Miss French

"I come from an ancient time beauty and grace and all  things fine  nourish my soul and  ease my mind,  I come from an Ancient time"  - Miss French

Of European decent, Julie Foai (aka Miss French), was born in New Zealand to a musical family who fortunately decided to quit the rat race and move to Laingholm, a place with beaches, bush and lots of space in the Waitakere ranges. Here she would immerse herself in the magical world of native New Zealand bush, a world of day dreams and adventures. 

Her father, a jazz enthusiast, was not only a player of many instruments including trumpet and double bass, but he built instruments. Performing with the family at 10 years of age and later in Auckland bands, influenced by Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Billy Holiday and Joan Armatrading, she began writing songs from her own unique perspective. 

Teaming up with Opetaia Foa'i in her early twenties, the “Duo with a difference” performed and wrote music for several years before founding Te Vaka in 1994.                                                                                                                   

After touring 40 countries over 20 plus years, taking Pacific music to the World as the manager of the internationally acclaimed South Pacific band, Te Vaka. And now finally seeing Te Vaka music signed to Walt Disney Pictures for the animated musical feature film, “Moana” her vision for Te Vaka has been achieved and the time was right to pick up where she left off and finally launch “The Trials and Tribulations of Miss French part one”, an album of original material, from the heart in the Jazz/Blues and a little bit more genre was released in 2016.

In late 2023, the  "Trials and Tribulations of Miss French Part Two was recorded and released on the 24th of May 2024.  

Read a very nice review of the album here.