‘Sonic shaman’ steps out – and away from his bro, Billy TK Jr
He might share a name with his sibling but, writes Chris Schulz, Mara TK is forging his own path.
He is, according to musician Julian Dyne, ‘‘a modern spiritual sonic shaman’’.
Singer-songwriter Ria Hall calls him a ‘‘multi-talented enigma’’. Kiwi soul sensation Teeks believes he exudes ‘‘the purest expression of soul’’. Award-winning rapper Tom Scott goes one further, calling him ‘‘our Prince’’.
When Mara TK first heard those accolades, the Wellington musician couldn’t take them in. ‘‘My girlfriend read them to me and I blocked my ears ... I didn’t realise exactly how they felt. It’s amazing.’’
His peers rave about him because the 36-year-old is a musician’s musician who has been plugging away in the shadows for years. ‘‘Musically, I think I’ve been a bit of an outlier – quite niche,’’ the former Electric Wire Hustle frontman admits.
Last Friday, he stepped out from those shadows by releasing his first solo album, one that has been five years in the making.
Bad Meditation is a mindbending time warp, a ‘70s-infused funk-soul odyssey full of subtle production flourishes. And it’s earning Mara TK a rapturous response.
‘‘He’s an innovator. I’m chasing him constantly,’’ says Troy Kingi, a close friend who took home last
year’s Taite Music Prize. ‘‘I’ll be trying to do what he’s doing now in seven years’ time. By then he’ll be writing songs for robots on Saturn.’’ Singer Ladi6, agrees. ‘‘When he releases any of his music, it almost always is something to be in awe of,’’ she says, calling him ‘‘humility personified’’.
She’s right. Any attempt to ask Mara TK about those accolades will
humble him into silence. After a pause, he reveals why.
‘‘I just feel like there’s a lot of other people in the world who deserve praise for the little things they do every day,’’ he says.
He’s conducting this interview outside his kids’ classroom in O¯ taki, north of Wellington, where he moved recently. He can see his children’s teachers as he lists those he deems more worthy: ‘‘Nurses, teachers.’’
Then he says: ‘‘It’s just something I’m obsessed with and do in my garage and people are moved by it, and I’m just blown away.’’
He lists albums by Parliament, Funkadelic, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix and D’Angelo, as well as Ma¯ ori composer and singer Hirini Melbourne, as his ‘‘psychedelic’’ inspiration. But, on album standouts Highly Medicated and the title track, Mara TK’s clearly forging his own path. So why isn’t he a superstar yet?
Perhaps part of the problem is that Mara TK’s older brother Billy TK Jr keeps stealing the limelight as the infamous former political wannabe is these days more widely known for spreading Covid-19 misinformation and conspiracy theories. Mara TK knows stepping out under his own name means he’s going to get asked about his brother’s beliefs. ‘‘That’s just part of our family’s story now.’’
They may share the same last name, but that’s where the similarities end. ‘‘I don’t agree with many of my brother’s viewpoints – especially when it comes to vaccinations,’’ says Mara TK.
‘‘It’s a line in the sand that have to stand behind.’’
It’s clearly a touchy topic between the two, but Mara TK says there’s still a bond between them.
‘‘I’ve got a lot of love for him ... I’ve still got time for him ... we’ll always be brothers ... I just think he needs to humble himself and realise that he’s [playing] with fire.’’
Besides, right now, Mara TK’s got bigger things to worry about. Bad Meditation may have been released two weeks ago, but he’s already back in the studio, recording a group of 30 East Coast teenagers, prepping for his next one.
‘‘I’m already thinking about the next record – we started it on the day this one came out,’’ he says.
‘‘Music’s ... something that I would do whether it was my profession or not,’’ he says.’’I’ll be whittling away at songs whether there’s someone to listen to me or not.’’
I
‘‘We’ll always be brothers ... I just think he needs to humble himself and realise that he’s [playing] with fire.’’ Mara TK