Four32‘s debut single Going Home is a feel-good reggae anthem with influence from classic Kiwi tunes. The six band members come from rural coastal towns throughout the Waikato, forming Four32 through a Rangatahi Māori rōpū. Going Home is a way to tell their story of leaving their hometowns and adjusting to the more fast-paced city environment. NZ On Air Music added the song to their NewTracks compilation for July.
Kapa haka has played a huge role for many of the members. Most of the six Four32 members studied music in school, and music has become a big part of their life since birth. They play a variety of instruments each having different musical strengths from writing, composition, and vocals to mixing and producing their own music.
Recently we posted a high note challenge on FB which has now reached over 100k views. This is just raw footage of us just mucking around having a laugh at each other.
Since 2018, when the members averaging 18 years old just finished school they joined a Rangatahi Māori leadership rōpū under the youth organisation Te Ahurei a Rangatahi based in Kirikiriroa. Four years later at the average of 21 years old all members of Four32 are now full-time youth workers and mentors delivering youth events, programmes in schools and rangatahi wānanga.
Four32 derives from the sound frequency 432Hz, which is a vibration that promotes positivity, feelings of calm, tau te mauri tau te wairua. All of these things which our rōpū strongly believe in promoting for not only ourselves, our audience, but especially in our music.
Being under the wings/working with the likes of Jamey Ferguson. He was huge support working with us within an advisory role and really guiding us through the process. Right from the beginning with developing our vocals, and instruments to supporting the production of the song at Revolver Studios.
Working with Israel Starr as mixing engineer. Four32 vocalist and producer Nanaia Elkington went to Wellington to spend time with Israel to produce Going Home at Massey University Studios. For Nanaia having the opportunity to run the desk in one of the greatest recording studios in Aotearoa and with some of our greatest engineers was a huge experience for him.
Going Home stands out to us as we are all from coastal/rural towns. Living in the city and city life can definitely make you miss home. The fast-paced lifestyle catches up to you after a while, and when you know you’re going home it’s like a breath of fresh air, you’re able to reconnect and relax, which is super important for us all.
“It’s good vibes good people good everything and there aren’t no agenda.
That’s just how you know that you’re home.”
The lyrics speak for themselves, it’s a vibe going home!
Appreciate where you’re from, take the time to go home and enjoy it.
Something that’s vibey – when we all contribute, collaborate and work together to write and compose the songs just come out better. We generally book out a whole day come together with food and drinks and sit around with the gat, pens and paper, eventually the phone will come out when we find a catchy hook to record. It’s a vibe when we do this.
Shanara Tuaupiki – manager
Sharon Te Rangi, Wai Media and Schivariah Elkington – publicity
Tainui Live who have supported our journey from the beginning.
As a group, we have been lucky. This was our first funding application. Having the support from our manager has made it possible for us to tackle the funding side of things and with that also comes the accountability side of it all too.
We were lucky as a group we were able to meet the Waiata Takitahi funding, but to meet the criteria is not the easiest to achieve. Every point counts!
