HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - BRANDN SHIRAZ

Kia orana Brandn Shiraz, tell us a little bit about yourself

Kia orana, my name is Brandn. I was born at Middlemore Hospital, Ōtāhuhu, and I grew up in Central Auckland. My old man’s from Atiu, Aitutaki, and Rarotonga, and my mum’s from North London.

What was it like spending your earlier years in the Cook Islands?

I lived over there when I was real young, and even after we moved back to NZ, my brother and me used to go back often to visit our father throughout the years. I didn’t think about it too much back in the day, but having that strong connection to Raro is something I’m more and more grateful for every day, I swear.

Life over there is simple, people work hard for sure, and a lot of the material things we think we need over here, you go over there and realise heaps of that doesn’t matter too much.

Your music blends a lot of different sounds and energies, how would you describe your sound to first-time listeners?

I would say it’s experimental rap, just with an island element to it. I like to make sure everything laces together, from the production, to the melodies, to the lyrics. Sometimes when I use the Kuki drums, I’ll flow over the top at the same rhythm. Even when I perform, I try to carry that same high energy. Our people are naturally blessed when it comes to performing, so I try to be just as electrifying.

Your music video for your new release Youngin from Kuki II features a lot of old home videos. Tell us about how that concept came about.

The videotapes were from our family’s Christmas, 2001. Esther Mauga, who directed, came up with the idea of having me revisit my grandparents’ old house and all the memories in there. The house was sold just over ten years ago, after my grandparents passed, so being able to even step inside again after all these years was a spiritual one for me I’m not gonna lie.

I’ve only got good memories of those times, but when I look back as I’ve gotten older, I can only imagine how hard life must’ve been, not just for my fam, but for that generation above that moved here back in the day. They had to adjust to this fully different way of life.

I feel like with times changing and everything, there’s so much rich history that gets lost, so it’s an honour for us to tell these types of stories. I got too much love for Esther and the team for this one. Every little detail, from how the lounge was decorated, right down to the old man hosing down the concrete, this is all real life.

Can you share a moment in your career so far that made you stop and think, "Yeah, I’m really doing this"?

Every time I perform that thought hits me, especially when the energy in the room is all locked in. Hearing people sing my lyrics back fuels me even more. It’s hard to explain. These songs started as real thoughts, I wrote them mostly alone in my own space, and now I’m watching people connect with them like they felt it too. It’s crazy.

Who inspires you outside of music?

It’s actually very hard for me to switch off from music, you could ask anyone I know. I could be going for a run or lifting weights, and I’ve always got the headphones on, listening to type beats and thinking about ideas. I think when I go back to the islands and visit my family, I get a real break for a couple weeks, and then I’m always inspired and ready when I lock back in.

And what’s a piece of advice you’d want to give to young islanders who want to pursue a music career?

The best advice I can give is to tell your own story, whatever’s real and authentic to you. I used to feel like my taste was mad different from everyone else’s, like people didn’t understand me and all that. So this is also kind of like advice I would’ve given young Brandn. There will always be people who come along, especially young kids who will see themselves in you. So stick to your guns and be unapologetic!