1.Growing Up
I’m from a large family of six siblings and loads of close first cousins, a very typical Samoan family. We all are natural singers so music and singing was something easy and shared.
2.Inspirations
My first inspirations, as were everyone’s, were the people that raised me, and that I was raised with. Their musical tastes inspired me. We watched a lot of musicals and I was exposed to a lot of theatre at a young age, which I think gave me an interest in entertainment and acting. We were absolutely immersed in all things Motown and heavily raised in black music, be it soul, funk, reggae or rock’n’roll. I imitated, idolised and am naturally drawn to artists that feel authentic and real.
3.Your Crew
My main crew are Parks producing all my music, [alongside] him are our friends who always contribute live and in the studio: Bharu, Julien Dyne and loads more friends and family like Tyra Hammond and Scribe. We don’t have day jobs and haven’t had a day job since 2004, but I have decided fairly recently to study another passion of mine, psychology at the Auckland University this year.
4. The Music You Make And Play
We’re listening to Black Messiah a lot at the moment, also a lot of Freddie Gibbs, always Madlib… we just hooked up the record player in our new place, so we’re rediscovering our records and have been playing Arthur Verocai, Black Milk’s last record, choir stuff with Georgia Anne Muldrow. It’s eclectic around here for sure! We’re working on an EP and hopefully will be out in the first semester break.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
Right now it’s about stability and being able to navigate your way through to make a viable living that leaves one satisfied and fulfilled.I am inspired by Fat Freddy’s Drop, Little Dragon; bands that I see push the envelope with their musicality and musicianship but also maintain a hard touring schedule and produce incredibly diverse and interesting music that caters to all.
Catch her atWanderlustalongsideYolanda Be Cool, Nahko and Medicine For The People, Freq Nasty and more atCockatoo IslandfromFriday February 20 to Sunday February 22.
