The singer songwriter on finding joy in the despair and honing her radar for detecting assholes.

In an era of perfection, polish and scarily smooth AI slop, Reb Fountain is doing something different. Making her seventh album Water for Gasoline in her garage studio at home in Tāmaki Makaurau, the singer-songwriter harnessed the chaos of creativity by recording the album live. With most songs captured in a single take, she says she wanted to bring the listener with her into the room: “we’re in this together and we want to bring our fans, old and new along for the ride.”

That sense of collaboration and invitation extends to the kaupapa of the music itself. The album’s lead single ‘Good People’ features Tami Neilson and Dianne Swann, and Fountain says is a rally cry in the fight for our humanity and our planet. “I wanted this song to be inclusive because freedom is a collective project,” she says. “I want us all on the same side fighting together for our shared liberation and survival. To reimagine our world we’re gonna need all of us good people on board.” 

Building upon the album’s themes of of unity and change, we asked Fountain to share her thoughts on the current state of it all.

What bothers you most about the world right now?

Wealth inequality. The rise of the super-rich and our government’s choice not to regulate or tax corporate and billionaire wealth means we – our government – own less and owe more (because the super-rich are buying up our resources) and us – the people – pay the price because our leaders refuse to address the oligarch in the room. The only entity we have strong enough to protect us from the billionaire class is our government. Shouldn’t the protection and rights of the people be the number one priority?

What sort of people do you avoid?

I grew up in Christchurch in the 80s with an inbuilt magnet and subsequent radar for assholes. I’ve spent my life working on a repellent.

What makes you want to get up in the morning?

A big fluffy kuri called Huey Lewis and a street kitty who I found and adopted called Taco Fuente. The menagerie calls… there are adventures to be had.

How do you hold onto hope in these crazy times?

We are born to create – the impetus of our universe and our very being is to create love. So while as a species we are leaning towards love by nature, we have to actively create love for it to flourish (lest the lesser near or far enemies of attachment or ill-will take hold). 

The politics of love give me hope.  I have seen with my own eyes the magic it weaves in life, I know the power of its doctrine and the embrace of it’s kind heart. Lean a little to the left and you’ll catch a glimpse in your own life; the warm embrace, the shoulder to cry on, the food cooked and served, the roof above your head, the joy in your heart.

Hope is the invitation to cultivate and create love for us all. Creating an equal, just and liberated society is something I hope for – not passively like a dream (for that is no hope at all) but actively practising and hopefully cultivating in my own life and in my art so that I may, even on a very small but significant level, tip the balance of the universe.

What is the single best quality a human can have?

Love is what drives us to equity, liberty, justice and kindness. Love volunteers at the food bank, picks up rubbish off the beach, helps a stranger in need, shelters an animal from harm. Love apologises, listens, cries, and applauds.  Love melts despair, fear, anger, anxiety and from the ashes grows kindness, compassion, understanding and grace. Love lets go knowing love will always remain. Love creates infrastructure to house, feed and transport whole communities – not just a few.  Love is a choice. For humans, love is the most challenging quality to cultivate, however the discoveries made on the path of loving kindness can enable us to offer the same compassion, acceptance and love to others and to our world. 

What’s over-rated?

The constant talk of ‘the economy’ drives me nuts. This government’s economy doesn’t include the people, their lived experiences, the underclass economy where myself and my fellow creative artists live or all the so-called domestic unpaid 24/7 labour resides, nor does it include the wonders of our environment (unless exploited). I rate people and planet over profit!

What’s underrated?

Work that is unpaid or underpaid. Just because it’s not remunerated well or at all doesn’t mean it’s not essential or valuable.

If you could have a do-over, what would you change?

I would have flown to London to see Nina Simone perform at Blue Note when I had the chance… and I would have worn a really spongey helmet on the days where I got a concussion.

What brings you joy?

Connection. Going for a run and jumping in the sea. Watching Huey whai i te pōro. Cuddling my moko. Making music with friends. Playing music for people… Shit, I was going to write laughter, love and life? Full Hallmark – ha!

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Be with what is.

What advice do you wish you’d never followed? 

Be someone else.

Tell us about a controversial opinion you hold.

Is it really still controversial to want to live in a socialist democratic society?

When you’re feeling low, what helps?

I open up to the world around me so that what feels overwhelming inside of me starts to dissipate in the face of the expansive unconditional universe. I hit the ground running – when I’m low I go for a run or a big walk with my dog. I swim in the sea or feel the sun on my face. It helps to get a fresh perspective on whatever story you are stuck in. Even when I am facing an inescapable challenge, connecting with nature reminds me that I am not alone and am very much being held by the universe.

In what ways is public-facing Reb Fountain different to private Reb Fountain?

Black pants and docs vs trackpants and slippers. Tamed mane vs birds nest woven inside a mane. Works really hard to reign in the swearing vs. swears like a banshee. Is brave even if she doesn’t feel like being brave vs. hides under the covers where necessary. 

Give us some life advice.

Vote like your life depends on it, because it does. Not just your life either… your tamariki, your moko, your mum, dad, dog, your favourite shady glade, your secret awa, your beloved maunga, your hood, your community, your country. We all depend on each other and we gotta look out for one another because we literally will not survive without caring for us all.  

Reb Fountain is touring her new album, Water for Gasoline, around Aotearoa in October. Find tour dates here.