New Zealand singer songwriter Anna Coddington is fast establishing herself as an artist of note on her island home with her abilities being recognised here as well. Coddington has been described by critics as ‘exeptional, captivating and creative’. This down-to-earth girl takes the essential guitar-driven indie song and makes it her own.
Her sophomore album Cat & Bird is garnering impressive attention; for Coddington creating it was a very different experience from her debut.
‘I wanted more guitars on this album and I wanted a bigger dynamic. I think the main difference with my second album is that I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to sound and a clearer vision of how to see it through. This time I really wanted to enjoy the whole process, because with the first album I stressed out… I mean if you’re not enjoying it then why do it!’
Coddington believes it’s the growing clarity of the kind of music she wants to make that has created such a well-lauded offering.
‘I think knowing what I wanted to set out to achieve and achieving it has made it a better album to listen to.’
Anna spends a good part of the year on tour and she believes that playing the live circuit is the best way to get your music to the people.
‘There’s no better way to build your fan base,’ she says. ‘I believe it’s building one fan at a time rather than as masses and you need to respect that; your audience needs to get a sense of who you are as person. I just love that about performing. I love how it all works. I love how certain people react to certain things. You can never really know what moves people,’ she says.
For Coddington making music has become a more conscious process; it’s something she believes has helped her push through her limitations.
‘I like to keep it interesting. The songs change depending where I play and whom I play with. I would hate to be playing the same thing all the time. In fact I’ve changed my whole attitude to making music from it’s all about you the artist getting what you want across to being more aware of the audience; it’s really a blend of both but in my experience it’s only magical when you are sharing it.’
When it comes to songwriting, Coddington tinkers daily with ideas and melodies to push through with her inspiration.
‘When it comes to writing music it’s also something that I have changed my approach to from thinking inspiration comes when it comes, and being at the mercy of the song gods, to thinking that if you are creative it’s on you to do the creating. I try and stay open, the more you do it the more naturally it comes.
Anna Coddington appears with her band at the Mullum Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday 26 and 27 November – don’t miss this extraordinarily gifted performer.
For program details go to www.mullummusicfestival.com.
