chronicles

Northland musician Troy Kingi is almost at the end of his mission to create 10 albums in 10 genres over 10 years. But when his songwriting well ran dry, he sought inspiration from an unusual source. John Pearson follows his footprints in the sand.

Award-winning Māori musician Troy Kingi takes a spiritual journey to California's iconic Joshua Tree National Park, in search of creative inspiration from this epic desert environment and its local people. A multipart series shown on TVNZ+

“An instrumental album was never really on the cards at the beginning of the 10/10/10 journey but lately I’ve actually been feeling alienated by my own voice, it’s just the older I get, the more my voice is changing, and honestly I feel for the worse. So I thought what better way to get myself out of the self loathing vocal dump and rejuvenate the creative spices than to just stop singing and let the music speak for itself".

"I've just got to trust the creative gods that I'm doing the right thing sometimes. I go through that stage of questioning everything I'm doing. Is it good? Am I still pushing the boundaries at all or am I just going through the motions? I have these mad wananga [lectures] with myself, just questioning everything.

"After we finished [the new track 'A Little Knowledge'] I was like 'I think this is going to work."

A stunning set of 80’s inspired synth-pop filled Auckland’s Powerstation, and the crowd was loving it. With many of the patrons dressed to impress in their best denim, neon wrist bands and fluro fishnets, it was clear that the fans were ready to embrace this latest record.

Troy Kingi has delivered yet another masterpiece which this time around takes its cues from the likes of Human League, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads and so many more. What will the next one bring us I wonder?

Watch the special promo videos

Te Ao Māori News - Last night Whakaata Māori's newsroom was taken over by Troy Kingi and his band The Upperclass, for an exclusive live performance of a bonus release off his album, Holy Colony Burning Acres.

For Matariki, they’ve named it ‘Pū Whenua Hautapu – Eka Mumura,’ it’s in te reo Māori and will be officially released tomorrow.

RNZ - Troy Kingi and delaney Davidson join Mark williams in the RNZ Studios for a special Matariki performance and a korero about their upcoming tour and the release of the te reo version of Troy's album, Holy Colony Burning Acres / Pū Whenua Hautapu, Eka Mumura.

Te Ao Māori News - APRA Silver Scroll supreme award winner Troy Kingi plans to release a te reo Māori version of his third album Holy Colony Burning Acres by Matariki. Kingi told 1News the album will have the te reo title, Pū Whenua Hautapu Eka Mumura.

Stuff.co.nz Multi-award-winning musician Troy Kingi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) has been awarded the 2022 Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa, Best Folk Artist Tūī, for his album Black Sea Golden Ladder.

Te Karere - Our reporter Ripeka Timutimu caught up with Māori musician, Troy Kingi to discuss plans for his upcoming album.

This waiata is a Te Reo Māori psychedelic jam, recalling the sound of Kingi’s past release Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygetron, and The Nudge’s Dark Arts. With an instantly memorable bassline from James Coyle alongside the rhythmic drumming of Iraia Whakamoe (Tūhoe), the track combines harmonies & soaring guitars from Kingi & Ryan Prebble, with Kingi’s Te Reo vocal driving the waiata.

Kingi collaborated with Hi Mama Productions, Te Māngai Pāho and seven Māori directors to produce the visual album that explores an existential life experience.

From the moment you press play, you slide into this new sound as Sleep (Slumber) yawns into an acoustic, out-of-body experience

It is the most personal of all my albums – the first one I feel that is truly about me.”

Troy Kingi’s newest album is about birth, school, love, sleep, work, death ... the everyday phases and stages that people relate to.

Written as part of the Matairangi Mahi Toi Artist Residency programme at Government House, in partnership with Massey University, It is the fifth instalment of his 101010 project.

☆☆☆☆☆ ( 5 / 5 )

“The musicianship is top-notch, as is Troy's vocals and songwriting”

Troy Kingi has a new album coming out with an interestingly dark tale behind it. Music Reviewer Graeme Hill sat down with the team

Troy Kingi Talks About The Ghost of Freddie Cesar

Northland based multi-award-winning musician Troy Kingi is set to release "The Ghost of Freddie Cesar", the fourth instalment in his 10/10/10 series - 10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres.

The album has a mysterious genesis. It's inspired by a cassette tape found and lost, and a father lost and never found.

Laid back and ambitious, Kingi may be worried about making up lost time, but he's way ahead of the curve.

Troy Kingi is systematically establishing himself as a national treasure. Over the last few years, the Kerikeri resident singer/songwriter has risen in prominence thanks to some creative recordings, a 10/10/10 (10 albums across 10 genres in 10 years) release mandate, and a very likeable persona that has kept him grounded as both a family man and musician. Sam Smith caught up with him just ahead of the 2019 NZ Music Awards, where he was in the running for two awards

Troy Kingi and the Upperclass have won the Taite Music Prize, an award for artistic and creative excellence in New Zealand music. Holy Colony Burning Acres is the third instalment of Kingi’s 10-year plan: 10 albums, in 10 genres, in 10 years. The plan is one of the most creatively ambitious in recent history, so most see the award as very well deserved.

Troy Kingi is an actor and musician who wears many hats. He acted in the role of TK in Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople and won the APRA Silver Scroll Maioha Award in 2015 for his song with Stan Walker, Aotearoa. Troy released his debut solo album Guitar Party At Uncles Bach in 2016. In 2018, he unveiled his sophomore album Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygertron, a 'sprawling sci-fi soul odyssey inspired by interstellar love, mystic prophesy, and 70s cosmic funk artists Funkadelic'.

Most musicians don’t see the bigger picture, they’re too busy getting out the single or EP, planning the gig or short tour. But Troy Kingi is not like most musicians, he has a masterplan.