Lexxa is Auckland-based twins, Maude and Julia Morris. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree they say – many will remember their dad, musician and producer Ian Morris , who was a key part of Th’Dudes and a genuine Kiwi music legend. The colourful sister duo’s first single I Got Better Friends Now featured on NZ On Air Music’s NewTracks compilation this June.

What instruments do you play, if any?

For our live shows, we play many things and like to swap around. Maude mostly plays guitar and Julia mostly plays keys and drum pads, but there’s also some other instruments thrown in the on the odd occasion. We both sing as well! 

What other projects might we know you two from?

This is the first ever release for both of us in our whole lives. So none!

What’s the background story of how Lexxa came to be?

It started because we were both working on music individually, Maude was making her stuff and Julia needed a producer for her stuff, but it sounded so similar we decided to mash everything together and become Lexxa. 

How did you come up with the name for the project?

We struggled for so long to think of a name, but one day we just said ‘Lexa’ and it stuck. Then we added an extra X and here we are as Lexxa.

Who did you create the song’s video with?

We made the video with Connor Pritchard.  He’s an amazing filmmaker who we were so lucky to work with. Check him out at ConnorFilms.

What makes I Got Better Friends Now stand out for you as a single?

I Got Better Friends Now is a break-up song that is trying to be optimistic about it all. It was the first song we felt really really excited about and the moment we wrote it we knew it had to be our single.

What is the story behind I Got Better Friends Now?

You know when someone is kind’a mean, but all you want is their approval because you’re infatuated by them and can’t really see past all the lame things they do. And then finally when you get their approval all the lame things seem worth it because it feels so good. This song is a reflection on that and realising that they were kind’a mean and you have better friends now. Just like in Mean Girls. 

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the single?

“You went and took out the things that I was, replaced them with all of the things that you wanted.” It pretty much sums up the whole meaning behind the song.

Who did you write / produce the single with?

We wrote, recorded and produced (and played) the song ourselves! We recorded all the live instruments, drums, guitars, bass, vocals at BigPop Studios, and the rest Maude did in her bedroom.

Describe in one sentence what you want listeners to take away from this song.

You’ve got (or will soon have) better friends…

How do you work out what song would make a good single?

Whatever song we get excited about, something catchy and relatable.

Can you think of three other local tunes that should be on a playlist alongside your song.

Laugh It Off – Chelsea Jade
No Going Back – Openside
Tiger – Dunes

Have any of your previous applications not been included on NewTracks? Got any advice? 

We entered this song once previously and it didn’t get funding. Our advice would be to keep persevering and keep applying. You’re only going to keep getting better and hard work does pay off. 

Was there an NZOA criterion you struggled with in the application? How did you work it out in the end?

We did have to beg a few of our Facebook friends to like our page to get those 1000 likes. Luckily we have a great support network and just made it over in time.

How can we find you on social media?

Facebook.com/wearelexxa

Instagram – @wearelexxa

Twitter – @wearelexxa