Shona Laing's classic 1987 album South will be honoured at this year's Taite Music Awards.
South includes the tracks '(Glad I'm) Not A Kennedy' 'Soviet Snow' and 'Poles Apart' which is Shona's favourite on the album.
Shona Laing Photo: Supplied
Shona tells Jesse Mulligan that her personal highlight of making South was singing with a vocal group that included Bunny Walters, Suzanne Lynch, Mahia Blackmore and Gary Verberne, who also played the guitar on several songs.
"The 'Soviet Snow' guitar lick to me is one of the finest things that's ever been a part of my music," Shona says.
The biggest hit single on South was '(Glad I'm) Not A Kennedy', which reached #2 on the New Zealand charts.
Shona says the song came to her quickly and quickly effortlessly: "It had a really uncanny momentum.'
'(Glad I'm) Not A Kennedy' also took off in Australia, but it was 'Soviet Snow' which became an independent radio hit in the States and led to South's success and eventually an American tour.
Shona marvels that it's now 33 years since the album came out.
"It almost makes your brain spin just thinking about it. We had a lot of fun on that record."
'The 'Soviet Snow' guitar lick to me is one of the finest things that's ever been a part of my music.'
'33 years… it almost makes your brain spin just thinking about it. We had a lot of fun on that record."
Shona Laing will receive the Independent Music NZ (IMNZ) Classic Record Award at the Taite Music Prize awards on 20 April.
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