The third of our Iggy Pop band member profiles. Find out more about our flautist Miho Wada, and her experience recording with the godfather of punk.

Full name: Miho Wada

Age: Old enough

Region: Auckland

Instruments played:  Piano, Saxophones, Marimba, Accordion, Trumpet, Keyboards, Bass, Snare drums, Recorders, Claves, Maraca, Tumbadore,

Instrument playing on The Passenger: Flute

Why did you enter the audition?:  I saw my friend Takumi's profile on Facebook and i thought it was really cool. And well... free broadband for 12 months was like wooooow best prize ever!! So I entered the audition as well. I am so pleased we both got in!

How long / many times did you practice the song?: I only knew about this audition about 10am in the morning of the closing day. I had about half an hour before I had to leave the house and I got my mum to hold the video camera for me. I only had time to listen through the song twice on Youtube, then two takes on recording - so that's 4 times through the song all together!! It was such a rush I didn't know I had done a good job!!

How many takes did you do?: Two takes. First take had my feet in the recording and i had un-matching socks that mum said we had to do it again

What was the best part of the audition?: It was really fun auditioning, especially I didn't know the song and I had to learn it in like 10 mins so I didn't even realise I had to use the click track provided. I think I was the only person playing onto a youtube video!!! I am so very glad they didn't dis-qualify me for this!!! It really helped that the song is SUCH an awesome song. I loved it straight away.

Also I thought it was like a rock band thing, so playing the flute for the audition I didn't think I'd be taken seriously. It's really cool that they have chosen three of us playing flute, marimba and cello. I think we will add very New Zealand sounds to the song rather than being a normal rock band. It shows the creativity and pacific sounds better in the recording having more classical instrumentalists in the band but at the same time we are improvisers who can be jazzy and more original. I think it's brilliant.

How many Iggy Pop records do you own / songs do you know?: Since I have been accepted I have watched so many of Youtube videos and saw/listened to many songs now. I recognized many of them but didn't know the titles.

What was it like playing with Iggy via the Internet?: It was more like "playing FOR Iggy" via the internet because we were not all playing together. I thought I'd be really nervous playing to a living legend, but he was all smiling and nodding as I played it made me feel really comfortable and I didn't feel nervous at all. He was really amazing and very very supportive. He gave me thumbs up in one take - made me feel so proud of myself. He said I was really musical and he could see via Skype how much I loved music soooooooooooooo nice!!!

What was the highlight of the day recording with Iggy?: I have two highlights of the day - One was obviously meeting Iggy Pop the punk legend. It was amazing playing for him and having a laugh with him and being a part of re-writing musical history!!! Another highlight was working with the camera/recording crew who came to record me. There were 2 camera men and 2 sound recording men. All of them were absolutely fantastic and they made me feel happy and relaxed all day. They were very efficient and professional that I felt really well looked after and I didn't have to worry about anything - they said I just had to play music!! What a nice life is that?! We had such a brilliant team spirit throughout the day and we were all equally excited about recording with Iggy. Just amazing!!!

What does this opportunity mean to you?: It was definitely a life changing opportunity! A flute player being selected to be in a band recording with a punk legend probably only happens once in a lifetime!!! I am so grateful for this opportunity and I will treasure this experience for the rest of my life. Since I was selected for this recording I listened to everything I could find on Iggy Pop online. It feels like the timing of this opportunity came at the perfect time in my musical career teaching me more about punk music as well as thinking about the punk history. I started a 4 piece Japanese Punk Jazz band based in Auckland about 6 months ago and we have been playing funky punky jazz gigs around town, but learning Iggy Pop songs has really changed my views significantly. I will be able to play and work on my own music much better thanks to Iggy and Orcon for letting me be part of this. Also it has given me so much confidence as a musician being selected for this and receiving compliments from Iggy himself. It is amazing that someone so famous can still think of little persons like us and be so supportive and kind. Oh what an experience!!