Newsmaker: Sam Hema

Sam Hema, aka DJ Massive, performed at this year's Raggamuffin Festival and last night's Hope for Teimana fundraiser concert.

This week's Newsmaker is Sam Hema, known as DJ Masive, who performed at the Raggamuffin Festival and last night's Hope for Teimana concert.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Samuel Wiremu Hema, of Ngati Kahungungu, Te Arawa, Ngai Tahu descent.
I am happily married to my wife Margaret and have three awesome tamariki - Zyon, Josaiah, Makylah.

Born in Lower Hutt, raised in Wainuiomata as a child then moved to Auckland and Australia as a teenager and finished High School at Napier Boys High. I'm currently completing my Honours Degree in Communications at Waikato Institute and am Chairperson for The Lamp Trust Aotearoa, a creative arts charitable trust that does awesome things in our community. In my free time I love basketball, reading, writing and mentoring our rangatahi.

What made you want to get involved in making music?

I was raised in a family where music was always around me, everything from Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Gospel, Motown to The Doobie Brothers and Rock. My father was a musician and taught me how to play instruments and raised me in a way that helped me learn how to really listen to music, the essence, the wairua that artists put into their craft, hence inspiring humanity to enjoy what we feel.

That transcends into my own expression of the craft and interpreting life's experiences into music.

How did you enjoy performing at Raggamuffin last weekend?

It was honestly one of the best experiences in terms of appreciating our local music scene and fans of Reggae music. Playing to large crowds was daunting at first, but as I settled in the fact that music is a gift you get to share with others, it took the focus off me and back to my audience.

I thoroughly enjoyed rocking crowds with my fellow DJs. I wanted to represent Rotorua to the fullest, and the after party was off the hook. It just heightened everyone's experience and I'm glad I was apart of it.

What made you want to perform at last night's charity concert Hope for Teimana?

The kaupapa. I'm quite a sucker for things I emotionally connect with and I've done a lot of fundraiser events in my time. They all have a connection to people, their struggles and the hope that they will move on in some capacity. This is one of those events for our mokopuna Teimana and the parents also. I'm glad to support this event.

What is the best part about your job?

I'm a vocalist as well as a DJ and I get to use the microphone to send messages as well as my turntables. I love the instant connection I get with people on an emotional level.

At times it gets hectic, running events, managing our careers, developing the craft and performing, but I'm grateful for the gift of music, because it's fulfilling and I get to do it with my wife. In this industry that's a rare thing, however we've been together for almost 20 years and I still get a buzz out of performing with her.

What are your hopes for the future?

My hopes are that we achieve success in all areas of life and strive to be good people. To inspire my children to have a mindset that is counter status quo and develop their confidence for the future. They don't need to follow dad, but what I hope is that they will follow dad's mindset, which is 'anything is possible'.

Tell us three things about yourself that most people wouldn't know?

I am a national champion and won a high school basketball title way back in the day!
I'm a sucker for Noodle Canteen, anytime, any day!
I usually cut my own hair (then get professionals to fix my mistakes).