Troy Kingi (born 1984) is a New Zealand musician and actor from Northland, first receiving media attention when he appeared in the 2013 film Mt. Zion. Kingi is a multi-instrumentalist, is known for his 10/10/10 project: the plan to release 10 albums in 10 genres across 10 years.
Troy Kingi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kingi at Government House, Wellington in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 1984 (age 39–40) Rotorua, New Zealand[1] |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | AllGood Absolute Alternative Records, Lyttelton Records, Hongi Slicker Records |
Biography
editTroy Kingi was born 1 June 1984 in Rotorua,[1][4] and was raised in Rotorua, Te Kaha and Kerikeri.[3] Kingi is of Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi and Te Whānau-ā-Apanui descent.[3][4] He began learning guitar at Te Aute College in Hawke's Bay, and formed his first band, Toll House, at Kerikeri High School.[3] Toll House entered the Smokefreerockquest, winning the regional Northland competition.[3]
Since the early 2000s, Kingi has lived in Kerikeri.[4] He studied at the Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand in Auckland, and on returning to Kerikeri fronted a number of short-lived bands, including Mongolian Deathworm, Kingkachoo, Troy Kingi and the Tigers, Full Moon Street and Typhoon Fools,[3] while also working as a scuba instructor and fruit picking in Kerikeri orchards.[1] Kingi's work with Typhoon Fools gained him more widespread attention, and led to him being cast in the film Mt. Zion (2013).[3][5] Kingi also featured on the film's soundtrack,[6] and after the film's release, toured New Zealand with the film's lead actor Stan Walker.[7] Kingi released his first extended play in 2013.[7] His appearance in Mt. Zion led to further work as an actor, including The Pā Boys (2014) and Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).[3] Kingi collaborated on the Stan Walker song "Aotearoa" (2014), a song created part of a Te Wiki o te Reo Māori project for a song sung in Māori language to reach number one in New Zealand, something that had not been seen since Pātea Māori Club's "Poi E" in 1984.[8][9]
Kingi set himself the goal of releasing 10 albums in the span of 10 years, performing in 10 different genres.[3][10] The first in this series was Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach (2016), a double album recorded live in seven days at Lyttelton, New Zealand.[3] At the Waiata Māori Music Awards, Kingi won the awards for best Māori pop artist and best solo male artist.[3] His second album, the soul-psychedelic Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron (2017), featured "Aztechknowledgey", which was nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll award.[11] Holy Colony Burning Acres (2019) was a political roots reggae album featuring songs that discussed subjects including West Papua, the Inuit, Hawaiʻi and Aboriginal Tasmanians,[3][1] The album won the Taite Music Prize in 2020.[3]
In 2020, Kingi released The Ghost of Freddie Cesar, an album inspired by a cassette tape Kingi found in the belongings of his father, who disappeared in 2005.[2] The cassette tape since went missing, and the album was a re-creation of what Kingi remembered of the tape, blended with his own interpretations and original content.[2] The album was a commercial success, reaching number two on the New Zealand albums chart.[12] Kingi's 2021 album, Black Sea Golden Ladder, was written in four days at an apartment on Clyde Wharf in Wellington Harbour, as a part of the Matairangi Mahi Toi Artist Residency programme.[13] The album was co-produced with New Zealand singer-songwriter Delaney Davidson.[13]
Kingi plans to retire as a musician after releasing 10 albums, to become a music producer and a gardener at land he owns in Ōkaihau.[4]
Personal life
editKingi's father disappeared around Christmas 2005, while driving between Rotorua and Auckland.[2] Kingi has five children with his wife Huia,[4] and works with the Raid Movement, a group combatting youth suicide in Northland.[3]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [14] |
NZ Artist [12] | ||||||
| Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach (Troy Kingi & the Electric Haka Boogie) |
|
— | 13 | ||||
| Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron (Troy Kingi and the Galactic Chiropractors) |
|
17 | 1 | ||||
| Holy Colony Burning Acres (Troy Kingi & the Upperclass) |
|
— | 11 | ||||
| The Ghost of Freddie Cesar (Troy Kingi & the Clutch) |
|
2 | 1 | ||||
| Black Sea Golden Ladder |
|
3 | 2 | ||||
| Year of the Ratbags and Their Musty Theme Songs |
|
2 | 2 | ||||
| Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings |
|
11 [22] |
1 | ||||
| Leatherman & the Mojave Green | 5 [25] |
1 | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||||
Reissues
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [14] |
NZ Artist [12] | ||
| Pū Whenua Hautapu, Eka Mumura[A] (Troy Kingi & the Upperclass) |
|
18 | 3 |
Extended plays
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| NZ Artist [12] | ||
| Troy Kingi |
|
16 |
Singles
editAs lead artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [28] |
NZ Artist Hot [29] | ||||||
| "Break a Bone"[30] | 2015 | — | — | Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach | |||
| "Cold Steel"[31] (featuring Mara TK) |
2016 | — | — | ||||
| "Just a Phase" | 2017 | — | — | ||||
| "Ethiopia"[32] | 2019 | — | — | Holy Colony Burning Acres | |||
| "Babylon Grows"[10] | — | — | |||||
| "All Your Ships Have Sailed"[2] | 2020 | 29 | 4 | The Ghost of Freddie Cesar | |||
| "Chronophobic Disco"[33] | — | 8 | |||||
| "First Take Strut" (featuring Neko) |
2021 | — | — | ||||
| "Call My Name (School)"[13] | — | 10 | Black Sea Golden Ladder | ||||
| "Sleep (Slumber)"[34] | — | — | |||||
| "He Ōrite"[35] (with the Nudge) |
— | 16 | Non-album single | ||||
| "Paparazzo"[36] | 2022 | — | 7 | Year of the Ratbags and Their Musty Theme Songs | |||
| "Bastard"[37] | 2023 | — | 14 | Time Wasters | |||
| "Through the Night" | 2024 | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZ [38] |
NZ Artist [39] | ||||||
| "Aotearoa" (Stan Walker featuring Ria Hall, Troy Kingi and Maisey Rika) |
2014 | 2 | 1 | Non-album singles | |||
| "Look Up"[41] (Sorrento featuring Troy Kingi) |
2018 | — | —[B] | ||||
| "Ka Mānu"[43] (Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Majic Pāora, Ria Hall, Rob Ruha, Seth Haapu, Troy Kingi, The Witch Dr.) |
2019 | —[C] | 20 | ||||
| "Stay"[45] (among Tūtahi) |
2020 | —[D] | 16 | ||||
| "Tūrangawaewae" (Tipene featuring Maisey Rika & Troy Kingi) |
2021 | — | —[E] | Heritage Trail | |||
| "Seedling"[48] (10:32 featuring Troy Kingi) |
— | — | Non-album single | ||||
| "The Way We Were"[49] (Blklist featuring Troy Kingi) |
2022 | — | — | TBA | |||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||||
Promotional singles
edit| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Maumaharatia"[F] | 2019 | Non-album promotional single |
| "Te Wai Nō Rua Whetū / Aztechknowledgey"[51] | 2021 | Kono 003 |
Other charted songs
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Artist [29] | |||
| "Shake that Skinny Ass" | 2020 | 5 | The Ghost of Freddie Cesar |
| "Caught in the Rain" | 12 |
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Other artists | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Lion Trail" | 2013 | Small Axe | Mt. Zion: Music from & Inspired by the Motion Picture |
| "Ain't No Sunshine" | 2014 | Whenua Patuwai | The Soul Sessions |
| "T'ariki Tama o Mere" | 2016 | Maisey Rika | Tira |
| "The Next Generation" | 2017 | Cam Galbraith | Non-album song |
| "Abundance" | 2018 | Melodownz | Melo & Blues |
| "The View" | 2019 | L(())ve & Hope, Mara TK, Ed Waaka | Non-album song |
| "Hold On" | 9-5ers, Tyla Pere | Day in the Life | |
| "Mahi" | Dharmarat | Wlknz | |
| "Aotearoa (English Version)" | Stan Walker, Ria Hall, Maisey Rika | Faith Hope Love | |
| "Tama i Tukua"[52] | 2020 | Ka Hao | Mōhau (Live Visual Album) |
| "Break My Heart" | Spellspellspell | Non-album song | |
| "Star to Star" | Sola Rosa | Chasing the Sun | |
| "Water" | 2021 | Julien Dyne | Modes |
| "Every Hori Is a Star" | Mara TK | Bad Meditation | |
| "Tūwhitia Te Hopo (Te Reo)" | 2022 | Te Kuru Dewes | Non-album songs |
| "Poi Pūkeko" | Te Matatini, Tū Te Manawa Maurea | ||
| "That Love" | Melodownz, Avondale Intermediate Choir | Lone Wolf |
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Mt. Zion | Hone | Also featured on soundtrack |
| 2014 | The Pā Boys | Tolaga Local | |
