Singer in love with town

Vanessa Kelly
Vanessa Kelly
She has performed for Robbie Williams, been part of the first New Zealand group to achieve three consecutive No 1 singles in New Zealand, and appeared in Shortland Street and Xena: Warrior Princess.

Now Vanessa Kelly, formerly of Deep Obsession, is living in Oamaru, a town she admits she has fallen in love with.

Kelly (33) grew up in Auckland and graduated from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art in Christchurch in 1996.

She got involved with some friends and started several music projects.

Deep Obsession was one of them.

The group achieved consecutive No 1 hits with Lost In Love, Cold, and One and Only, and a platinum album.

It toured internationally and opened for such groups as Boney M, Hanson, S Club 7, Vengaboys and Five.

The experience for the young performer was very valuable.

It was quite humbling, "a bit unreal" and she remembered it as being a fun time.

"Pop's one of those things you do when you're young and you're a bit more carefree. As far as development as an artist, you need something more you can get your teeth into."

After returning in December 2007 from a stint in England, Kelly worked at Fleur's Place at Moeraki for about eight months before moving to Oamaru.

She has just finished a new album, Transition, which is a mix of jazz and blues, and is busy promoting it.

She is looking forward to performing at the Penguin Club in Oamaru tomorrow night - "it's a fantastic little spot, it's the quirkiness that attracts people to it" - and has been travelling the South Island doing gigs.

She also works at Health 2000 Oamaru.

Living in Oamaru was "good for the soul", and while she still enjoyed visiting the city, it was "nice to be able to hear yourself think".

She appeared in the Oamaru Operatic Society's production of Cats in September, her first stage performance for about eight years.

She has also been involved with several short films this year.

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