Growing up in New Zealand, Phillipa Brown was constantly in and out of the hospital. Brown contracted a myriad of diseases, even erysipeloid - a disease common in seagulls, not in humans. Devoid of human interaction, Brown emerged herself in music: discovering the beauty of '60s pop and the intricacies of '70s studio mastery. As she grew up, Brown started on a musical path and began performing under the moniker Ladyhawke (after the 1985 fantasy film of the same name staring Michelle Pfeiffer). The music she created - a strong blend of New Wave, synth pop and modern alternative rock - went over well with her fellow New Zealanders and helped raise Brown to prominence in the international music scene after she released her debut album in 2008.