february-2011

Right now, Boh is spending the summer
months in Auckland hanging out with family
and friends, working on a range of creative
projects and, this morning, being particularly
excited about fi nding a new microphone for the
studio she is setting up at home back in Los
Angeles (LA). “I live in Silverlake which is a bit
of bohemian enclave, east of Hollywood. It’s
quite an artistic neighbourhood. I used to live
in West Hollywood; it’s much more glamorous
and chi chi, but I prefer the ‘dirty underbelly’,’’
she laughs.
“I can’t wait to get back to LA and start
writing. There’s a lot on the last album I am
now not happy with. For the next one,” she adds
dreamily, “I have a specifi c project in mind; a
blend of genres with the likes of Roxy Music. I
love that whole seventies rock vibe.” To prove
it, the top she’s wearing is a reissue vintage
T-shirt identical to one worn by Rod Stewart
back in the day. “I bought it online,” she laughs.
“I actually worked with one of his writers,
Kevin Savigar, when I fi rst moved to LA and he
had such amazing stories. One of the joys of
collaborating with people there is they have all
worked with other stars. I’m not interested in
writing music with them,” she laughs again, “I
just want to hear their stories.”
Boh enjoys the ‘get up and go’ and
enthusiastic nature of LA locals, compared to
the more low-key, almost shy approach back
in New Zealand. Thanks to being signed to
leading music publishers Chrysalis, she has
become part of a talented pool of songwriters
in LA, being paid to create songs which are then
put out for selection by diff erent artists. So far,
none of Boh’s songs has been picked up, but
the work means she can aff ord to maintain
the creative life she leads. “Ï’d love someone
like Britney Spears to pick one of my songs.
I really admire her. After having such a diffi cult
personal life, I love that music helped lift her
out of that.”
Growing up in the seventies in the
conservative New Zealand city of Christchurch,
music was a big part of her family life. Her
mother, who was born in Malaysia, gave up
her own singing career to be with the man
she loved. Instead, she encouraged her three
daughters to follow their musical dreams.
All of them went on to play in bands, with
sister Bic, in particular, topping the charts as a
singer-songwriter.
“Mum also encouraged us to be accepting
of all people and cultures, and kept us in touch
with our heritage through the delicious Asian
food she created and teaching us Chinese
when we were little.”
Boh loves spending time in New Zealand. It
gives her the opportunity to hang out with her
two young nephews and work on the numerous
collaborations and projects she has on the go.
MUM ENCOURAGED
US TO BE ACCEPTING
OF ALL PEOPLE AND
CULTURES
Outfi t: DRESS BY TRELISE COOPER;
Jewellery: BOH RUNGA BIRDLAND ROBIN BRACELET
IN ROSE GOLD
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 27