Kiwi musician Rikki Morris feels like he's "crawling out from under a very large rock" with the release of his new single after a 25-year hiatus from performing music.
'The One Thing I Can't Live Without' went straight to #1 on New Zealand's iTunes charts after its release this week.
New Zealand singer Rikki Morris Photo: Richard Morris Collection
New Zealand singer Rikki Morris in 1988 Photo: Simon Griggs Collection
Rikki Morris is probably best-known for the 1988 hit single 'Nobody Else' that he recorded with his brother Ian (one of Jesse Mulligan's favourite songs of all time).
His debut solo single 'Heartbroke' also won the 1991 APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award.
Yet despite his success as a performer, Rikki tells Jesse Mulligan he never really comfortable "doing the pop star thing".
About 25 years ago he made a deliberate decision to step back from making music and started working behind the scenes, recording and producing music. in the last 15 years he's been a live sound engineer for bands.
"I've never stopped singing and I've never stopped writing songs. I've kind of hit the corporate market in the last 25 years, just to make a living - that's what it's been about."
Songwriting and singing are hobbies now, Rikki says.
He wrote 'The One Thing I Can't Live Without' 12 years ago and recorded it 3 years ago then finished it during lockdown last year.
Rikki says he's not sure quite what it means for his song to hit #1 on iTunes but it's amazing to be there.
"You've gotta put it out there. Run it up the flag pole and see who salutes it, you know?"
