October 14 2004


If there is a definite point when you can say you know you are famous, former Wellington singer-songwriter Brooke Fraser has found it.

She has just moved to Sydney as the first step in her campaign to conquer Australia, and says the shift has had one pleasant side effect.

"I've been loving the past two months walking around the malls and having no-one looking at you," she said.

"I just needed to get away, not because I don't love New Zealand but New Zealand is so small, so once you establish a larger profile there's really nowhere you can go. It got a bit hard, being recognised."

Fraser's profile at home is enormous. Months after its release, her debut album remains at two in the charts. Last month she won two prizes at the New Zealand Music awards.

Now she is back in New Zealand and back on the road for what, astonishingly, is her first proper headlining national tour, including a return to Christchurch on October 28.

"I'm really excited about it because it's something completely different from what I've done before," Fraser said.

"When I was out on the road with Goldenhorse it was just like a trio, and the John Mayer tour was myself and three other guys doing 20 minutes. This tour is where I get to do a whole show with a full band and can whack the songs out the way I want to.

"The night's will be about music and playing great music, not simply about playing songs off an album and playing them just like they sound on the record. We can let it rip, which I really want to do." The tour would also be a thank-you to the people who bought her album, Fraser said. It was a record released with uncertain expectations but which has captured the popular imagination - as five-times platinum sales eloquently express.

The record was originally intended for a March release in Australia, but Fraser claims no sense of impatience.

Rather than rush the record for some quick sales the record company - and the star - want to build a profile.