P Digsss in front of 40,000 people at Synthony Festival. Photo / Ryo Nishikawa
After more than 20 years in the charts, Shapeshifter reckon they’re reaching ‘Sir Dave Dobbyn’ territory. But as frontman P Digsss tells Mitchell Hageman, making music together is always going to be a work in progress.
With a hearty shaka and a smile, Paora Apera Zooms in from a sun-drenched spot for an interview that was meant to happen three hours ago.
The voice and trademark mohawk of countless golden New Zealand summers is just as affable through his phone screen as he is onstage.
.
“The sun finally shone today, and I just ended up getting out mowing the lawn and getting the washing out,” the man best known as P Digsss says.
“By the time I came in, it was 11am, and I missed all the interviews. I was like oh my god. So, my sincerest apologies.”
I don’t blame him. Make hay while the sun shines, I say. And in essence, sun, surf, soul - and even crayfish - is exactly what’s fuelled Apera and his record-breaking band Shapeshifter for almost three decades.
There’s an alluring, ageless appeal to the electronic band’s music. Be it a summer roadie, festival or cookout with the family, everyone seems to have their favourite Shapeshifter memory.
The band, which was formed 27 years ago, emerged from the Christchurch jazz scene with their acclaimed debut LP Real Time in 2001. Apera joined in 2003.
Today, the line-up consists of Apera, Sam Trevethick (keyboard, guitar and percussion), Nick Robinson (bass and keyboard), Dan McGruer (synths) and Darren Mathiassen (drums).
“It is pretty generational now, and that’s an honour. Nothing’s really changed other than us playing the music we love, and thankfully, that transcends into connecting people with our music,” Apera says.
“We’re kind of stepping into the Sir Dave Dobbyn arena.“
He laughs, but there’s no joking about the band’s history as a chart - and festival - mainstay for so long.
”I’m just being silly, but it’s pretty amazing, and we’re honoured to have next generation ages still come and support.”
Apera joined the band in his 20s. Raised in Flaxmere by a family of musicians, he was destined for the stage and studio.
“Music’s all I really wanted to do, other than skateboard, snowboard and surf every day. I put everything into it, so I knew I was going to be doing music for a long time for the rest of my life,” he says.
These days, he’s still an adventurous spirit.
Apera is mainly based in Wānaka and you can often see him on social media streaming his antics on mountain bike trails and ski slope runs in between his solo gigs and work with the band.
“The beauty of Shapeshifter is that it has allowed us to be multiple artists, and to put our fingers in multiple projects and help inspire each other.”
It’s the band that is the focus for the next few months, though.
Shapeshifter are hitting the road to celebrate 20 years of their two times platinum-selling album Soulstice, a project the singer says was built on friendship, fun and kaimoana.
“[When we recorded the album] we decided to find a place and set up a studio in a house. And we stayed there for about half of the year, in Kaikōura. We went fishing, swimming and diving, and ate lots,” he says.
“We had a hard case landlord who’d bring us food because he’s a fisherman. So he’d bring over crayfish and all sorts of goodies.”
Away from home, early, bare bones, tours of Europe taught them the best - and worst - things about taking their music on the road.
“We were so green, excuse the pun. But that stuff really shaped who we were as Shapeshifter. I remember when [then drummer] Redford Grenell pretty much spent all his money and all per diems on records straight away and was happy to just eat noodles.”
From crowded pubs and bars to mega-festival stages (which he describes as being like driving a Ferrari), the band continues to leave everything they have on stage.
While things might look seamless, Apera says each show is about rediscovery and growth. By giving their all to every crowd, it means things don’t get stale for a band who have performed more times than they could count.
The same rules apply when making new music together as well.
“Everything goes in cycles and we’re still learning how to make music together,” he admits.
“It can be quite nerve-wracking and exciting in so many ways when you’re making music. After you write with each other for quite a few years, things get pretty comfy, a lot of ego comes and goes, and it’s just down to being honest and making the best stuff we can.
“We’re still experimenting, still trying different things, and still learning how to record ourselves as best as we can."
While the band stay open to the “new”, their upcoming Soulstice anniversary tour sees them return to their roots, roadtripping across the motu.
“We’re going to be driving to quite a few of these gigs. And we haven’t done that for a long time,” Apera says.
“We usually fly around and do the main centres, but this time we’re trying to get out a bit more. It’s going to be cool, a nice return to the old days, with less losing instruments and passports and that stuff.”
But even after more than 20 years on the road, the band can still experience some firsts.
In October, they will play at the Steinlager Centre Court Sounds in the Manuka Doctor Arena, better known for hosting tennis stars for the ASB Classic.
It’ll be the first time the band has ever performed on a tennis court.
“Yeah, it’s going to be interesting, hey? We’re always up for firsts. And [Trevethick and Robinson] are pretty passionate tennis players, so they’ll be loving it,” Apera grins.
- Shapeshifter’s Soulstice 20th anniversary roadie tour is on now. Visit shapeshifter.co.nz for details. Centre Court Sounds takes over Auckland’s Manuka Doctor Arena on October 31. Visit centrecourtsounds.flicket.co.nz for details.