MUSIC
Pacifica The Musical showcases a variety of songs by talented artists from Aotearoa, New Zealand.
hinewehi
mohi
The distinguished musician, producer and philanthropist Dame Hinewehi Mohi, DNZM is best known for her double-platinum album Oceania on which Pūkāea was recorded. Oceania was recorded entirely in Māori and was the first of its kind to be released internationally. In 2021, Mohi was promoted to Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Māori, music and television. Mohi continues to promote the development of Māori music by mentoring musicians.
PHOTO BY ROSS GIBLIN VIA STUFF
annie crummer
Pop singer and songwriter, Anne Crummer MNZM has seen great success in both her solo career and in various collaborations. Crummer grew up in West Auckland and at 18 was a guest vocalist in the hit single For Today, which won Single of the Year at the ‘85 New Zealand Music Awards. Language, the opening track from Crummer’s debut solo album also named Language was released in 1992 and gained Gold Certification in New Zealand. In 2021, Crummer was inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame in recognition for her contribution to New Zealand Music.
PHOTO BY NATALIE SLADE VIA NZ HERALD
sola rosa
Spearheaded by Auckland-based musician Andrew Spraggon, Sola Rosa is a fluid finesse of funk, hip-hop break beats, electronic, jazz, and soul which have blessed our ears and our airwaves over the past 20 years. With an impressive track record, Sola Rosa has produced seven full-length albums, four EPs, a fistful of hits, collaborations and multiple world tours since launching as an experimental recording project in 1999. The Ace of Space comes from their 2009 hit album Get it Together.
PHOTO BY STEPHEN TILLEY VIA STUFF
che fu
Māori & Niuean artist, songwriter and producer Che Kuo Eruera Ness MNZM, or Che Fu is considered a pioneer of hip-hop and Pasifika music in New Zealand. Before launching into his successful solo career, Fu was a founding member of the triple platinum, tui winning, 90's funk band Supergroove. In 1996, Fu released Chains to critical acclaim, reaching #1 on the NZ charts. Fu went on to win numerous awards and honours for his services in music including his appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to music.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM CHEFU.CO.NZ
brother love
Music icon Rahui Vaka, better known by the name Brother Love, is one of the most notorious names in Cook Island music. Love has released six solo albums, collaborated on countless others, and worked with Heimana Music for the last 30 years to promote Cook Island music to the world. Under the radar and rocking Roimata throughout New Zealand neighbourhood sound systems, Brother Love is yet to be known by the rest of the world.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM TEAOMAORI.NEWS
Sisters underground
Breaking through in the 90's with De La Soul-esque beats, the hip-hop and R&B duo Brenda Makamoeafi and Hassanah Iroegbu defined Pacific Soul with the creation of Sisters Underground. Their presence was felt locally and internationally with In The Neighbourhood hitting the New Zealand airwaves in June 1994. While it peaked at #6 locally, the single would go on to reach #2 in Australia, as well as reach several European charts. In The Neighbourhood is now considered a landmark recording which shaped the South Auckland hip-hop scene.
