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Top: James Coyle, Paul Wickham & Ben Wood of Hikoikoi.
Above: The good ship Hikoikoi.
Below: Pianist James Coyle.
Check out other Sounds Crafty showcases on Felt:
• Julia Deans
• Urbantramper
Series 1 (2009):
• Ruth Carr, Minuit
• Flip Grater
• Fleur Jack, The Twitch
• Nathan King
• Hannah Curwood
• The Phoenix Foundation
• Hera
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3-piece roots/rock/soul group Hikoikoi have opened for The Original Wailers and appeared at numerous festivals around New Zealand over the last 3 years, including Auckland City Music in the Parks and Wellington's One Love Festival. Influenced by early gospel and roots reggae, Hikoikoi's signature sound incorporates jazz and funk grooves and unique vocals. Pianist James Coyle picked out some favourites on Felt and let us in on his artistic inclinations.
Did you make stuff when you were a kid?
Not much craft actually, but a lot of pieces on the piano, from about 3 years old I would just tinkle away and practice taking solos over that classic swing song Heart and Soul, with one of my brothers playing the lower half of the piano.
What's your earliest or most vivid craft-related memory?
In 4th form at school I took a compulsory art class, and our teacher got us to copy a famous painting from a book. I grabbed this book of what looked like real simple paintings, and chose the simplest one to copy, I was the first finished in the class and the teacher came over and made a big scene about the good work I had done! It turned out I had chose the famous Jump painting from Colin McCahon! This experience sold me on art and picture making, as I was able to see the ability of abstract images to be meaningful.
Are you crafty or do you make stuff now, and if so, what do you make?
I make a lot of music now, to go with this I design posters and CD artwork to go with the music, especially for Hikoikoi. I am always busy dealing with distributing images alongside the music. Now a lot of music goes travelling on the internet, which is quite a visual medium, so good images make a difference.
Hot glue gun, needle and thread or hammer and nails?
Hammer and nails.
What's the best handmade thing you've ever been given?
A rasta-coloured friendship bracelet.
If your music took physical shape what would it look like? What would it be made of?
Our music is definitely made of wood, but given our relationship with a boat shed, where we started making our music, it's like driftwood, sometimes barreling down the river in a flood, sometimes high and dry on the beach, ready for that late night fire, and sometimes floating gracefully in an ocean.
What was the last handmade item you bought?
I bought some crocheted neckware from my mum – she makes scarves, hats and delicate women's neck decoration.
Hikoikoi's self-titled debut album was recorded in a remote boatshed in Petone's historic Hikoikoi Reserve on the shores of the Heretaunga River, and was released in 2009. It's available on Amplifier.
www.myspace.com/hikoikoi
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