Tiki Taane

Tiki Taane was born in Otautahi or Christchurch on 17 December 1976. His father Uekaha is of Ngati Maniapoto descent, while his mother Lyn is of English and Scottish heritage – the McDuff clan. The third child of 4, Tiki was preceded by 2 sisters – Maureen Aroha, Ninakaye and then followed by his baby brother Anaru Kune, from Ngati Kahungunu and Taranaki.

Raised most of his life in Otautahi, Tiki spent his school years at Heathcote Valley School, Shirley Boys’ College and then changed to Linwood High School in his 4th Form year. Soon losing interest in his school education, Tiki began spending time on the streets, getting up to mischief and having many close calls with the law. In the early 90’s, at a crucial time where Tiki was considering some very downward-spiralling pathways, his father Uekaha gave him a classical acoustic guitar. To this day, that guitar can be seen as the vehicle through which Tiki’s life took on a powerful new purpose.

Tiki’s new guitar never left his side as he taught himself to play – listening to and then mimicking riffs and chords from the likes of Metallica, Megadeth and others. It wasn’t long before he was composing his own guitar tracks, lyrics, bass guitar and drum tracks too. Fronting his first band Cultivation at the age of 15, Tiki was joined by drummer Richard Dale, bass guitarist Mike and guitarist and backing vocalist Jason Young (of Future Stupid, Loves Ugly Children and Excellent Soul Therapy fame).

Cultivation played several head-bangingly great gigs in Christchurch and it was during this time that Tiki sat his Certificate in Audio Engineering at Christchurch’s Nga Mataa Waka Training Provider. Becoming soundman for some local metal bands and gigs, Tiki was beginning to get a name for himself on the Christchurch music scene. After his first band Cultivation disbanded, Tiki went on to join already existing metal band Braaspadeak, contributing to their growing fan base.

In 1996, Tiki was asked to become live soundman to Christchurch band Salmonella Dub, who were becoming one of the NZ’s most popular acts. Through this role, Tiki began to earn himself a reputation for his ability to bring a staggeringly powerful live sound to whatever equipment, venue or environment he was faced with. His time with his metal band Braaspadeak had become miniscule and irregular, and while on tour with the Dub, Tiki had composed a dub / reggae track in his hotel room. Once he shared it with Salmonella, they recorded it straight away, and Tiki and his whanau and friends set to work making a music video featuring Tiki on tour at The Gathering that year. This track For the Love Of It shot to the NZ charts, and so he became faced with not only being soundman for the band, but also the public expectation that he perform his hit song at all their gigs.

In both 1998 and 1999, Tiki won the Best Live Audio Engineer award at the NZ B-Net awards and though in popular demand, it was clear that Tiki’s loyalties lay with his friends Salmonella Dub. Also winning an award for Best Song for For the Love Of It, Tiki’s confidence grew in his song-writing abilities and so he went on to create more hits.

By 2000, Tiki was beginning to spend the majority of the Dub gigs mixing the first part of the set, then jumping on stage to perform whilst leaving the sound desk with another trusted soundman. It was only a matter of time before it became necessary for him and the band to agree that he leave the desk altogether, transforming into the frontman.

Since switching to this role for Salmonella Dub, Tiki spent the last several years traveling the world releasing platinum-selling albums, charting hits and sell-out tours worldwide. In his downtime, he continued to work alongside of some of the country’s top acts as a singer, songwriter, MC, musician, composer, studio producer and live soundman. Currently, he is employed as the permanent soundman for top NZ act Shapeshifter.

Unbeknownst to most, Tiki played his final gig with Salmonella Dub on New Years Eve 2006. His decision to pursue a solo career and set up his own production company Tikidub Productions in May 2006, is a move vital to the future development of Aotearoa-made music.

PRODUCTION

Tiki has been blessed to work with some of the best this country has produced. Some of the many acts he has mixed are;

LIVE – Salmonella Dub, Shapeshifter, TrinityRoots, Little Bushman, Kora, Solaa, Scribe and The Crusaders, Ladi6, Pitch Black, Pumpkinhead and Headless Chickens.

STUDIO WORK – Shapeshifter, Kora, P-Money, Julia Deans, Salmonella Dub, Shihad, Concord Dawn, Rhombus and Nomad.

Photo Credit: Brutus