Auaha Leota acted in two productions. She played Pepper Walker in Cry Baby (2019)[19] and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (2020).[3][20][21]

Leota's show Poets Before Me[22][23] was created for her 3rd year Body of Work which was her final and largest assignment at university.[7] The show celebrated the poetry of highly acclaimed songs like Hallelujah, A Deal with God by Kate Bush, River by Joni Mitchell as well as some of Leota's original work.[22] Through this Leota explores how selected artists and their poetry have influenced her life and her artistic practice as a singer-songwriter.[22] Her band for the show consisted of Leonardo Coghini on Keys, Seth Boy on Double Bass, Sam Mackenzie on Drums and Emily Paterson on Cello.[23]

Career

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Leota was a backing vocalist for Ella Monnery's concert, Powerhouse (2019)[24][3] and was the solo vocalist for New Zealand's Chinese New Year Festival (2019),[3] Otago Tour for Samoan Language week (2019)[3] as well as the opening ceremony for the Wellington International Pride Festival (2020).[3]

Leota accompanied Louis Baker on his national tour as a backing vocalist for his EP Love Levitates (2021).[25] They performed at the Hollywood Theatre in Auckland, Theatre Royal in Nelson, James Hay Theatre in Christchurch and Opera House in Wellington.[26] Leota was connected with Louis Baker through another New Zealand vocalist Lisa Thomlins, she needed cover for a gig with him and approached Leota for the role.[7] One of the performance's Leota did with Louis Baker was on RNZ.[7] At the time Bret McKenzie was searching for a backing vocalist for his upcoming international solo tour, his wife had watched Baker's RNZ performance, seen Leota and recommended her to Mckenzie who then reached out to her.[7][1]

Leota accompanied Bret McKenzie of the Flight of the Conchords on his international tour providing backing vocals for his latest solo album Songs without Jokes (2022.)[1][27][4] The tour was 3 months long and spanned 46 different locations over New Zealand, UK and US. She also recorded backing vocals for the album.[1]

Under her stage name MOZIE, Leota released her debut single Not Done Loving (2022).[1][5] Her original Soul / RnB sound was well received and released onto New Zealand's top radio stations.[2][6][5] The single was written alongside her long-time collaborator Hunter Paranihi and is a song about 'the one that got away.'[7][1] Paranihi also produced the single.[1][6] Her band for the single consisted of: James Illinworth on keys, Johnny Lawrence and Bass, Hunter Parahini on Guitar and Ato Baido on drums and percussion. The single was mastered by Mike Gibson and Munki Music.[1] Throughout the process she was guided and mentored by Kirsten Te Riho as well as Kate Orgias. The music video Not Done Loving was fillmed in Waiorongomai, South Wairarapa.[2] It was self-directed by Leota with a crew of family and friends.[6]

Leota's influences for her music include Cleo Soul, Lauryn Hill, Joy Crookes, Inflo, and James Blake, among others.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Leota welcomed her first-born son with her partner Brett Taefu who is an actor and artist, in early 2023. The two met at a Barbershop workshop while in high school.[7]

Notable works

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Discography
Released Title Collaborators
2022 Not Done Loving[5] Prod. & co-written by Hunter Paranihi[6]
Vocalist & Soloist Work
Year Role Production Production Company / Director
2014 Soloist Moana Takes Flight[13][28] Solo Concert with Guests
2014 Soloist Government House Christmas Carols[9]
2015 Soloist Government House Christmas Carols[10]
2018 Vocalist Measina Festival Eighteen[3]
2018 Solo Vocalist World Beats Centre Le Moana Productions US & Mexico Tour[3]
2019 Solo Vocalist Opening Ceremony Chinese New Year Festival[3]
2019 Solo Vocalist Otago Tour Samoan Language Week[3]
2019 Vocalist Powerhouse WITCH[3][29][24]
2020 Solo Vocalist Opening Ceremony Wellington International Pride Parade[3]
2021 Vocalist Louis Baker Love Levitates Tour National Tour for Louis Baker Love Levitates EP[25][26]
2022 Vocalist Bret Mckenzie Songs without Jokes Tour Bret Mckenzie NZ, UK and USA Tour for his album Songs without Jokes[4][27]
Theatre
Year Role Production Production Company / Director
2014 Lead Fatu Na Toto for Wellington Fringe Festival[17][16][15] Le Moana Productions
2016 Rizzo Grease[3] Rongotai College
2016 Lead Tempo Dance Festival[30] Le Moana Productions
2018 Lead Sandiego International Fringe Festival[31][32][33] Le Moana Productions
2019 Pepper Walker Cry Baby[19][34] Te Auaha
2019 Captain Fantastic Heroes and Villains[35] Orchestra Wellington[36]
2020 Judas Jesus Christ Superstar[3][20][21] Te Auaha
Commercial
Year Role Production Production Company / Director
2013 Lead Vocalist Interislander[12][37][3] Colenso BBDO
2013 Vocalist Tip Top Ice Cream[1][3] Colenso BBDO
2021 Various Female Characters Tick for Governance[3] VOOTN Voice & Video

