If a person is a sum of one’s parts, and one’s parts include their output and abilities, then Eva Prowse is one complex lady. Her ‘sharp, raw’ voice, as described by the Dom Post, and her mastery of the violin, have seen her lend her talents to, and collaborate with, a myriad of musicians. She has toured with the internationally renowned Fly My Pretties and recorded Beatles songs for The Royal New Zealand Ballet, played in Ricky Boyd’s Boomshack Band, and opened for Family Cactus and musical maven Wanda Jackson. If this wasn’t enough to cement her formidable skill set, she is biologically fortunate too; her father is revered industry stalwart Chris Prowse, who recently won the Tui Award for Best Folk Album.
She has finally poured these talents and musical compatriots into an album of her own, and as such it speaks directly to the (modern) heart. Called, appropriately, I Can’t Keep Secrets, the ten-track release is a personal ode to modern life and human trial and error and gallivants along in that dually melancholically and optimistic way folk alternative country manages to embody. The first single, ‘Youngest Child’ opens with a gothic, all-encompassing choral landscape, only to burst into a guitar-driven pop song in which Prowse proffers some personal truths against a backdrop of soaring violins, which is an example of the rest of the album.
Such ambitious pop is only truly captivating if the level of craft and production matches said intentions. Prowse needn’t worry. With production duties care of the inimitable Samuel Flynn Scott and recording and mixing by Lee Prebble at The Surgery Studio (who both recently picked up Tui’s at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards for such work), every instrument warmly emanates from its appropriate place in the mix. Those instruments are played by the likes of Samuel Flynn Scott (The Phoenix Foundation), Ryan Prebble (Spartacus R), Tom Callwood (Little Bushman), Ricky Boyd (Ricky Boyd and The Boomshack Band) Tessa Rain (Fly My Pretties) and Rio Hunuki-Hemopo (Trinity Roots), who combine to create music for Prowse that wraps around the listener like a handmade patchwork quilt.
In fact, a handcrafted quilt – delicately constructed and intricately weaved – is a perfect way to describe Eva Prowse’s music and her debut release I Can’t Keep Secrets is a fine example of this. Much like one’s own quilt, it will undoubtedly become a favourite for some time.
Producing Evas record was a real pleasure. It is a record of many highlights and I think we will see and hear a lot more of Eva Prowse. I just hope I get to keep working with her! Samuel Flynn Scott
“I have been lucky to work with Eva Prowse in the Fly My Pretties show and in the studio more recently. Obviously Eva is a rising star, a unique talent with depth in her writing and spirit in her vocal.” Barnaby Weir
