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New Zealand Music: The Fans

© Anne-Marie de Bruin

This week at New Zealand Music, I thought I'd take a different take on the music industry, so I talked to some fans about what makes them New Zealand music fans and why.

For most, the one thing that inspired them the most was the quality of the music and songwriting from people like the Finns/Crowded House/Enz and others. Some fans were musicians themselves, and New Zealand musicians had served as key influences. Says Helen Lilley, "New Zealand music has been a major influence on me for most of my life, especially my musical life. Learning and trying to master an instrument it is important to have heroes and mine have been the likes of Rob Gillies, the Finn Brothers but most importantly and probably most significant is Eddie Rayner. He has been and still is an idol and inspiration to me, showing that a musician can be a master at more than one genre when others have told me that I can't."

Mark Stone was inspired not only as a musician but also in particular by the songwriting of Neil Finn. "With Neil it was immediate and powerful; once discovered I simply had to have everything he ever recorded, and would later spend a great deal of time browsing the net for web sites with song transcriptions, then teaching myself my favourites."

Deborah Reilly was also inspired by the songwriting of Finn in a similar fashion. "Neil Finn's songs get into right into me and hit whatever the spot it is that causes skin-tingling and heart-clutching sensations. There's also always a couple of lines from a Neil song that just grab me and play on my mind for days. No other artist can do these things for me. He can be sad, witty, cheeky and soul-baring all at one time." Some of the fans felt that the music was one of the most important things in their lives. According to Jennifer O'Keefe, "I'd have to say that NZ music has definitely enriched my life. The Finn Brothers in particular reign supreme in my list of favourites - they are far more talented, dignified and sincere in their music than some of the crap around which makes the big bucks. That's what I like about them - they aren't afraid of being honest, of making high-quality music, however comparatively "unpopular" it may seem."

Music always inspires dedication amongst its followers - with some fans being so dedicated that they even moved to New Zealand to follow their idols, and Erica Fritse was one such fan. "The Enz/Crowded House and Finn music was a factor in me moving to New Zealand. I know it sounds melodramatic but it is true. I wanted to leave Europe and ended up thinking about to which county I wanted to go to. I decided to have a look in New Zealand as that country 'grew' my favourite musicians so it must be something special. Spend a month on a holiday here and decided it was the place for me."

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