PHOTO BY GREG SEMU VIA AUDIOCULTURE.CO.NZ
anika moa
The lovingly charismatic Anika Moa has consistently delivered to the world her eclectic flair of confessional poppy, jazzy, bluesy acoustic sounds in her truly unique fashion. Christchurch-born Moa’s career began at the infamous Smokefree Rockquest in ‘98 which ultimately led to her record deal with Warner and Atlantic. The single Falling in Love was recorded in 2001 as a track on her double platinum debut album Thinking Room for which Moa won Top Female Vocalist in 2002. Maori-English Moa is also well known for her television personality.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM RNZ
hollie smith
Heat-warming soul singer and songwriter Hollie Smith is undoubtedly one of the most successful New Zealand artists of her era. With four #1 solo albums (Long Player double platinum), multiple accolades, awards and acclaim, Smith’s iconic voice is synonymous with New Zealand music. Smith first entered the limelight in 1999 after winning Best Female Vocalist at the National Jazz Festival of NZ, and up until 2021 she has recorded seven more full-length albums and collaborated on numerous others. Will You Be The One is off her 2007 album Humour & The Misfortune Of Others.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM NZ HERALD
king kapisi
Award-winning rapper, producer, and fashion designer King Kapisi has spent the past 20 years travelling the world repping kiwi music on the international stage. From Samoan heritage, to Glastonbury (U.K), SXSW (Austin, TX), to touring with the Harlem Globetrotters and wineyard partnerships, Kapisi is both loyal and devoted to the New Zealand music scene. From Kapisi’s 2000 album Savage Thoughts, Screams From Tha Old Plantation brings together Kapisi’s lyrical energy force layered over snappy beats.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM RNZ
nesian mystik
From a classroom in Auckland in ‘99 to a record-breaking 11 top 10 singles by 2011, Nesian Mystic’s blend of hip-hop beats with Polynesian strings & funky synth delivers those distinct sounds that have blessed us for decades. The cultural backgrounds of the group stretch through Cook Island, Tongan, Samoan and Māori ancestry. Brothaz is quintessentially Nesian Mystic and originates from their multi-platinum album Polysaturated which they released in 2003 to critical acclaim.
PHOTO BY MARK BARBER VIA STUFF
brooke fraser
Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Brooke Fraser launched her solo career in 2003 with her 7 times platinum debut album What To Do With Daylight of which Arithmetic is the opening track. Fraser went on to tour internationally with the likes of John Mayer and David Bowie, followed by four more chart-topping albums and the global success of her single Something in the Water. Fraser's unique style of melodic, pensive and intelligent folk-pop rock has permeated through all of her work and warmed the hearts of many across the Pacific, Europe, and the United States.
PHOTO BY NORRIE MONTGOMERY VIA NZ HERALD
SPLIT ENZ
Formed in ‘72, Split Enz is perhaps the most influential and important New Zealand band of all time, redefining the way New Zealand wrote, created and enjoyed music. Enz produced a lengthy list of 80’s pop-rock hits such as I Got You, History Never Repeats, and Six Months in a Leaky Boat. Originally released in ‘84, Message to My Girl written by Neil Finn was the second single off the album Conflicting Emotions. Almost a decade later, Split Enz and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra collaborated on the project ENZSO whereby the ballad-style orchestral cover of Message to My Girl was recorded.
PHOTO BY WARNER MUSIC VIA NZHISTORY.GOVT.NZ
P-MONEY
Peter "P-Money" Wadams is perhaps New Zealand’s most well-known producer and DJ. His studio and turntable genius has turned him into a household name and a pioneering figure within New Zealand music. Wadams co-founded Dirty Records in 2001 which set in the motion the rise of New Zealand hip-hop figures Scribe, David Dallas, and PNC. Everything, released in 2008, turns funky synth and electronic beats with Vince Harder vocals into an absolute banger. Outside of Everything, Wadam's scope of production spans a broad range of genres seeing him link collaborations across multiple continents.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM MMF.CO.NZ
STAN WALKER
Platinum-selling multi-award winning artist, actor and television personality Stan Walker is hard to miss. His charisma, aroha, energy and fashion sense light up any space he enters. Walker grew up on a marae in Mount Maunganui before moving to Queensland to pursue his career in music. Winner of Australian Idol in 2009, Walker released the hit single Black Box alongside his debut album, Introducing Stan Walker, which ultimately went platinum in both New Zealand and Australia. Walker has since recorded six albums, toured with Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and starred in indie films.
PHOTO SOURCED FROM STUFF
SIX60
The infamous kiwi rock band Six60 barely needs an introduction. From humble beginnings at backyard BBQ’s in their university days to recording three record-breaking multi-platinum self-titled albums and performing to sold-out stadiums across New Zealand. Each Six60 album is packed with undeniable anthems such as Don't Forget Your Roots, Don't Give It Up, The Greatest, and too many more to list. Lost was released as part of their debut album in 2011. The band's mix of R&B vocals and addictive pop riffs, all of which encompass their unique essence of funk, reggae, and electronic music, go straight to the soul and cannot be denied. Google them.
PHOTO BY CHRIS MCKEEN VIA STUFF