| 2014 | The Kick | Piri Weepu | |
| 2016 | Hunt for the Wilderpeople | TK | |
| 2017 | Kiwi Christmas | Tama | |
| 2018 | The Breaker Upperers | Coach | |
| 2018 | Alien Addiction | Forestry worker | |
| 2020 | Toke | Henare | |
| 2022 | Muru | Mooks | |
| 2024 | The Mountain | Tux | Also composed soundtrack[53] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Find Me a Māori Bride | David | 6 episodes. 1 self-appearance |
| 2021 | The Panthers | Pussy Smith | 3 episodes. Also soundtrack contributor. |
| 2021 | The Masked Singer NZ | Self | 7 episodes. |
Notes
edit- ^ A Te Reo Māori re-recording of Holy Colony Burning Acres.
- ^ "Look Up" did not enter the New Zealand artist top 20 chart, but peaked at number 4 on the New Zealand artist Hot 20 Singles Chart.[42]
- ^ "Ka Mānu" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 20 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[44]
- ^ "Stay" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 10 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[46]
- ^ "Tūrangawaewae" did not enter the New Zealand artist top 20 chart, but peaked at number 14 on the New Zealand artist Hot 20 Singles Chart.[47]
- ^ Māori language version of "Lest We Forget" from the Troy Kingi EP (2013).[50]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Husband, Dale (23 June 2019). "Troy Kingi: Sticking to your guns". e-tangata. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "WATCH: Troy Kingi releases new track and announces upcoming album". Radio New Zealand. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Reid, Graham (5 March 2020). "Troy Kingi". Audio Culture. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Ling, Jenny (31 July 2021). "Northland musician Troy Kingi on why Black Sea Golden Ladder is so personal". Northern Advocate. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Timutimu, Rahia (4 February 2013). "Mt Zion Premiere in Auckland". Te Ao: Māori News. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Mt. Zion - Ost - Soundtrack". JB Hi-Fi. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b Forbes, Mihingarangi (4 November 2013). "Native Affairs – Troy Kingi". Te Ao: Māori News. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ "Aotearoa Stan Walker Ria Hall Maisy Rika Troy Kingi". flava.co.nz. 22 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ "Stan Walker Released new song Aotearoa". morefm.co.nz. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
- ^ a b "VIDEO PREMIERE: Troy Kingi 'Babylon Grows'". Radio New Zealand. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Anatomy of a Scroll: Troy Kingi, 'Aztechknowledgey'". Radio New Zealand. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d Peak positions for Troy Kingi's albums on the NZ artists top 20 albums chart:
- For Troy Kingi EP: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 28 November 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- For Holy Colony Burning Acres: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For The Ghost of Freddie Cesar: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For Black Sea Golden Ladder: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For Pū Whenua Hautapu, Eka Mumura: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- For Year of the Ratbags and Their Musty Theme Songs: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- For Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- For Leatherman & the Mojave Green: "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Kean, Annabel (14 May 2021). "Troy Kingi Announces New Album + Shares Single / Video 'Call My Name'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Discography TROY KINGI". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Guitar Party at Uncle's Bach". iTunes. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron". iTunes. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Holy Colony Burning Acres". iTunes. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "The Ghost of Freddie Cesar". iTunes. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Black Sea Golden Ladder". iTunes. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Ryan, Charlotte (23 September 2022). "First song: Troy Kingi". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
