Nikita Christensen-Hyde and her husband, Simon Christensen, performing as ToPeace. Photo supplied.Music first wove its melodic way into Nikita Hyde-Christensen’s life when she was at primary school, and it has remained firmly there ever since.

“I started singing lessons when I was seven and did my first public performance at nine, after that I was hooked,” she said.

Early on it looked like the talented singer and guitar player was going to head down the country genre road, but she said after competing in numerous country music competitions she felt that pitting one artist against another was not for her.

“I am a lover of music and believe it should be enjoyable for everybody and not about I am better than you, so I stepped away from country music.”

At 17, Christensen formed a duo band with Ashburton’s Les Donaldson, but after a year the death of her father derailed her musical confidence and she found herself struggling with anxiety levels which made it impossible for her to perform in front of an audience in the same manner she always had.

“It all got too hard.

“I stopped singing and even put down my guitar.”

However, taking a complete break from music during this tough time was not something Christensen was up for, so she opted to be someone else instead.

“I got involved with the Variety Theatre Ashburton.

“I found I could go on stage as someone else.

“I played Sandy in Grease, but I couldn’t go on as Nikita anymore as I had too much anxiety for that.”

As the saying goes time is a great healer, and for Christensen that was true in part, but the confidence to pick up her guitar and microphone really came when she meet local band members Thomas Klever, Jonny Young, Daniel Wilson and drummer Simon Christensen, who asked her to join their covers band, Wishlist – and it turned out to offer her so much more than just music.

“When I first joined up with them, I remember thinking the drummer seemed pretty cool”.

Thankfully, that very same drummer thought Nikita was pretty cool too, and over time their friendship developed into something more, and just before the lockdown this year they tied the knot.

“Simon was an amazing help in getting me back performing.

“He told me that if I didn’t pick up my guitar and sing again, I would regret it and I am really grateful to him for that.”

Christensen said she remembers all the boys being really supportive and encouraging at her first rehearsal.

“They understood how hard it was for me.

“I knew this is what Dad would want me to be doing, and even now I sing songs that remind me of him.”

Thanks to Simon, Wishlist and Christensen’s own determination, her confidence bump was flattened out and life in the music world picked up its pace again.

A couple of years ago the couple made the hard decision to move to Christchurch to further their musical careers.

“We would love to be still living in Ashburton as we miss our families and friends, but at the moment it is just not possible.”

The pair play together in their duo band, ToPeace, with Christensen on guitar and vocals and her husband accompanying her on drums.

Wishlist is still going strong, with Thomas Klever and Jonny Young being swapped out for Daniel Hitchens and Ben Crosson.

Either as a duo, or as a part of the band, Christensen can be found playing a mixture of private gigs and public ones in popular nightspots in Christchurch, like The Carlton, The Bog and Boo Radleys.

Playing together might sound fun for a husband and wife duo, but it doesn’t come without its moments, Christensen said with other band members known to roll their eyes when the pair bicker in a manner in which only a married couple can.

“On the flipside, we know each other really well, and can read each other musically and that makes for a great sound.”

In recent time, family commitments have meant Simon cannot always play mid-week, so Christensen has put her hand up to form a duo with Christchurch muso Jimmy McLaughlin – adding to any already busy schedule.

A couple of standout career moments come to mind for Christensen.

First is being part of Ashburton’s Christmas in the Park and playing front of such a huge crowd and also her involvement with musical theatre.

“Sandy in Grease was my favourite role, I enjoyed getting to character and pretending to be someone I’m not.”

Due to Covid-19 restrictions the immediate future for live music is a bit up in the air.

There are plenty of bookings for next wedding season and her duo combinations have some bookings coming in but it all depends on when things get back to normal.

“We can’t do anything about it, just wait it out and see what happens.”

Christensen while she enjoyed the slower pace of lockdown and how it provided more time spend with family, but she’s had enough downtime now.

“I just want to get back out there and play.”

All the bands Christensen is involved with are covers bands, she has however been dabbling in writing her own music as well.

Currently she has around 14 of her own songs that she is not sure what she will do with.

“Covers make money and originals cost money, so I’ll wait and see what the economy does first.”

“At our wedding I sang one of my own songs, Rainbow, for my dad. I thought it was a fitting I sing it in my wedding dress, as I wasn’t able to do a father-daughter dance with him.”

By Heather Mackenzie © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 June 2020