Kiwi musician Seth Haapu has strong Rotorua links and regularly comes back to his former home town. The Daily Post chief reporter KRISTIN MACFARLANE speaks to the talented musician as he prepares for the release of his self-titled debut album.
KIWI MUSICIAN Seth Haapu was so inspired by the beauty
of Rotorua's Okere Falls he started writing a new song.
The former Rotorua Boys' High School student is releasing his self-titled debut album on Monday - an album he describes as a "labour of love".
Haapu signed a record deal with Sony Music early last year.
The album features 12 tracks and has been a "bit of a labour of love over the last seven or eight years" for the Wanganui-born star.
However, it's his next album that could have a strong Rotorua link.
While staying at Okere Falls recently he was so captivated by its beauty he boasted about it on Twitter and Facebook with photographs.
He was also so impressed and inspired by its beauty that he started writing a song about it.
He completed half of the piece.
He is starting to work on songs that will no doubt be part of his second album and said the Rotorua-inspired song could be part of it.
"As long as I am alive and open to life experiences, I can't help but create songs."
Musically Haapu is inspired by music from old-school '50s and '60s music through to '90s sounds.
He loves pop music but isn't always excited about the lyrics, he says.
"I'd like to make a pop record with songs of meaning," Haapu said.
"I think I'm the type of person who likes to keep an open mind."
Haapu enjoys heading back to Rotorua as much as he can.
He says it's nice to get out of the city sometimes.
Haapu was last in Rotorua a few weeks ago when he spent the weekend at Okere Falls with family watching Ngati Pikiao kapa haka.
He said he loved the scenery out there, so much so that he would often Twitpic photographs of the natural beauty he was surrounded by.
He was also in awe of the kapa haka performances and wouldn't rule out some kapa haka input in the next album.
In the meantime, he was looking forward to the release of his first album on Monday and couldn't wait to share it with others.
One of his favourite tracks on the album was Keeping Count which he said reminded him to be patient.
He had no expectations for the album and didn't want to push it on anyone but was looking forward to the reaction.
He said he had had many opportunities since his record deal, including touring with Kiwi greats Crowded House and Supergroove and receiving the reception of a star when he opened for international pop sensation Adam Lambert.
However, releasing an album was also high on the list.
"It's been quite overwhelming."
Music was Haapu's passion and he didn't plan to make a move into acting anytime soon - despite featuring in a few music videos since his record deal.
"I think I'm a terrible actor," he said.
He hoped to continue with music and might move overseas in the next couple of years to somewhere like Australia.
Haapu went to Rotorua Boys' High School and was also a top-30 Australian Idol finalist.
He continues to have strong links with the city.
He hopes to come back to Rotorua this year to do a small show for his fans.
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