Tokona, live and in the studio, has played with a mountain of musicians including Weta with brother Clinton, Fly My Pretties, Bongmaster, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Adults and Cairo Knife Fight. He worked on a Kim Dotcom album as well, but prefers to leave that partnership in the past.
He also worked a day job about 16 years ago after meeting Sarena, mother of his daughter, Asha. He studied accountancy and worked as a manager for his in-laws and can today "read a balance sheet" and work Excel "when needed".
"I had to get a day job when I met my wife and we had Asha. I didn't want to be away from home on tour. I wanted to be close."
Asha, 13, is today eyeing an acting career, having earlier learned guitar.
"She's musical. She can't help it. Her mother's an opera singer and her father's a rock star guy, you know," Tokona said.
His father, Clifford Tokona, who died last year at 63, was a blues harp player and musical influence on the family, including youngest son Tuma, who was a drummer.
Tokona dedicated the song Into The Sunshine, to his father. The tune was the first single lifted and names the new album.
"Into The Sunshine was motivated and inspired by the old man. It was really important to me to get that song realised, out of the aroha I have for my Dad."
Tokona was taught to embrace his Maori heritage, being raised "a kapa haka kid" by a solo father and grandparents steeped in Maoritanga.
Tokona had been "empowered as a Maori performer" by watching artists like Prince Tui Teka and Billy T James in the 1980s.
"It had a beautiful effect for Maori, seeing Maori on TV and getting number one hits, especially when you're learning to deal with what is primarily a Pakeha world.
"That did a whole lot for the cultural esteem - and for me - seeing our own up there. As a culture, we are awesome."