Auckland band Grace (Anthony, Jason and Paul Ioasa) interviewed about their debut album Black Sand Shore, on music show Frenzy, TV3, from 1995. Directed by Ross Cunningham. edited by Gregor Boyd, animations by John Pain, voiceover by Kate Stalker. Thanks to Ross for the vhs.
Nick Bollinger felt the Grace debut album worthy of inclusion in his 2009 book of 100 essential New Zealand albums, excerpted below...
"Anthony, Jason and Paul Ioasa were first-generation New Zealanders whose parents had eloped from Samoa in the early '60s.
Their father, a tough disciplinarian, distanced his sons from their Samoan roots, believing it was the only way for them to succeed in a predominantly white society. But he was also a musician, and when his boys weren't doing their homework he would coach them in drums, keyboards and guitars.
By the time they made Black Sand Shore, the brothers were all accomplished instrumentalists and fine singers.
On first hearing, it is hard to guess where Grace's mellifluous grooves come from. The tone and texture recall the sophisticated British pop of the period: Steve Winwood, Peter Gabriel, the Blue Nile and Scritti Politti. Musically cosmopolitan, it combines elements of jazz, classical and rock....
...But if Grace's music invites escape, the title song brings it all back home, vividly evoking Auckland's west coast in imagery and shimmering sonics....
...Sadly, there would not be a sequel to this bold debut. Before the decade was over, Jason had given up music to pursue a career as a merchant banker. Anthony flourished as a writer of hit songs, especially for reality TV band True Bliss, while Paul moved to the United States, where he was killed in a car accident in 2003."
Their father, a tough disciplinarian, distanced his sons from their Samoan roots, believing it was the only way for them to succeed in a predominantly white society. But he was also a musician, and when his boys weren't doing their homework he would coach them in drums, keyboards and guitars.
By the time they made Black Sand Shore, the brothers were all accomplished instrumentalists and fine singers.
On first hearing, it is hard to guess where Grace's mellifluous grooves come from. The tone and texture recall the sophisticated British pop of the period: Steve Winwood, Peter Gabriel, the Blue Nile and Scritti Politti. Musically cosmopolitan, it combines elements of jazz, classical and rock....
...But if Grace's music invites escape, the title song brings it all back home, vividly evoking Auckland's west coast in imagery and shimmering sonics....
...Sadly, there would not be a sequel to this bold debut. Before the decade was over, Jason had given up music to pursue a career as a merchant banker. Anthony flourished as a writer of hit songs, especially for reality TV band True Bliss, while Paul moved to the United States, where he was killed in a car accident in 2003."
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| This album came out in two versions of the artwork - this is the later one, repackaged for Australian release |
1 comment:
That's a great little profile in that video. I've added it to 5000 Ways. I'm shocked to discover Paul Ioasa is dead. Somehow the news passed me by at the time.
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