The Marlin’s Dreaming frontman shares his perfect weekend playlist.

Semisi Ma’ia’i reckons late afternoon dinner prep is always made better with a Marlin’s Dreaming soundtrack. “You know, that sense of optimism that kicks in,” he says. “You’re snacking on something, sipping a beer, and it feels like you’re ahead of the game. Everything tastes better, the music’s just right, friends are buzzing around — there’s a flow to it all that just feels good.”

The band recently released their latest album HIRL, born from the fragments which have shaped Ma’ia’i’s life: Chick’s Hotel in Ōtepoti, and Roundhead Studios in Tāmaki Makaurau. “There’s no single thread that ties it all together – no one story to tell – but it’s all there,” he says. “Love songs rub shoulders with tunes that ache for the past, while others dig into the mess of what it means to be here, now.”

The perfect Marlin’s Dreaming setting isn’t too dissimilar to Ma’ia’i’s idea of a perfect weekend in the backdrop of Ōtepoti. “I’d start the day early with a walk around to Seconds Beach for a surf with some friends,” he says. There’s pāua to barbecue and a six-pack to down before heading to Fairfield for a skate session, and a gig at the Crown, while Sundays are filled with golf, pizzas and aiga.

The band will be embarking on an Aotearoa-wide tour in mid-September to give fans their first live listen of HIRL. Ma’ia’i says it’s a “weird kind of process” when you prepare to perform new music and capture “all those bits of garnish” a listener catches from an album. “There’s this muscle memory that knows our back catalogue inside out. But with new songs? That muscle hasn’t quite formed yet. Until you’ve played them live 20-odd times, you can’t help but feel a little precious.”

He’s picked these 10 tunes that “sit in the sleepy realm of your weekend. Either having a nap in the sun, or having a lazy morning.”

Alexander ‘Skip’ Spence – ‘Diana’

Tom Bell, who engineered some of the tracks on HIRL, showed me this record. At first I wasn’t a massive fan, but the more I listened, the more I felt like I understood the songs. This one is a personal favourite from the album, Oar.

Mark Fry – ‘Song for Wilde’

This song has such an amazing transience about it. It has a real sad but optimistic feel to it. That’s my favourite feeling when listening to music.

Penina O Tiafau – ‘Nofo I Salafai Lo’u motu’

There’s nothing more sleep inducing or relaxing to me than listening to the Samoan language sung in harmony. If this song is pumped out loud, it’s a dancing song. If it’s quiet, it’s extremely relaxing.

ML Buch – ‘I’m a Girl You Can Hold IRL’

I find ML Buch’s music so enchanting, it’s so bare and minimalist but somehow with each listen I hear something different. This song is crazy catchy and it always gets stuck in my head.

Radiohead – ‘Knives Out’

A big influence on my songwriting is Radiohead so I felt like I had to sneak one in here. I really enjoy the constant dynamic in this song, it’s a sort of unwavering strum and beat, and the vocals just sit in their own realm above the mix. 

Steve Hiett – ‘Walking Across the Field’

This is the ultimate lying in your backyard or your lounge and daydreaming song. I love a meandering guitar, grounded by the chug of the beat.

Emahoy Tsege Miriam Gebru – ‘Evening Breeze’

This song has to be on my weekend playlist. It just sounds like a Saturday morning to me. 

Bailey’s Nervous Kats – ‘First Love’

I think if you were mid day-dream, this might slowly seep in and become the soundtrack to your thoughts. 

Tall Dwarfs – ‘Shade for Today’

This song has one of those universally nostalgic feelings. Something about the combination of the vocals and guitars; it just makes me miss something, I’m not quite sure what. 

Beautiful Whip – ‘Internn’

I’m really into the meandering feeling in this song. It doesn’t demand too much attention, but if you listen in close, there are lots of beautiful intricate details, especially the plucking nylon acoustic.