- ^ Cheong, Samantha (17 November 2023). "Listen To Troy Kingi's New Album 'Time Wasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Leatherman & the Mojave Green". Bandcamp. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Lewry, Fraser (16 August 2024). ""A real labour of love": Troy Kingi pays tribute to desert rock on Leatherman & The Mojave Green". Louder Sound. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Cudby, Chris (27 June 2022). "Listen To Troy Kingi's Album 'Pū Whenua Hautapu, Eka Mumura'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Troy Kingi - EP". iTunes. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "Hot 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ a b Peak positions for Troy Kingi's singles on the NZ artist hot singles chart:
- For "All Your Ships Have Sailed": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 10 August 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Shake that Skinny Ass", "Chronophobic Disco" and "Caught in the Rain": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Call My Name (School)": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "He Ōrite": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- For "Paparazzo": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- For "Bastard": "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "'The Royal Bash' Queen's Birthday Weekend - Paihia Pavilion". muzic.net.nz. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Troy Kingi and Mara TK: Cold Steel". Radio New Zealand. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Troy Kingi & the Upperclass 'Ethiopia'". Base FM. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Cudby, Chris; Sami, Priya (11 September 2020). "Troy Kingi Shares New Album 'The Ghost of Freddie Cesar' + Interview". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Bevan, Darren (11 November 2021). "Troy Kingi, TEEKS, LAB nominated for Aotearoa Music Awards". Stuff. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Kean, Annabel (14 May 2021). "Troy Kingi and The Nudge Share Single 'He Ōrite'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Cudby, Chris (23 September 2022). "Watch Troy Kingi's Video For New Single 'Paparazzo'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Troy Kingi – Bastard: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day". The 13th Floor. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Discography Stan Walker". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
- ^ Peak positions for Troy Kingi's singles on the NZ Artist singles chart:
- For "Aotearoa": "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
- For "Ka Mānu": "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- For "Stay": "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Stan Walker feat. Ria Hall, Troy Kingi And Maisey Rika – Aotearoa". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ "VIDEO PREMIERE: 'Look Up' by Sorrento ft. Troy Kingi". Radio New Zealand. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 14 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Black, Taroi (11 August 2019). "NZ artists band together with new song 'Ka Mānu' for Ihumātao". Te Ao: Māori News. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Brookes, Emily (15 April 2020). "Anna Coddington, Stan Walker and other Kiwi artists release coronavirus lockdown charity single, Stay". Stuff. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "10:32 lead singer Bridget Walsh to play at Snails in Palmerston North". Manawatu Guardian. The New Zealand Herald. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "BLKLIST's New Single 'The Way We Were' Ft Troy Kingi Is Out Today". New Zealand Music Commission. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Maumaharatia". Bandcamp. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Kean, Annabel (30 August 2021). "Listen To Troy Kingi's 'Te Wai Nō Rua Whetū' From 'Kono 003'". Under the Radar. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Mōhau (Live Visual Album)". iTunes. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Ockhuysen, Stephanie (21 March 2024). "The Mountain brings glitz, glamour and a bit of red carpet to New Plymouth". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff. Retrieved 30 April 2024.