Moana Leota aka MOZIE (born February 7, 1999) is a singer-songwriter, actor and vocalist of Samoan and New Zealand European descent based in Wellington, New Zealand.^[1] Leota has been performing in New Zealand's commercial, arts and music industries from a young age.^[1][2] She was the voice of the Interislander ad (2013) for a decade and has been an active soloist for community and national events as well as a backing vocalist for national and international touring artists.^[3] As an actor, Leota toured internationally to the US and Mexico with Le Moana Productions as the lead in Fatu Na Toto and as a vocalist (2014, 2016, 2018). She recently toured New Zealand, UK and US with Bret McKenzie as a backing vocalist for his most recent album.^[4]

Under her stage name MOZIE, Leota released her debut single Not Done Loving (2022),^[1][5] and was praised for her original Soul / RnB sound.^[2][6][5] Leota received funding for a second single through NZ On Air's Pasifika Music Single funding grants.^[7]

Born in Wellington in 1999, Leota grew up in a family of strong singers in the Wairarapa.^[1][8][2] Her father is Samoan and her mother, an artist, is New Zealand European.^[7][2] Her early musical influences were Lauryn Hill, The Fugees, Sinead O'Connor, and her own mother and aunts.^[2]

Leota was a returning solo act for the Sarah Lilli Family Concert (2010, 2012.)^[9][10] She was also a returning soloist for the annual Christmas Carols show held at the Government House (2014, 2015.)^[3][11] Her first professional work was as the voice of the Interislander ad (2013) which ran for 10 years. Leota recorded the jingle when she was 11.^[3][12] She went onto lend her voice to Tip Top Real New Zealand Summer Commercial (2013) that same year.^[3][8][6][1]

Moana Takes Flight (2014)^[3] was a fundraising concert initiated by 13-year-old Leota to raise money to visit her grandparents in Malawi with the plan of giving out 10 ukuleles to local children and teaching them to play.^[13][14] The concert featured Leota, Little Bushman, Warren Maxwell and Wellington International Ukulele Orchestras Steve Jessup.^[13] Leota herself learned to play the ukulele by watching YouTube on the family computer and joining her community ukulele group, with a majority of elderly attendees, at the age of 10.^[7] In the end, she took 30 ukuleles to Malawi and gave them out to the village children of the Nyika Plateau.^[7]

Fatu Na Toto (2014)^[3][15][16] was Leota's first live theatre role in which she was the lead.^[13] The live theatre show was a Le Moana Production directed by Tupe Lualua.^[17][18] The show was first performed at the Wellington Fringe Festival.^[17][3] Leota would go on to work for Le Moana Productions throughout her youth as an actor, vocalist and team member going on tour nationally and internationally.^[7] Leota and Le Moana took Fatu Na Toto to the Tempo Dance Festival (2016), Sandiego Fringe Festival (2018) and throughout the US and Mexico (2018).^[17][3]

Leota moved back to Wellington, New Zealand to study commercial music at Massey University (2018), where she met and started writing music with her long-time collaborator, Hunter Paranihi.^[7][2][1] After a year studying commercial music both Leota and Paranihi decided that a change of course was needed to explore their artistry in depth.^[7] Both found courses at Te Auaha in 2019, Leota began her study into the Musical Theatre course and Parahini went into the Music course.^[7] There she gained a diploma in Performing Arts and in her further studies gained a Bachelor in Creativity (2020.)^[3] While at Te Auaha Leota and Paranihi continued to write and collaborate together producing work Leota is very proud, including work on her debut single Not Done Loving (2022.).^[7][1] Moreover, during her time at Te Auaha Leota acted in two productions. She played Pepper Walker in Cry Baby (2019)^[19] and Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (2020).^[3][20][21]

Leota's show Poets Before Me^[22][23] was created for her 3rd year Body of Work which was her final and largest assignment at university.^[7] The show celebrated the poetry of highly acclaimed songs like Hallelujah, A Deal with God by Kate Bush, River by Joni Mitchell as well as some of Leota's original work.^[22] Through this Leota explores how selected artists and their poetry have influenced her life and her artistic practice as a singer-songwriter.^[22] Her band for the show consisted of Leonardo Coghini on Keys, Seth Boy on Double Bass, Sam Mackenzie on Drums and Emily Paterson on Cello.^[23]

Leota was a backing vocalist for Ella Monnery's concert, Powerhouse (2019)^[24][3] and was the solo vocalist for New Zealand's Chinese New Year Festival (2019),^[3] Otago Tour for Samoan Language week (2019)^[3] as well as the opening ceremony for the Wellington International Pride Festival (2020).^[3]

Leota accompanied Louis Baker on his national tour as a backing vocalist for his EP Love Levitates (2021).^[25] They performed at the Hollywood Theatre in Auckland, Theatre Royal in Nelson, James Hay Theatre in Christchurch and Opera House in Wellington.^[26] Leota was connected with Louis Baker through another New Zealand vocalist Lisa Thomlins, she needed cover for a gig with him and approached Leota for the role.^[7] One of the performance's Leota did with Louis Baker was on RNZ.^[7] At the time Bret McKenzie was searching for a backing vocalist for his upcoming international solo tour, his wife had watched Baker's RNZ performance, seen Leota and recommended her to Mckenzie who then reached out to her.^[7][1]

Leota accompanied Bret McKenzie of the Flight of the Conchords on his international tour providing backing vocals for his latest solo album Songs without Jokes (2022.)^[1][27][4] The tour was 3 months long and spanned 46 different locations over New Zealand, UK and US. She also recorded backing vocals for the album.^[1]

Under her stage name MOZIE, Leota released her debut single Not Done Loving (2022).^[1][5] Her original Soul / RnB sound was well received and released onto New Zealand's top radio stations.^[2][6][5] The single was written alongside her long-time collaborator Hunter Paranihi and is a song about 'the one that got away.'^[7][1] Paranihi also produced the single.^[1][6] Her band for the single consisted of: James Illinworth on keys, Johnny Lawrence and Bass, Hunter Parahini on Guitar and Ato Baido on drums and percussion. The single was mastered by Mike Gibson and Munki Music.^[1] Throughout the process she was guided and mentored by Kirsten Te Riho as well as Kate Orgias. The music video Not Done Loving was fillmed in Waiorongomai, South Wairarapa.^[2] It was self-directed by Leota with a crew of family and friends.^[6]

Leota's influences for her music include Cleo Soul, Lauryn Hill, Joy Crookes, Inflo, and James Blake, among others.^[7]

Leota welcomed her first-born son with her partner Brett Taefu who is an actor and artist, in early 2023. The two met at a Barbershop workshop while in high school.^[7]