My name is Lou’ana Pereira-Dinnan also known as Lou’ana Whitney. I am originally from Auckland

but grew up in Hamilton, I then moved back to Auckland in 2012 to study.

I am currently in my 3rd year of studying towards a bachelor in Jazz Performance at the New Zealand

School of Music in Albany. When I’m not studying or at uni I’m gigging around town with various

bands and projects.

I’m currently singing with an Auckland based funk/groove band, Fibonacci. I’m also apart of the

Voodoo Saturday night set down at Orleans Bar Britomart where I sing blues, funk and soul. You can

see me also filling in now and then for the 70’s inspired Soul Funk band Hipstamatics. When I’m not

funking it up with all there guys you can also find me singing with my two duos or fronting the 22

piece Queen City Big Band. I have also just become apart of an amazing project called ‘Le Va’ which

is about building a platform for our Pacific and Maori artists to share there talents and creating

opportunities for them to do so. It’s a great project and there are amazing and inspiring visionaries

who are leading it so watch this space!

When I am creating anything, be it music or anything artistic, I must be inspired or what I am

creating won’t mean anything. I have found I draw the most inspiration being by myself with an

instrument and in a comfortable quite place for example my own room, I don’t always stay at my

house so I always find it special being in my own space. The beach really inspires me, I have found a

lot of music I have written has words about and or associated with the sea. The little everyday things

are always inspiring me too, which keeps life beautiful.

I really admire our New Zealand Music Scene, it’s always growing and there are always new and

talented musos around every corner. Someone I really take to in the NZ music Industry is LA

Mitchell, so talented and really enjoy her sound and style. She also went to Jazz School and did the

course I’m doing so I find that cool and really inspiring. Internationally, I think most of my

inspirations have died. Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald are a few of many musicians who I

admire and whom I am inspired by.

I was born and raised in a musical family so it was natural for me to become a musician. I was

encouraged and taught by my parents and family to pursue whatever makes me happy, music and

performing make me very happy so I grabbed every opportunity I could to do so. Finally studying

music, I still strive to grab every opportunity but prove to be a little dangerous sometimes as I find I

over work myself physically and mentally. There are definitely times where it all gets hard, I just have

to get away from it all and indulge in some time with a really close friend. I also have an amazing

partner who is my rock and keeps me grounded and reminds me of how far I have come and how

beautiful I am.

My dream is to have a career in music, which will take me to the end of my life. With my music I

want to inspire people and move people whether that be to tears or onto a dance floor. I’m living

part of my dream now and I am 20 years old, it may seem naïve to believe I can make a living off this

for the rest of my life but “where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong” Ella

Fitzgerald

To you young musicians, who have a dream to pursue a musical career, go for it! Be realistic though;

seek guidance/advice or study of some sort. You have got to know for sure this is what you want and

then don’t stop till you get there. Times get tough and it’s that inbred dream that will push you

through. Also, get out there as much as you can. You can study but that will never teach you what

experience can. You can follow my ‘Lou’ana Whitney Music’ Facebook page, that’s where I keep

followers updated on upcoming gigs etc. My FB is the only place I have to know what I’m up to, still

have a lot to set up, baby steps.

Thanks for inviting me to talk about what I’m up to, hope to see you at a gig sometime!