• When did your music career begin and how?
Formally, while at university. My mate Aroaro and I entered talent quests in the clubs for fun. Informally,through our father who always had aguitar or uke at his fingertips.
• Where are you at now with your music?
We have just released my 5th major studio album RIMA. This week we were told that RIMA has been selected as a Top of the World Album in the Jan/Feb issue of the prestigious Songlines Music Magazine (UK). My 8 piece band and I are very well received overseas but a part from Hika Reids lovely Ngongotaha festival (fantastic hospitality!) a few years back, we are still waiting for invitations from Rotorua festival directors.
• How do you whakapapa to Te Arawa?
Our grandmother Mamaeroa Hamiora is our connection. Her parents were Kaihau (Ngati Pikiao) and Pohiri Hamiora (Tuhourangi).
• Has your Te Arawa tanga shaped you as a musician in any way? If so, how?
Our father and his brothers have been my earliest musical inspiration. Scottie Morrison has been a co-writer of mine for many years and songwriting has been an exciting way for us to explore various themes. Most of my haka performers and musicians over the years have been of Te Arawa descent or live in Rotorua. I only lived in Rotorua for about 3years because I went off to boarding school then to university.But it was still special because we lived with our Koro Hema.
• What do you believe has been key to your successes?
Whanau support. Surrounding myself with talented people (musicians, haka performers, management) and trusting in their creativity.Having the confidence to create new directions in NZ music when it would have been easier to churn out soul or pop songs in English. Keeping our standards high when there's been pressure to compromise. Having a great manager. Constantly being inspired by Maori success and indigenous potential.
• Is there anything you'd do differently?
I would have taken myson on tours when he was a child but back in those days, you thought you were doing the right thing by leaving them at home.
• What have been the main highlights?
Having played at incredible venues - Herodes Atticus (Greece), St MarcoSquare (Venice), having a good korero to Sir Bob Geldoff or singing to Nelson Mandela, hanging with the Sami in the Arctic and headhunters in Borneo - there are so many highs.
Having a rather complex idea for a song like Water People (RIMA) and crafting all the elements of vocals, haka, taonga puoro, instruments, beats etc together until they work in synergy and complement the lyrical kaupapa. That's hugely rewarding and there was only Paddy Free and I for most of the time, sitting in a dark studio room.
Then, there's taking the recorded version to our musicians and vocalists, capturing their flourishes. Then extending that to play live at venues like the Sydney Opera House and on the Isle of Lewis (Scotland). And then it's pulling other indigenous musicians and dancers into the mix and watching the crowd reaction; recording Djakapurra (Australia) and Breabach (Scotland) in Glasgowtoadd to the mix.
So a song that started as one simple sentence 'Calling on the Water People, calling on the Rain' sitting in my head as I was driving through Kumeu will actually end up with 1.1 million potential listeners via British Airways flights next year.
So the realization of a creative idea is always a highlight.
• Challenges?
Lack of money. It's hard to be a full time musician and run a big band when there's no such thing as a regular wage. And keeping the spirits up - globally hot, locally not.
• Who has had the biggest impact on your music career?
Our dad Nepia gave us a love of song, Dalvanius told me to write my own songs, Scottie Morrison helps me write my songs, our manager Sol de Sully supports our band to play our songs live. My sister Trina is not only a wonderful vocalist but is tremendous at helping out with the management - and the childminding side of things.
• Is there anything else you would like to add?
How about buying RIMA for xmas gifts? Or treating yourself? If you don't know our music or haven't heard us within the last 6 months, you may be pleasantly surprised.
RIMA album available from Marbecks, JB HiFi and digitally on iTunes: itunes.apple.com/nz/album/rima/ id916646550
