Imon Starr bringing Olmecha Supreme to Whanganui for first time

Olmecha Supreme are in Whanganui this month. Photo / Supplied

Two members of long-running New Zealand band Olmecha Supreme Soundsystem - Captain Imon Starr and King Home Boy - will play a special New Zealand Music Month show in Whanganui.

It's the first time the group has performed here.

Starr, formerly a part of Wellington roots act Rhombus, said while the full band wouldn't be making the journey, he and King Home Boy would "still be having as much fun" as the audience themselves.

King Home Boy is a six-time New Zealand beatbox champion.

"The Soundsystem came about because sometimes we wouldn't have access to our rhythm section, or we'd be playing in small venues that couldn't fit drums and keys on the stage," Starr said.

"Sometimes they would only have a DJ booth, but that's where we started from and we've got a show that can fit in there.

"The whole Olmecha thing can compress down to just me with a flute or something, all the way to having 15 people on stage with a full dance crew, drums and visuals."

The nucleus of the band began in 2003, Starr said, after he won the MPC (Music Production Centre) Battle for Supremacy.

Since then, he has melded a myriad of genres together, including dub, hip hop, funk and reggae.

The result is self-described as Afro-futuristic roots music.

"It's one thing to play beats by yourself, but it's another thing to get to play beats with your mates.

"I'm so happy every time I get to play with King Home Boy, and it's great to know that someone has your back musically, especially when you're dealing with beatboxing, improvisational rap, singing and all kinds of other stuff as well.

"The fact that we're able to perform shows at all is pretty lucky and pretty amazing. We'll be playing [at Porridge Watson] until it's probably not advisable."

Starr said he found it hard to stick to "just one genre" when it came to writing and recording his music.

"I've tried to write several orthodox rap albums and several orthodox reggae albums and every time it's been almost impossible.

"You get to a certain point and all these other sounds come knocking on the door.

"There's always a lot of new material to work on though, and I'm working out how to work with other people."

There were currently "11 or 12" Olmecha Supreme albums up on their Bandcamp page, Starr said.

"I try to put out an album every October, at least.

"I'm always experimenting with the tools I have and trying to get better with them, and adding new tools to the mix.

"At the end of the day, if you're not doing music because you're loving it, then you're probably doing it wrong."

Olmecha Supreme Soundsystem play at Porridge Watson on Thursday, May 20. The show begins at 7pm.