Simple Lives

Mimi and Rivers debut album Simple Lives was written after the duo met during the aftermath of the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Mimi (Aimee Belton) had just relocated to the Waikato from Christchurch with her three young children after losing two houses within five months, and was grieving the loss of home, family and friends. Rivers (Chris Baigent) was also going through a difficult time. "We were broken, for different reasons, and recognised the fragility in one another and the need for connection - which we found through our mutual love of music" says Mimi. "Simple Lives is first and foremost a duet album. Symbiotic musical creativity in its purest and honest form" adds Rivers.

A weekend visit where Rivers' car was stolen from outside Mimi's house ''forced'' him to stay longer and he ended up being there for the next three years. "We were living in a classic freezing cold villa with wooden floors, but the house had beautiful acoustics and was the perfect environment for us to write songs in" says Rivers. "There was a lot to sing, laugh, cry and write about. We had so much fun writing, jamming, and bringing together our different musical styles to create a blend of sounds" adds Mimi.

''Mimi's a very strong woman and her power is especially evident in her two songs, 'Unknown Pleasures' and 'Where is Home?' which express the emotional toll of the quakes. Her beautiful voice and harmonies gave new life to our songs. She can harmonise to anything" says Rivers. Mimi adds "Rivers' writes fresh poetic lyrics and catchy raw heartfelt songs that have a passionate, real presence."

Rivers describes the album style as 'folk pop'; folk based guitar with intricate pop riffs. Lytteltonian Ben Edwards highly regarded for producing New Zealand folk worked on three tracks. Additional mixing and arranging on two other tracks was done by multi-talented Edmund Cake, known for his unique and gifted pop style.

"This album is about making peace with the past, still believing in a future, completing the circle and having something tangible to leave behind" says Mimi. "It's about having fun too - no matter what life throws at you. It represents hope and everyone's vast capacity for healing when the simple act of human kindness and tenderness is given."

Rivers' acoustic guitar is backed by a solid rhythm section, Matt Shanks on bass and Ben Ruffell on drums. Simple Lives is Mimi's first album and Rivers' fourth. His three previous albums were written under the moniker of Rivers Edge.