Maori rock star Tokona to hit Masterton

Aaron Tokona, aka AHoriBuzz, will play King Street Live Friday as part of his Nation of the State national tour in support of his latest A HoriBuzz album, Into the Sunshine. PHOTO/DEAN MACKENZIE

Music and performance run in the family for Maori rock star and AHoriBuzz founder Aaron Tokona, he says. From his late dad to his brothers and his daughter, the spotlight has loved them all.

Tokona, Ngai Te Rangi and Maniapoto, was speaking while on the road for a show in Kaikoura as part of a 53-date Nation of the State tour with his jam band AHoriBuzz, which will also bring him to King Street Live in Masterton on Friday night.

The mammoth tour supports his latest AHoriBuzz album, a 10-track work that features Anika Moa and Rhombus among a cadre of other Kiwi stars.

"It's quite hard financially to scratch out a living for yourself with the way technology has made the selling of music these days.

"But if you love what you do, you'll find a bloody way, you know. There's no compromise really.

"It's not a game of poker, it's a game of Russian roulette."

Tokona, live and in the studio, has played with a mountain of musicians including Weta with brother Clinton, Fly My Pretties, Bongmaster, Fat Freddy's Drop, The Adults and Cairo Knife Fight. He worked on a Kim Dotcom album as well but prefers to leave that partnership in the past.

He also worked a day job about 16 years ago, he said, after meeting Sarena, mother of his daughter, Asha. He studied accountancy and worked as a manager for his in-laws and can today "read a balance sheet and work Excel" when needed.

"I had to get a day job when I met my wife and we had Asha. I didn't want to be away from home on tour. I wanted to be close."

Asha, 13, was today eyeing an acting career, having earlier learnt guitar, he said.

"She's musical. She can't help it. Her mother's an opera singer and her father's a rock star guy, you know," he said.

His dad, Clifford Tokona, died last year, aged 63, and was a blues harp player and musical influence for the family, including youngest son Tuma, who was a drummer.

Tokona dedicated the song Into The Sunshine, to his father. The tune was the first single lifted, and names the new album.

"Into The Sunshine was motivated and inspired by the old man. It was really important to me to get that song realised, out of the aroha I have for my dad."

He was taught to embrace his Maori heritage, being raised "a kapa haka kid" by a solo father and grandparents steeped in Maoritanga. Tokona also had links to a Te Kopi block of land near Lake Wairarapa through great-grandfather Mahia Herangi.

He had been "empowered as a Maori performer" watching artists like Prince Tui Teka and Billy T James in the 1980s, he said.

"It had a beautiful effect for Maori, seeing Maori on TV and getting number one hits, especially when you're learning to deal with what is primarily a Pakeha world.

"That did a whole lot for the cultural esteem -- and for me -- seeing our own up there. As a culture, we are awesome."

AHoriBuzz play King Street Live in Masterton on Friday August 7 from 7pm. Tickets cost $15 each and are available at ahoribuzz.nz and eventticketing.co.nz.