A slightly surreal experience, this concert is full of great tunes, fun songs, beautiful orchestrations and infectious beats.
Troy Kingi and band onstage with the Auckland Philharmonia. Together they celebrated Matariki 2023 with a combined concert. Photo: Adrian Malloch
The Auckland Philharmonia celebrated the second public holiday of Matariki in 2023 with New Zealand's music adventurer Troy Kingi.
Kingi is on a mission to release ten albums in ten years in ten different genres.
Together they play his third album, his psychedelic-soul album, Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To Zygertron. Read Nick Bollinger's review of the mythological sci-fi love saga here.
Troy Kingi and band onstage with the Auckland Philharmonia. Photo: Adrian Malloch
Troy Kingi is joined on stage by vocalists Mara TK and Esther Stephens, bass player Marika Hodgson, drummer Treye Liu and keyboard player Leonardo Coghini.
The arrangements for orchestra were written by Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper and Joseph Harrop.
The Auckland Philharmonia is conducted by David Kay.
Now onto the music. Dive into this colourful concert track by track. Troy Kingi's words give you context to each song:
Also Sprach Zarathustra - Sunrise & Aquarii B
When the APO offered to play this as an intro I was all in, I couldn’t have thought of a more fitting introduction to a 70s space odyssey than Also Sprach Zarathustra.
I tried pairing it with the only thing in my arsenal (I felt) that had the same galactic scope and wizardry and that was the ever buzzy Aquarii B.
Luna Steppa
For those that don’t know, this song is about our protagonist Cosmo Colombus aka The Golden Foot aka Golden Taurus, living on a moon (one of 33) in the 5th dimension and inside the luna carved face of Michael Jackson. ✌🏽
Time Lapsium Gangtasium
This was my attempt to do a Pusherman-type vibe (Curtis Mayfield) and this song talks of time travelling portals with varying parallel universes.
Golden Taurus
Probably my favourite song on the album, it was my effort at trying to write one of the slowest soul songs in NZ. The segue at the end, me and Mara conjured up delirious in the studio at about 4am on the final mixing night.
Flat Earth Syndrome
This song is all about conspiracies.
The intro to this song I think was inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Damn’ record (the last album I ever heard with 2 working ears). He had all those cool a capella intros to his songs, I just wanted a little piece of the action.
Gold Shoes
My whole thing about this song was to have no snare drum, let it drive on the toms with a tribal-like rumble. Probably the coolest lyrics on the Zygertron album.
Salina Fisher: Galaxy
An orchestral interlude in the concert. This is a beautiful piece by NZ composer Salina Fisher and fits right in with the cosmic theme of the concert.
9 Million Light Years
This was my favourite song to play with the APO. Their accompaniment was like a nice warm blanket making my ordinary humdrum love song sound and feel like a million bucks.
Aztechknowledgey
Always a crowd favourite, I never get sick of playing it - and you only get a handful of chances to play it with an orchestra if you’re lucky.
Eyes at 80 Fathoms
Nice funky dance track about a hidden portal in Matauri bay that only reveals itself at midnight on a full moon. Spoooky
Turūkanīnī
This one felt like the song of the night, and being Matariki it was a fitting song to celebrate our indigenousness and mana Maōri motuhake.
Predetermined Machine
The second song that me and Mara TK ever jammed on (after cold steel) - the theme is straight out of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, AI robots taking over.
Grandma's Rocket Poem
This is always my closing song, every show - it’s the one I’m known for and my audience know every word. What a pleasure to play this with the APO.
All Your Ships Have Sailed
Always have an encore up ya sleeve, and this one seems to go down a treat.
The concert was held at the Auckland Town Hall on 13th July 2023.
Troy Kingi, David Kay and band at rehearsal for Auckland Philharmonia's Matariki concert 2023. Photo: RNZ
Troy Kingi: Vocals & Guitar
Mara TK: Vocals and Guitar
Esther Stephens: Vocals
Marika Hodgson: Electric bass
Treye Liu: Drums
Leonardo Coghini: Keyboards
David Kay: Conductor
Auckland Philharmonia: Orchestra
Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper & Joe Harrop: Arranger
RNZ production team:
Recording engineer: Rangi Powick
Mix Engineer: Adrian Hollay
Producers: Tim Dodd, Adrian Hollay
- Troy Kingi talks about getting over writer's block in Fast Faves on Culture 101
- In his spare time, Troy Kingi explores 'Our Other Islands'
Troy Kingi and band onstage with the Auckland Philharmonia. Photo: Adrian Malloch
