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New Article in The Christchurch Star 27th January 2006
Wild,Wild Westenra
Back from London for a family holiday,chart topping Christchurch singer Hayley Westenra talks to Mary Durham.
Nice.SIT there and think about it for a moment.
Let it roll slowly off your tongue.Nice
It should be pleasant and yes, it is, but why is it that most of you are already stifling yawns?
Isn't it simply that nice is just another word for,well, boring?
But if there's one adjective associated with Hayley Westenra, it is the "n" word. And if that's her worst crime, Westenra is happy to plead guilty.
"i don't mind being called that," she laughs."I'm not opposed to that term."
Let's qualify this. When Westenra agrees to our interview, she's just back from her London base and is in the middle of a two-week family holiday in the upper South Island. This folks,is sacred time.
It's her first real break in a whirlwind year of planes,hotels and concerts; a much-longed-for opportunity to just hang out with her beloved whanau.
Yet Westenra sacrifices a day's kayaking with them to talk to the media.
It has been a long journey from not so long ago busking at the Arts centre.
"oh. look, it wouldn't have been that great out there today anyway,"she says,trying to make me feel better about interupting the holiday.
It's a bit cloudy." You see that's the sort of person Westenra is.
So incredibly well adjusted, it's hard to believe.
A million miles away from most 18 year olds. So yes Westenra is nice.
Which leaves the world almost waiting-if not wanting-for her to stuff up.
It does feel a bit that way",she admits, "but at the moment there's not much dirt.I haven't had enough opportunities to go out partying and do completely crazy things. But there's time yet."
It's likely, however,that Westenra will leave that to Charlotte Church, the angel-voiced, foul-mouthed strumpet who figuratively gives the world a two-fingered salute while strutting around with welsh rugby player Gavin Henson.
Westenra does admit to her own liason with rugby players,accepting an invitation to an All Blacks private party after she sang the national anthem at Twickenham last year.
Any Charlotte-type hook-ups? I ask hopefully.
"There are some really cute guys," she laughs.
"I think all the girls would have to agree."
The truth is even if she wanted to, Westenra doesn't have time to misbehave. While everyone else describes her as nice, Westenra chooses another word. Driven. Extremely driven.
"Now that i've had this opportunity, i just want to go for it because that is really what i want to do. I want to go as far as i can."
She's well on her way to doing just that.
Westenra has sold two million albums worldwide. her latest, Odyssey,entered the Uk pop chart at No 10 and has gone three times platinum in New Zealand.
It's predecessor,Pure was the fastest-selling classical debut album in the Uk of all time.
She has duetted with Andrea Bocelli,Jose Carreras,Bryn Terfel,and Russell Watson, in venues such as Carniege Hall, Sydney Opera House,Wembley arena and the Royal Albert Hall.
Then there's the famed private performance for the Queen,George Bush and Tony Blair. and she's even made Andrew Lloyd Webber cry. True
Westenra was auditioning in front of Webber's musical director for the Liz,Bush and Blair gig,
"i heard someone creeping up behind me and it was him (Webber)," she recalls. then he came down and sat at the piano and started playing. I think i was singing Wish You Were Here Again because he was asking me which of his songs did i know and i was, 'Yeah that one' and then,suddenly part way through the song i looked at him and he was crying, which is real sweet.
Story at Pollstar.com
February 6th 2006
I'm not quite sure what that mean't but i think it was a good thing,"Westenra laughs.
"I was actually quite emotional as well. he's such a musical legend, in my world especially, so for me to be singing for him, it was pretty incredible.'
Such is the unreal life of Hayley Westenra. and it'll be just as unreal for the next few months.
There's her current New Zealand tour ("I love singing at home, in front of my own people, people who understand me and my sense of humour. It's a real joy, very fulfilling"),then a gruelling four months on the road with Il Divo,performing worldwide.
I'm really looking forward to it and it's a huge opportunity," Westenra enthuses.
They're very popular and it'll be great to get in front of new crowds and visit new countries.
"But it's also going to be incredibly full on. There aren't many days off and the days off are largely going to be travelling days.
As many performer will tell you, the international travel isn't as glamorous as it sounds,Cities,people,venues become blurs. Hotel rooms echo with soullessness.
It can be very lonely," admits Westenra, the first time she's come close to complaining.
"There are times after shows when you're on your own in your hotel room and you're isolated from your family and friends and that can be tough. But i guess that's just one of the sacrifices you have to make."
Westenra's London lifestyle is a bit like that too. many's the day spent pining for this piece of paradise.
Her vowels might not be as blunt as many New Zealanders but make no mistake about it - this gal's Kiwi through and through.
I miss the space we have and the serenity,"she say's.
"Living over in London is a lot of fun and it's an exciting place to live, an interesting experience as well but it's very busy, quite manic really,just the pace of life.
It's very hard to find your own space and completely unwind. On a hot summers day everyone goes to the park because no one has there own back yard. There's just swarms of people everywhere.
"So it really makes me cherish the fact that i can come back here. I feel very lucky to have citizenship here, to have a New Zealand passport.
"So many people would love to have what we have."Her parents Gerald and Jill have been the rocks behind this prodigy.In the early days, one of them would accompany her wherever she travelled. But with success at such a young age,mum and dads are almost always looked at askance.
I do feel a bit guilty about that,"she says.It's tough on my parents because people do make assumptions.
And while they have played a major part in my career and getting me to where i am today,they're not at all pushy.
My mum's alway's going,"Oh,are you sure you're ok?"
She's not desperate for me to go off and travel internationally.She'd much perfer me to stay home longer but i'm going, "Well, i do need to go off to this country."
I guess it's because most singers just want to be heard by as many people as possible and my dreams aren't far from that. I want to evolve as a singer and develop as a musician.Just lead a really fulfilling life. I want to be happy basically."
And there's nothing boring about that.
