Clare Christian

Born and raised in Pukerua Bay, I started performing at age five with my family band and never really stopped. Over the years, I’ve explored genres like folk, blues, country, and jazz. I still have to pinch myself when I think about how lucky I was—and still am—to collaborate with some of the country’s best musicians.

About 35 years ago, (whaaaat!?) I began working with the amazing Callwood Brothers—Joe on guitar and Tom on double bass. We were later joined by Darren Matthiessen on drums, my son Gabe Davidson on saxophone, and Jeep Road was born.

The idea behind Jeep Road was to blend the genres I’d explored with my original songs. With Joe’s brilliant arrangements, we created a cohesive sound and released an album.

From 2005, I spent five years in London performing in a jazz/blues trio. Our guitarist, Bob Klose, turned out to be Pink Floyd’s original guitarist—a surprise I discovered after he had to skip a rehearsal to record at Abbey Road for David Gilmour’s solo album! While in London, I also had my first taste of teaching at a South London music academy.

When I returned home, Jeep Road reformed and evolved, featuring talented musicians like Rick Cranson, Tim Jarray, and Mike Rigg. Today, it’s a trio: me (guitar/vocals), Joe Callwood (guitar/vocals), and Gabe Davidson (sax/vocals). We love the rich harmonies and the new textures added by Joe’s loop pedal wizardry.

By day, I teach singing at Crawshaw Music School in Paraparaumu. It’s a joy to see students grow in confidence and find their voices. Teaching has allowed me to make a living through music—my longtime dream. Kāpiti’s vibrant music scene and supportive community make it a wonderful place to be a musician.