Being in spotlight a family tradition

RUSSIAN ROULETTE: Aaron Tokona says it's hard to scratch a living out of music these days because of the role technology plays in the selling of it.PHOTO/FILE A-CCN250612SPLMUSIC

Music and performance run in the family for rock star and AHoriBuzz founder Aaron Tokona. From his late father to his brothers and daughter, the spotlight has loved them all.

Tokona is on the road on a 53-date Nation of the State tour with his jam band AHoriBuzz, and he will be in Wanganui this Saturday to perform at the Riverside Bar.

The mammoth tour supports his latest AHoriBuzz album, a 10-track work that features Anika Moa and Rhombus among a cadre of other Kiwi stars.

"It's quite hard financially to scratch out a living for yourself with the way technology has made the selling of music these days. But if you love what you do, you'll find a bloody way, you know. There's no compromise, really.

"It's not a game of poker, it's a game of Russian roulette."

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."