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Connecting YouTiki Taane
Who influenced you in the direction you've taken with your career?
In the beginning it was all about rebelling, going against the norm and being independent. I was influenced by musicians, artists and people who did things their way, original and unique, and mostly controversial. And I guess I'm still that way now, consciously looking outside the square and trying to find my own point of view.
How influential was the support of your whānau? If your whānau wasn't able to support you, who did you turn to for this?
If it wasn't for my Mum and Dad being so supportive, and my sisters being so individual and super cool, then i wouldn't have had the balls to do what I have done so far. For me its all about making the most progressive, cutting edge art and taking it to the next level, and because I have such an awesome whanau, who encourage individuality by support, I'm able to do this with no insecurities or fear.
How much of an influence has your culture had on the way you approach your work?
It depends on what I'm wanting to achieve with each project I'm producing. For the Kaupapa Maori influenced art then I am hugely pulling from within my Maori culture, trying to understand and connect, then deliver it as fresh as possible, in my own way.
What does the Maori language mean to you?
I'm not sure, perhaps because I'm still trying to work that one out.
Do you speak te reo, and if so, is it something that you have made an effort to learn? If there are young New Zealanders who are reading this, and are interested in learning te reo how would you recommend going about doing this (what worked for you)?
I don't speak Te Reo fluently, and I can understand more than I can speak. To be honest I've been more pro-active about learning Spanish and French as I've spent a lot of time touring those countries, and they don’t like to speak English at all. I was brought up in Christchurch away from my Marae, customs and language, so Te Reo was never apart of my life. But I knew I was Maori and felt very Maori, and I expressed that by exploring tattooing and moko, and thru making music and art. I was once very ashamed of not knowing how to speak Te Reo, and felt that I was less Maori because of it. But over the years, as I've toured the world and experienced different cultures, I've realized that those insecurities are disabling. I've realized that I'm fluent in music and art, and that is my preferred language. But now that I'm a new dad, and have a son who is part Maori and Dutch, that has definitely made me more aware of the need to speak more languages, even if it’s the basics.
What do you think are some of the struggles young Maori face growing up in NZ?
To be, or not to be.
What are some of the struggles you have faced getting to where you are today? How did you overcome them?
My biggest struggle would be internal. Thinking that I'm not good enough, not worthy enough, and letting the demons take over and control my thoughts. To escape that I would drink and experiment with drugs, hoping to numb those negative thoughts. But after 17 years of doing that, I had finally hit the wall, and that wall was going to collapse and crush me to death if I didn't change my ways. I had to stop, say sorry to my soul for hurting it, and learn to live and enjoy life again without all the substances. That involved a lot of changes, and a lot of searching for internal peace and happiness. I had to cut off all the things and all the people who were harming me, find my real friends, and start the process of positive thinking and living.
Have you been the recipient of racism in NZ and if so, how did you manage this? What would your advice to others in a similar situation be?
I grew up in Christchurch so I received racial comments a lot. It used to anger me which would lead to confrontation. My advice would be to ignore the verbal abuse and walk away. But if this option fails and you find yourself in a situation where you know things are going to get messy, then do what you gotta do to get away.
Why should young people get involved in music, and what would your advice be for young people wanting to get in to this line of work?
If you have that burning desire to rock out, see the world, meet amazing people, have a very very exciting and abnormal lifestyle filled with unforgettable experiences, then music will give you all that and more. My advice for beginners would be to give it all or nothing, and be prepared to be broke for many many years. Always put your art first, it’s about quality not quantity, and always own your art and image. I believe in karma and timing. If you get these things aligned and working together then good things will happen.
What has been your career highlight so far?
Surviving.
If you go out partying, what are some of the things you do to make sure you stay safe and your friends stay safe?
Know the address and phone number of your hotel or the place you're staying, especially in non-English speaking countries. Take enough money to get there and back. Take your drivers license, credit card or eftpos card, and don't forget a charged cell phone. Having a great attitude and a big smile will always attract the right people, even in the most weirdest countries. Look out for drink spikers. I've been spiked twice and one of those times I blacked out for over 5 hours and did some strange things that I can't remember, luckily nothing bad happened. If this happens to someone you know, the only thing you can do is ride it out and keep them from drowning in their own spew. They will eventually come around and start to realize what happened, and they will be much happier to see your face than a room full of strangers.*
What do you see as the impact on NZ youth that are drinking underage and/or taking drugs?
You can never stop youth from doing these things, and if you do try the more they will want to do it, that’s just how youth are wired. But you can educate and show them what some of the repercussions can be. I believe in trying everything once, that’s just the way I am.** Its gotten me into a lot of trouble but it’s also given me first hand experience. I know what my mind, body and soul can handle and where the edge is. Unfortunately a lot of kids jump straight into the deep end without testing the waters first, and this is when bad things can happen. If you are drinking and experimenting with drugs, then always remember there is a downside to your upside. Being young and invincible I never really cared about the downside, all I wanted to do was get really drunk, really stoned, really high, play music, get laid and pass out, and then do it all over again. That was my buzz, but it started to eat me up, like a cancer, I was getting sick. These days I'm pretty quiet and even though I enjoy a few beers or a fine whiskey, I don't do drugs like I used to or get completely legless. I've learnt to moderate and go home before things get to wild, after all I've got beats to make.