Wanganui first, perhaps US next

Phoebe Hurst, who will be performing with her band at the Whanganui Musicians Club tomorrow night.

Phoebe Hurst loves pop music.

The 24-year-old grew up listening to a wide range of music, thanks to her father's extensive collection, but pop was her favourite.

"I loved anything from Rickie Lee Jones to The Spice Girls," she said.

Hurst now makes her own electro-pop music and she and her band will play the Whanganui Musicians' Club tomorrow night.

The gig is part of the band's New Zealand tour after the release of their EP, Lessons, last month.

Originally from North Canterbury, Hurst has recently been dividing her time between her parents' home in Kaiapoi, and Wanganui, where most of her musical adventures are taking place.

Hurst became interested in music in her pre-teen years, when she started "tinkering" on her great-grandfather's piano. Not long after that she penned her first song.

She studied performance music at Toi Whakaari in Wellington then bought a loop pedal to make music. When she met drummer Ricky Simmonds, who introduced her to musician and producer Micah Livesay - both from Wanganui - she realised she "wanted to be a frontwoman rather than a loop artist".

"I see myself primarily as a vocalist now."

The three of them came back to Wanganui to work on Lessons.

"They were both keen to get involved, and they had connections in Wanganui to people who have really helped us on this project," she said.

It was a new experience to make music with a band: "I consider myself very lucky to work with them."

She hopes Lessons will work as a demo piece to help her book more gigs.

"In five years' time I might look back and wonder what I was thinking, but I hope not. Right now, I'm proud of what we made, especially given our limited time and resources."

Though unsure what the future may bring, she's keen to travel.

"I'd like to go to the United States and try my luck there. What do I have to lose?"

For more information, and to listen to Phoebe Hurst's EP Lessons, visit www.phoebehurst.com. The gig kicks off at the Whanganui Musicians' Club, Savage Club Hall, Drews Ave, at 7pm tomorrow. Tickets $10 at the door.