How Troy Kingi Streamlines His Creative Process
Music festivals are such a highlight in any city’s cultural calendar. A chance to unite with other music-lovers as you vibe with thousands of adoring fans to your favorite bands and sing along to the great sounds blaring from the massive stage speakers. In January next year, the Auckland Folk Festival will regain its title as being the coolest (and oldest) music festival that has graced the City of Sails. The festival will bring six stages to the Kumeu Showgrounds with a lineup of exceptional artists from all over New Zealand. With big names like The Eastern, Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders, The Harmonic Resonators and The Black Quartet, many would think there would be no more room for anymore national treasures! Think again. A stand-out act that will grace the festival stage is multi-award winning, multi-talented and multi-genre Kiwi artist, Troy Kingi.
An actor and musician, Troy Kingi has been heralded as a ‘Northland treasure’ and is adding many more feathers to his cap. Born in Rotorua in 1984, he now calls Kerikeri home, and loves spending time with his family – a real homegrown-type, inspired all the time by the people, sounds and places he has experienced.
His achievements are many. He has acted in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople as TK, Pā Boys, Mt Zion and The Kick, while also enjoying a successful music career. His debut solo album, Guitar Party At Uncles Bach was released in 2016 followed by Shake that Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron in 2017. His next album, Holy Colony Burning Acres won the prestigious 2020 Taite Music Prize, was nominated for a Silver Scroll and won two awards at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards. His latest album, The Ghost of Freddie Caesar is inspired by his father who disappeared mysteriously 15 years ago and has a real 70’s funk vibe. His next album, titled A 75+ Year Trip will be arriving at the start of next year and will be previewed at the Auckland Folk Festival.
M2 had the opportunity to speak with Troy Kingi about his career, his many achievements and the Auckland Folk Festival.
How has 2020 been for you?
To be honest, during lockdown, there wasn’t a lot of creating going on. It was a time to recalibrate. I’ve got five children, so it was quite nice not having to be anywhere with no pressure to do anything. It was nice to be in each other’s company.
As soon as the first lockdown stopped, it was straight into the studio to finish The Ghost of Freddie Caesar, which came out this year. Since then, it’s been pretty busy.
It’s been a bloody weird year. One of a kind! Weirdness is the new norm, with everyone living on the edge, just getting used to it.
Creativity is my job 24/7. I found lockdown to be a chance to just shut down, reboot and figure out the important things in life, like family and spending time with each other.
What started your love for music?
I can’t pinpoint an exact moment, but I think it had something to do with growing up around kapa haka. It was just a normal part of life. We were just thrust into it and immersed through kaupapa and korero. I loved that feeling, like the last time I performed in a kapa haka national level was three years ago. That was still the ultimate pinnacle for me, just walking on stage with all the other members – like a family – and just being ready to rock.
I feel that’s where the spark came from. Feeling that you’re not alone. It was scary, but you’ve got 40 other people in the same boat so you do it together. You definitely feel it.
What does your creative process look like?
Probably my biggest creative process is just listening. I listen to a lot of music. Most of the stuff I listen to is early 90’s.
I love dissecting songs and figuring out what goes into its essence. When I get into songwriting, I use some of those tools and try to apply it to what I’m doing.
They are the best teachers. Those who came before you. The ones you look up to, they’re all around us.
What gave you the drive to do the 10 10 10 series?
There’s a few things. I think I started relatively late. I had my first son when I was 18, so I spent my early 20’s looking after him. Then we had another two when I was 24-25, so spent those important years as a father and working a nine-to-five job.
All the while, I had this drive and passion for songwriting. Not necessarily pushing the music out there, but just getting into writing.
By chance, I stumbled into the world of film, with Mt. Zion. I started getting some recognition for my acting work. Then I thought, ‘Why don’t I start leveraging that?’ I felt I had a lot in me that I needed to get out.
Putting this goal [the 10 10 10 series] – this pressure – on myself just helped push it out a lot faster. It was like clearing out the closet to make room for new stuff.
There are times where I think, ‘Man, why did I do that?’ I’m halfway through, so I’m too deep to stop.
Looking at the acting, what has been the best moment in your acting career?
For me, a highlight was in Hunt for the Wilderpeople, even though I only had a small part. I’m a super-big Taika Waititi fan. Overall, through experience, I can’t get over Mt. Zion, where I got to live with the cast for like three months.
I haven’t had that since – that comradery and working on a Māori production. I learnt a lot coming in fresh without any acting experience. I learnt so much from that.
As a multi-genred artist, what is the genre of sound that comes most fluid to you?
I don’t know anymore. Initially, I was really deep into indie-rock. I’ve always been a big Jack White fan – I love The White Stripes. Queens of the Stone Age is one of my all-time favorite bands.
The roots of my music are very heavy. I just pick up little feathers to put in my cap along the way. I don’t actually know who I am right now.
It’ll be interesting to go out the other side of the ten albums and write a song without any pressure – just write a song and see what comes out.
Next year, you’re on the lineup for the Auckland Folk Festival. How does that feel?
It’s an honour. This genre for a singer/songwriter, I haven’t touched on it this year. Writing this album and having a co-writer, Delaney Davidson, has just opened me up to a whole new world.
I feel like, with this album, when it comes out, it will be one of the most personal albums. It really pushed me into some mean spots, which was quite confronting, and with Zygertron I had an odyssey to hide behind.
With this album, everything is stripped back. I’m really excited to be singing these songs and seeing how people respond to them.
Who are your biggest inspirations?
Like I said, I listen to a lot of music – a lot of soul music. I am inspired by the greats, like Al Green, Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Shuggie Otis. I don’t think I get inspired by stuff that’s happening now. It’s all old New Zealand artists…
Warren Maxwell of Trinity Roots. Not just his music, but also how he composes himself, his aura. I’m lucky that I’m at a point in my career where I’ve been able to make a name for myself. I’ve done some stuff with Tom Scott from Avondale Bowling Club.
I’m at a phase where if I want to work with people, I just flick them a message. I’m at a cool stage of my career.
What would you say about the current state of music in New Zealand?
I don’t know because I don’t really have a finger on the pulse. I’m a crusty old man. I’m in my mid-30’s but I already feel too old for everything.
Everyone looks like my sons age! They look super young. I feel like I stay in my own little circle of what I listen to and what my friends listen to. We just pass stuff around. Stuff that’s different!
There are very few people that gets you excited. I get that few and far between. It’s usually old stuff that sends shivers up my spine.
What have you got planned for the future?
Still got a few more albums to go. I plan on dropping the next album soon and that will be the halfway point on my 10 album series. But I do plan to do another drop at the end of the year.
I’m doing that because I didn’t actually bring anything out in 2018, so I’m trying to set the record straight and getting back to doing one a year.
Also I just finished the te reo version of Holy Colony Burning Acres. I am so keen for that. So three albums next year!
In the meantime, a little bit of acting and working on a few soundtracks. One is composing full songs for a period piece and the other one I’m also acting in.
Troy Kingi will be headlining the 2021 Auckland Folk Festival, 29 Jan-1 February. For more information on the festival, check out: aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz/
Photography by Abe Mora Photography; Shot at LFHQ Studios
