Born of musical blood (her father, Chris, recently won a Tui Award for Best Folk Album), adept at a myriad of musical instruments, and vocally skilled to boot, Eva is a well-rounded addition to the New Zealand music scene.  Her approachable sound is best classified as ‘folk-pop’, her lyrics are refreshingly honest, and her personality is confidence mixed with likeable cheek.  All of which makes Eva Prowse, in our humble opinion, one to watch. 

Her debut album, I Can’t Keep Secrets, has just hit stores and she’s days away from her first solo tour, but we were lucky enough to grab five minutes to chat to Eva about her experiences so far.

Congrats on your debut album, how long have you been waiting for this day? 

My whole life! [Laughs.] Nope, I'm not that dramatically driven. I suppose a couple of years, but like the Mainland Cheese ad says, “good things take time”, and the wait has been necessary for things to be the best possible.

You’ve had a great relationship with Fly My Pretties, how did this influence your solo style?

I suppose getting the chance to play with such a diverse bunch of talented musicians must have had an impact on the style in terms of arrangement possibilities, as well as musical ideas and sounds from getting people such as Ryan Prebble who is in FMP to play on the album, which was greatness.

Tell us a little bit about your first single, Youngest Child?

Basically it's the story of a youngest child, or 'naughty little sister' type figure who always attempts to do the right thing and be considerate etc. but due to her nature, and a perhaps a little spoiling, just isn't doing very well at being a grown up now. Cheekiness, I've heard some call it. 

We love, and relate to, the album title. What's behind the decision to call it that?

Well it's just a well-known fact of my life really. I suppose it sort of comes from the sentiments in a few of the songs, and that whole thing of being honest about stuff ya don't really talk about in your lyrics. Plus, being the youngest child, there's always an excitement around being privileged to information from your elders - you gotta tell someone!

Who are your musical inspirations?

Oh no, usually people I sound nothing like! But off the top of my head; The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Wilco, The Phoenix Foundation, Lawrence Arabia, Nouvelle Vague and The Spice Girls.

You’re about to embark on your first solo tour to release the album. How the heck does that feel?

It's all pretty exciting. I just wanna play, so really looking forward to getting to do that. But secretly it's also a little scary, this feeling of responsibility which comes from doing my own show! 

And finally, what’s in the future for Eva Prowse?

Can I please have a short, sweet, and sun-screened summer break? Followed by Fly My Pretties Summer Showcase in January, then hopefully some shows down South and around and about in the following months.... a haircut at some point would be great too...

I Can’t Keep Secrets is available on iTunes and in good record stores now. 

www.evaprowse.co.nz  

Article by Catherine Fitzgerald