Farida Master attends an intimate concert at the Auckland Opera Studio.
It helps when your husband is your music manager.
For starters, it may be easier to convince him to make a trip to New Zealand to attend a wedding worthwhile, by combining a music tour with it.
That’s exactly what the singer-songwriter Anderson Rocio did as she got Wayne Pottow her devoted husband to have a working holiday in New Zealand as he organised a music tour You, The Sea and I in Dunedin, Queenstown, and Auckland, before they returned home to LA.
The result? An enchanting evening at the well-appointed Auckland Opera Studio owned by Frances Wilson—a beautiful home that the accomplished voice coach lets out once a month for classical concerts.
Anderson was an exception to the classical rule.
After performing in Dunedin and Queenstown, the California-based artist with strong connections to east Auckland, delivered a captivating performance with chart-topping ballads, and unreleased gems from her artistic repertoire.
The evening was even more special as Rocio shared parts of her musical journey with endearing honesty. She spoke of the highs …. finding placement in popular shows on Netflix, Hulu, CBS, HBO, MTV, film trailers, the viral success of her song Paradise); and lows….the plan was to be a pop star by 30. Thoughts of self-doubt, wondering if it’s worth pursuing her dream. A dilemma that every artist wrestles with.
Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel that motivates her to follow her childhood dream. Like the time she had the huge privilege of composing the song Power in Us, released on the World Ocean Day. The song was written to collectively amplify the voices of conservation, to unite in the face of Environmental Crisis. Hundred per cent of the streaming revenue generated by ‘Power in Us’ went directly to support ocean conservation.
Accompanying Anderson at the Auckland Opera Studio that evening was the highly talented guitarist Flynn Tanner who sportingly agreed to join them on the music tour. It was also an opportunity for the Toronto-born, multi-instrumentalist to see Dunedin, where his granddad hailed from.
“Instead of having a free bbq for family, friends and fans, we decided to host three intimate music concerts, and have you all along,” laughed Anderson.
And from the looks everyone showed up, with lots of love and hugs to go around that evening.
