Spacifix into breaking the rules

Spacifix describe their sound as 'world fresh' .

Nine in a band may seem like a crowded house to some, but not to Auckland-based group Spacifix.

The boys from West Auckland (and one from the South) are seeking "world domination" of the billboard charts. They have been receiving a lot of airplay from some stations, mainly Mai FM and Niu FM, but have been snubbed by the more traditional pop stations.

That's a shame, because to relegate Spacifix to labels such as rap, Motown or even rock does them an injustice.

Tau, 19, a singer with the band, is more inclined to talk than the others. "We all enjoy writing music, and the process is kind of tough because there's nine of us," he says. "We don't really have one specific genre that we play. We call our sound 'world fresh'."

Spacifix are into "breaking the rules". Their music is a little bit of everything - a slice of rock, a squeeze of rap and hip-hop, a touch of jazz, reggae and funk. It's a meaty mix that defies a single category.

Although the members of the band are Polynesian, their audience embraces a wide range. They have even played at the Roxy on Sunset in Los Angeles to an American audience.

Throughout August and September they will be performing guest appearances at the Smokefree Pacifica Beats competition, an event they won themselves in 2003.

In defiance of age barriers, older people enjoy their music, including Tua's parents - his father, a taxi driver, proudly plays his tape to passengers.

There's some political influence in their music. A song called Overstayer is about the dawn raids of the 70s and 80s, although Tau says that music is basically about entertainment and should not be analysed too much for other values.

Tonga, the oldest in the group at 21, is a big brother figure with short dreadlocks and a serious personality. He has studied music in Wellington and plays keyboards and trumpet.

Spacifix is a tight group, with the older members taking responsibility for the youngest. Tau's youngest brother and his cousin are in the band.

Some serious publicity is being put into Spacifix and American producer Skip Saylor is helping to produce their album.

As well, they've just finished filming for a nine-part television documentary series, expected to start screening by September.

The video for their single Sunshine Day, which has been in the New Zealand charts for five weeks, won a Telly Award in Los Angeles.

"Our neighbours don't think we're famous," says Tonga, who lives in Avondale in a place called "the G-Unit". But the boys have faith that their first album will be "off the hook".

They write their own songs and, like many musicians, base them on personal experience.

It is hard to imagine what kind of experiences those are: the boys give something of a wholesome impression - Tonga, John, Rudy and Tau attend church, although they are not a Christian band - and are keen on helping with charity concerts. This year they sang Spread da Word, the theme song for the 40-Hour Famine.

"These boys are a national treasure," says Saylor, who believes that Spacifix will make it big in New Zealand as well as internationally. "Why would I fly out here otherwise?"

It is evident the boys love their music. They tap on the walls of their studio to get a feel for the acoustics of the place, jam with each other, and talk with passion about "making sounds". If they do not conquer the world, at the very least there will be space in the local market for Spacifix.