Jah'na

Jah'na, (Jhana) formed in 1997 after an advert on Contact seeking a guitarist/vocalist to form an acoustic duo. Mark Tupuhi and Peter Fountain originally intended to begin an acoustic covers act based on good songs and strong delivery, but soon began focusing on original tracks. After promising gigs and reviews, Bevan Galbraith and Brendan Drummond were added as a rhythm section and became the core of the initial band for 3 years. Performing when they could and recording with the newly founded "Click Sound" (Then run out of Daniel Howard's house just out of Hillcrest), the first single Shelter was released and the band supported Bic Runga on he "Drive" Tour with Rumpus Room in Hamilton.

Inactivity and personality issues led to a quiet period until the band was reformed in 1999, featuring Tamati Meredith from Boneyard on drums and Eamon Leatherby on bass. The band quickly amassed relatively high profile gigs, opening the 1999 "Edge Summer Jam" concert in Hamilton, gaining the finals in some dodgy Hillcrest Battle of the Bands, appearing at "Pascifica" and appearing on both TVNZ's "Good Morning" show and "Mai time". With many attempts to record, the band failed miserably. However several recordings exist from "Rexs'" studio in Tramway Road and a handful of live shows, one recorded by Zed Brookes and Brad Morgan and one recorded by Dan Howard. The first collection was released in 1998 at JBCs featuring the original line-up featuring hand-made cardboard covers and with support from Handsome Geoffrey and the Grinners. The second release "Acoustic Pop" was released in 2001 and featured a collection of songs as an acoustic duo, recorded by Graeme Robertson at his place. However, this was only released as a short run after the band broke up. The recordings resurfaced later that year as St Lucy's "Why We Hate Decaff (and assorted tales)" album. Mark went on to create his stage persona as "St. Lucy" and Pete went on to a solo career as "Pete Fountain". The two play every now and then together.