In a new weekly interview series, we ask a different local artist to curate their dream weekend soundtrack. First up: Troy Kingi.
Troy Kingi is a man on a well-documented mission to make 10 albums, in 10 genres, over 10 years. But finding himself creatively blocked while making his eighth album, he decided to pack his bags and go on a creative pilgrimage to Joshua Tree. In the first episode of Troy Kingi’s Desert Hikoi, he explains why he’s making the trip. “I’m just hoping it’s going to spark something in me, some vibes, some creativity.”
The trail leads him everywhere from a cave in the Mamápukaiv mountains, to a run-in with a cactus in the Mojave Desert, to a sit-down with his childhood idol Serj Tankan from System of a Down (he is making a rock album, after all). With all four episodes now available to binge this weekend on TVNZ+, we asked Troy Kingi to curate his perfect weekend playlist for us.
Stan Getz – ‘The Girl from Ipanema’
I’m not a huge coffee guy but we just got a new machine, so I’ve been going hard and for sure there’s no better song to drink coffee to while the world slowly wakes up than ‘The Girl from Ipanema’.
Kendrick Lamar – ‘Not Like Us’
I don’t know how badly this is gonna age, but me and my girls have been thrashing this one all week on the way to trainings and Saturday sport. Good one to get geed up to, and also, we were entrenched in the Drake/Kendrick beef – what a time to be alive huh?
Khruangbin – ’August 10’
Khruangbin has ultimately been the soundtrack to my life for a wee while, beautiful music for afternoon chilling. This song in particular inspired my song ‘Happy Colour’ off of my last album.
The Stylistics – ‘Hurry Up This Way Again’
Cooking dinner for the family has been my favourite pastime since moving into our new house. I listen to The Stylistics on shuffle every single night and this song always jumps out, what a banger.
Yussef Dayes – ‘Portrait of Tracy (Live from Malibu)’
Yussef Dayes has been on high rotation all year. This song sits nicely in the background during Saturday night dinner but if you care to actually listen it’s dope as hell.
Andre 3000 – ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album but This Is Literally the Way the Wind Blew Me This Time’
I thought I was the king of long-winded titles but Andre 3K definitely takes the cake with this one. I’m a big Andre fan so I’m gonna lap up any tunes he throws our way – even if he’s being a buzzy flautist. Great way to see a Sunday sunrise.
Bill Withers – ‘Use Me’
I’ve just finished a run of shows with the Bill Withers Social Club, and this song pretty much has the best drum beat of all time, it makes you wanna dance-walk through the bush.
Deniece Williams – ‘Free’
I first heard this song on the Wu-Tang: An American Saga series. It’s been a staple in my playlists ever since and is perfect for the Sunday house clean. Just looking at my song choices, they’re pretty chill vibes, I suppose the older I get the less abrasive I wanna be to my one good ear.
Bob Marley – ‘Coming In From the Cold’
Uprising is on high rotation in our household. My daughter said they had a game of Jeopardy in her class the other day and played this very song, the teacher said if they could also name the album they would get double points – she’s the only one who knew. It’s like I’ve been training her whole life for this moment.
Ruby Turner – Women Hold up Half the Sky (the whole album)
This is my most prized possession in my record collection, a second hand bargain from Real Groovy and a banger from start to finish. It’s an album that reminds me of trips to my grandma’s in Whangārei in the late 80s.