Four friends had accompanied her on the unique musical adventure, she said, and she had been given an artist's pass that gave privileged access backstage.
"It was great to be able to take my friends to meet the band as well, at a really flash hotel, and the boys were really relaxed, even when there were some awkward moments like asking them if I should bend over or lay on the bed for the signing. It was really a one-off kind of day."
Former Masterton woman and award-winning DJ Aroha Harawira also helped create a unique day for music lovers at the festival, cranking beats for a second time at Homegrown after debuting at the one-day capital city extravaganza last year.
The Chanel College old girl took the electronic stage with George FM radio show co-host Clarke Gayford for a mid-afternoon session of "off-kilter slightly wonky, dark, suggestive and silly beats".
Auckland-based Harawira told the New Zealand Herald her musical passion was ignited as a child while dancing to television music shows like Radio with Pictures and listening to punk records belonging to her mum, Tina Manson.
Harawira had early in her radio career worked for Wellington student station Radio Active and Radio New Zealand National before landing a sought-after presenter slot with student station bFM at the 2003 Big Day Out.
She also produced and presented the Transmission and NZown shows for the now-defunct music channel Juice TV while also studying, tutoring and occasionally lecturing in audio engineering, in which she has an Honours degree. She also spent four years working for Auckland-based DJ software company Serato.
Harawira has toured with acts like The Roots and Ben UFO and is a regular DJ at music festivals while also playing clubs, parties and bars.