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Feature – NewTracks New Artist: Mozie". NZ Musician. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Team, Waatea (2022-06-22). "Moana Leota / Musician". Waatea News: Māori Radio Station. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Moana Leota". GCM. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  4. ^ a b c "NZ Live – Bret McKenzie". RNZ. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  5. ^ a b c d e MOZIE – Not Done Loving, retrieved 2023-07-14
  6. ^ a b c d e f "MOZIE – Not Done Loving — thecoconet.tv – The world's largest hub of Pacific Island content.uu". www.thecoconet.tv. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Interview with Moana Leota, 2023
  8. ^ a b "Soulful singer Mozie releases debut single 'Not Done Loving'". www.muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  9. ^ a b Moana Leota – Sarah Lilli Family Concert 2010, retrieved 2023-07-14
  10. ^ a b Moana Leota – Sarah Lilli Family Concert 2012, retrieved 2023-07-14
  11. ^ "New home for Newtown Carols". Stuff. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  12. ^ a b Interislander holiday, retrieved 2023-07-14
  13. ^ a b c d HUNT, TOM (2013-02-26). "Concert planned for Malawi". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  14. ^ "Good deed CD – New Zealand News". NZ Herald. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  15. ^ a b "Fatu Na Totō by Le Moana | "...Fatu na totō is a dedication to our parents who migrated in search of the dream..." T Lualua (Writer/Director) For tickets:... | By Le Moana | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  16. ^ a b Le Moana – Fatu Na Totō excerpts at Pātaka, retrieved 2023-07-14
  17. ^ a b c d "Fatu Na Toto – Planted Seeds". Theatreview. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  18. ^ "Fatu na Toto: Planted Seeds, a Samoan Immigrant Story | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  19. ^ a b "Cry-Baby – The Musical – Reviewed by Madelaine Empson | Regional News Connecting Wellington". www.regionalnews.kiwi. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  20. ^ a b "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR". Theatreview. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  21. ^ a b Rusling, Lindsey. "Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at Te Auaha". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  22. ^ a b c "Late Nite Lit: Moana Leota and her band – Poets Before Me". Eventfinda. 2022-06-10. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  23. ^ a b "*SOLD OUT* Poets Before Me, Bedlam & Squalor, Wellington, 30 March 2023". stayhappening.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  24. ^ a b "Powerhouse – Hannah Playhouse, Wellington". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  25. ^ a b "LOUIS BAKER 'LOVE LEVITATES' EP OUT TODAY". MMF AOTEAROA. 2021-06-18. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  26. ^ a b "Louis Baker Drops 'Love Levitates' EP". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  27. ^ a b "Moana Leota, Kat Little, Ben Lemi, Bret McKenzie, Jacqui Nyman,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  28. ^ Moana Leota sings Sia's 'My Love' at Moana Takes Flight concert, retrieved 2024-02-21
  29. ^ "Ella Monnery's POWERHOUSE". WITCH Music Theatre. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  30. ^ "Footnote Dance Made in New Zealand 2013". Theatreview. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  31. ^ "San Diego Fringe 2018 Wraps Up With Awards Show". KPBS Public Media. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  32. ^ "Unpredictable Fringe Events – San Diego Story". sandiegostory.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  33. ^ "Pacific dance moves to contemporary". NZ Herald. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  34. ^ "CRY-BABY The Musical". Theatreview. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  35. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  36. ^ "Orchestra Wellington x Signature Choir Don't stop me now – Queen Soloists – Moana Leota, Myikah Asovale, Matt Molluhand & Lisa Tomlins Another one we... | By Signature Choir Wellington | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  37. ^ "Good deed CD - New Zealand News". NZ Herald. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
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