Ladyhawke in running for Brit Awards

Masterton-born Kiwi pop star Ladyhawke is continuing her meteoric flight to international fame with nomination in the 2010 Brit Awards - the British version of the Grammys.

The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Pip Brown, has secured a nomination for International Female Solo Artist. She shares the category with big-names like Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Rihanna and Shakira.

The 30-year-old dominated the local music scene in 2009 by taking six top prizes at the New Zealand Music Awards, and was crowned Australia's breakthrough artist in 2009.

The 2010 Brit Awards will be held at Earls Court, London, on 16 February.

Ladyhawke is based in the UK where she is working on her second album. She was home in New Zealand this summer touring with the Big Day Out.

The product of a musical family - jazz drummer stepfather and singer / guitarist mother - Brown taught herself to play the drums, guitar, bass and synthesiser in her early teenage years.

She played in grunge bands while still at high school, then aged 18 moved to Wellington and formed a band called 'Two Lane Blacktop'. The band gained a strong New Zealand following, regularly toured Australia and performed in the USA.

In Australia, Brown joined 'Teenager', playing guitar with Nick Littlemore for two years.

During this time, she says, 'Ladyhawke' started to take over her life as "a desire to do my own project where I could completely express myself in any way I wanted without having to answer to bandmates."

Ladyhawke is best known for her hit singles Paris Is Burning, and My Delirium. Her self-titled debut album was released in September 2008. By November of the same year she had won Aria Awards in Australia for 'Best Breakthrough' single and album.

- Wairarapa News