Background
Anika Moa was born on 21 May 1980 in the New Zealand city of Auckland, but grew up in Christchurch.
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Anika Moa
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After signing to Atlantic Records in the United States she released her debut album Thinking Room in 2001, aged 21. Moa has been the subject of two documentaries by filmmaker Justin Pemberton: 3 Chords and the Truth: the Anika Moa Story (2003), recounting the story of her signing to Atlantic and the release of her first album, and In Bed With Anika Moa (2010). She is of Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri and Pakeha descent.
Later she signed a record deal with Warner Music in New Zealand and Atlantic Records in New York, where she recorded her first album Thinking Room.
Moa grew homesick during her time in the United States, and became increasingly uncomfortable with the imagery used to promote her. In 2002 she returned to base herself in New Zealand.
She released her second album Stolen Hill on 1 August 2005, describing the album as "more sparse" and true to herself, compared to her first. The album was certified gold.
She toured New Zealand in October of that year.
In 2005 Moa was one of many New Zealand musicians who contributed to single "Anchor Maine", which commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior. Foreign the first time she was credited with producing the album alone. In 2009 The New Zealand Herald named Moa as one of the "Top 10 Kiwi music successes of the past 10 years".
Moa came out as openly lesbian in 2007, and entered into a civil union with Australian burlesque dancer Azaria Universe (Angela Fyfe) in February 2010.
Fyfe became pregnant with twins in 2011. Fyfe was a major inspiration for Moa"s fourth album, Love in Motion, which peaked at number four on the New Zealand Albums Chart after its release in March 2010.
To support the album, Moa embarked on a nationwide tour from 21 October 2010 to 4 December. Moa has collaborated with many New Zealand artists including Doctor of Juridical Science and Bic Runga.
She has also performed with band Dimmer, in a backup and touring capacity.
She has DJed under the name DJ Unika. In February 2013 Moa released Peace of Mind with Boh Runga and Hollie Smith. Around that time she and Azaria Universe separated, and have joint custody of their twins.
In November 2013 she released a children"s album titled Songs for Bubbas.
In December 2012, Moa starred in an online video campaign supporting gay marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Hollie Smith and Boh Runga, as well as Olympian Danyon Loader and former Governor-General Dame Catherine Tizard. Addiction Prevention and Recovery Administration New Zealand Music.
