These are often big, mainstream songs ('Coffee's Getting Cold,' 'Dance Just For Fun') which sound tailored for a sophisticated club or cabaret setting, but here too are uptempo soft-rock funk (the hip-shaking Imperceptibly) and horns energising the arrangements ('Differences Blues').
—Graham Reid, NZ Listener
Of European descent, Julie Foai (aka Miss French), was born in New Zealand to a musical family who fortunately decided to quit the rat race and move to Laingholm, a place with beaches, bush and lots of space in the Waitakere ranges. Here she would immerse herself in the magical world of native New Zealand bush, a world of daydreams and adventures.
Her father, a jazz enthusiast, was not only a player of many instruments including trumpet and double bass, but he built instruments. Performing with the family at 10 years of age and later in Auckland bands, influenced by Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Billy Holiday and Joan Armatrading, she began writing songs from her own unique perspective.
Teaming up with Opetaia Foa'i in her early twenties, the “Duo with a difference” performed for several years before founding Te Vaka in 1994. After touring 40 countries over the last 20 years, taking Pacific music to the World as the manager of the internationally acclaimed South Pacific band, Te Vaka. And now finally seeing Te Vaka music signed to Walt Disney Pictures for the animated musical feature film, Moana her vision for Te Vaka has been achieved and the time is right to pick up where she left off and launch The Trials and Tribulations of Miss French part one, an album of original material, that comes from the heart in the jazz/blues and a little bit more genre.
Her father, a jazz enthusiast, was not only a player of many instruments including trumpet and double bass, but he built instruments. Performing with the family at 10 years of age and later in Auckland bands, influenced by Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Billy Holiday and Joan Armatrading, she began writing songs from her own unique perspective.
Teaming up with Opetaia Foa'i in her early twenties, the “Duo with a difference” performed for several years before founding Te Vaka in 1994. After touring 40 countries over the last 20 years, taking Pacific music to the World as the manager of the internationally acclaimed South Pacific band, Te Vaka. And now finally seeing Te Vaka music signed to Walt Disney Pictures for the animated musical feature film, Moana her vision for Te Vaka has been achieved and the time is right to pick up where she left off and launch The Trials and Tribulations of Miss French part one, an album of original material, that comes from the heart in the jazz/blues and a little bit more genre.
