Reconsidering Erica

Erica Miller in her South Dunedin backyard. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

"Oh, my darling, I love you, and I always will ..." Erica Miller has broken into song for the third time in just over an hour.

Not to be outdone, a ginger tomcat called Jack slinks into the room and lets loose a mewing that, though loud, is clearly less melodious than Erica's occasional outbursts.

• A family affair

Perhaps it is concerned there's a stranger in the living room brandishing pen, pad and recording device.

Jack might have to get used to a few more visitors to this St Kilda villa, which rests a couple of blocks from the red and yellow stripes of Badminton Hall, locked in a tight grid of streets that sometimes funnel the amplified commentary of the races at nearby Forbury Park or, on a quiet night, a distant rumble as waves rearrange Middle Beach.

Here, too, ripples are emanating. Word is being spread. Figuratively and literally, the media is gathering at the door.

Why? Well, this grandmother is about to release her debut album, a collection of Elvis Presley covers, under the guise The Erica Miller Experience.

Cool. Crikey. Cringe. Erica admits there has been a range of responses to the news of her forthcoming release, which, all going to plan, will be distributed by major label Universal next month.

Yet any knee-jerk reactions might be tempered by the disclosure that Erica is the mother of Shayne Carter, frontman for a range of bands over the years, including 2008 New Zealand Music Hall of Fame inductees Straitjacket Fits and, more recently, Dimmer.

Erica says she has just been on the phone to her first-born, wishing him a happy birthday (her 64th was a couple of days earlier).

Among their regular chats has been much discussion about the pending album, Reconsidered.

Named by Shayne, the title reflects a reworking of material made famous by Elvis, but also hints at self-examination.

The selection of songs includes more than a few that are sad, painful even.

Though pain is something Erica has had her fair share of over the years, her demeanour is upbeat, an impression accentuated by a rapid-fire combination of words and laughter.