By Lisa Mercer, Waiariki Journalism Student——
Rotorua’s Neihana Mackey-Harrison (left) and Kalani Marsters are the newest members of award-winning New Zealand reggae band 1814—-.Two Rotorua locals have joined award-winning New Zealand reggae band 1814.
Neihana Mackey-Harrison and Kalani Marsters debuted as singers for the eight-member band on TVNZ’s Breakfast show after auditioning earlier in the year.
Mr Mackey-Harrison said he was invited to audition after band manager Patu Colbert saw a video of him singing on Facebook.
“I was always an avid fan of the band since they started. It’s really humbling to be on stage with them and go from being just a fan to a band member.
“I feel like my passion for performing arts and persistence with singing has finally paid off,” he said.
Mr Mackey-Harrison said 1814’s third album Relax, due for release this week, featured three songs he had written and performed himself.
He said the band would tour New Zealand following the album’s release before heading to Australia in early December.
He said he started singing 10 years ago while performing kapa haka in Christchurch and moved to Rotorua in 2008 to attend the Waiariki Institute of Technology Academy of Singing and Music.
Miss Marsters was also a student at the academy at the time.
“Waiariki helped me achieve my goals.
“The academy’s programme really helped with channelling and fine-tuning my performances,” he said.
1814’s debut album Jah Rydem reached No1 on the New Zealand indie charts and its song Jah Rastafari reached gold status in digital downloads.
The band also received awards in 2010 and 2011 at the Waiata Maori Music Awards for Whakahonohono Mai, the most-played song on Maori radio.
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