Dallas Tamaira

Dallas Tamaira, occasionally known by the alias Joe Dukie (Ngāti Tūwharetoa; born 26 February 1974),[1] is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician, best known for being the vocalist for the urban pasifika and dub group Fat Freddy's Drop. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboard, and is noted for his "handsome, pure tenor" voice.[2] Tamaira is credited with helping bring New Zealand reggae to worldwide prominence.[3]

Dallas Tamaira
Tamaira in 2013
Tamaira in 2013
Background information
Birth nameDallas Tamaira
Also known asJoe Dukie
Born (1974-02-26) 26 February 1974
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
OriginKaikōura, Canterbury, New Zealand
Genres
Years active1993-present
Labels
Member ofFat Freddy's Drop
Formerly of

Tamaira was born in Christchurch in 1974 to a mixed Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Pākehā family, and grew up in Kaikōura. Upon leaving secondary school, Tamaira joined the Auckland performing arts collective Pacific Underground, before moving to Wellington in the early 1990s. There, he formed the music duo Bongmaster with Chris Faiumu, with whom he formed Fat Freddy's Drop in 1999.[4] The band self-released their breakthrough debut album, Based on a True Story, in 2005. Tamaira was awarded Best Vocalist at the bNet NZ Music Awards the same year. He made the comic strip on the cover and sleeve of Fat Freddy's Drop's EP Hope for a Generation (2004).[5]

Tamaira has recently released solo work with producer Devin Abrams.[6]

Discography
Fat Freddy's Drop during a European tour in 2008. Left to right: Tehimana Kerr, Joe Lindsey, Chris Faiumu, Iain Gordon, Dallas Tamaira, Toby Laing, and Scott Towers.

Solo (under the name "Dallas")
  • Better Than Change EP[7] (The Drop, 1999)
  • The Garden, on the compilation Styles Upon Styles Part Two (Sugarlicks, 2002)

With Bongmaster (Dallas, Iain Gordon, Mu, Antsmif)
  • Bongmaster, "Ground My Ego," Loop Select 003 (Loop, 2002)

With DJ Fitchie
  • Seconds" b/w "Grounded" (Especial, 2005)
  • This Room [split 12" with Fat Freddy's Drop] (Best Seven, 2003)
  • Midnight Marauders b/w dub version (Best Seven, 2002)
  • Midnight Marauders b/w "Seconds" (The Drop, 2002)

With Fat Freddy's Drop

See Fat Freddy's Drop discography.

Appearances on other artists' tracks
  • Tubbs, Five Day Night [w/New Chefs Mix and Baloo Mix] (Carbon, 2003)
  • Tubbs, Falling (Carbon, 2003)
  • Twinset, Sweet Thing (Loop, 2003)
  • Markus Enochson, Follow Me (Vinyl Junkies, 2004)
  • Del Rey System, Sweet Division (Bounce Records, 2005)
  • Bongmaster Inc - Brothers & Sisters (2004)
  • Shapeshifter, Long White Cloud (Truetone, 2004)
  • Eva Be, No Memory of Time (Best Seven, 2004)
  • Clara Hill, Flawless Part Two (Sonar Kollektiv, 2004)
  • Tubbs, Five Day Night [w/Fat Freddy's Drop Mix and Baloo Mix] (Exceptional, 2005)
  • Boozoo Bajou, Take It Slow (Studio !K7, 2005)
  • Dutch Rhythm Combo, Venom (Pulver, 2005)
  • Recloose, Dust (Peacefrog Records, 2005)
  • Recloose, Time Is on Your Side (Peacefrog Records, 2005)
  • The Nextmen, Did No Wrong (Antidote Records, 2007)
  • The Nextmen, The Drop (Antidote Records, 2007)
  • Recloose, Deeper Waters (Peacefrog Records, 2008)
  • Pacific Heights, Peace (TruTone, 2008)
  • Jazzanova, What Do You Want ?, (Sonar Kollektiv, 2008)
  • The Bamboos, "Venom"
  • Shapeshifter, "My Way", "Long White Cloud"
  • Julien Dyne, "Resolution" (Soundway Records, 2021)
  • The Upbeats, "Beams" (Vision Records, 2021)

Personal life

Tamaira's alternative stage name is inspired from his father Joe, also a singer, and his grandfather, a musician nicknamed Dukie after Duke Ellington.[8] Tamaira is Māori.[9]

He has stated that style is influenced by Bill Withers.[10]

References
  1. "DALLAS TAMAIRA". Sony Music New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. "Fat Freddy's Drop frontman's new solo project". NZ Herald. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. "Essential NZ Albums: Fat Freddy's Drop - Based On a True Story". RNZ. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. "DALLAS TAMAIRA". Sony Music New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. "Dallas Tamaira".
  6. "DALLAS TAMAIRA". Sony Music New Zealand. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  7. Reviews extracts at Amplifier.co.nz
  8. Kara, Scott (27 May 2009). "Fat Freddy's Drop - Dr Boondigga & The Big BW". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  9. "Dallas Tamaira".
  10. "Fat Freddy's Drop frontman's new solo project". NZ Herald. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
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