23 Dec 2024
ROY G and the BIVinators - ROY G and the BIVinators Newsletter Interview
22 Nov 2009 // An interview by Shade
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
The 2008 Parihaka International Peace Festival. The sun was just going down and the light was beautiful. Everyone looked amazing and the vibe was just right. That was what I like to think of as the birth of the BIVinators. That got the ball rolling and the project has had great momentum from that moment... Kia Ora Te Miringa!
What is your favourite NZ venue?
oooo... I'd have to say the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre in Wellington, or Sammy's in Dunedin. The Newtown Community & Cultural Centre has shown us some great times with the events we've put on there (Woken Bird!), you can feel the community energy in the room and it's just the right size to keep everyone together as one group while still offering a nice amount of space. Then there's the amazing Sammy's in Dunedin which is run by a great crew of people that make the place magic. The ceiling is so high you might not be able to throw a ball at it, and the decorative elements of the archway and the building in general make for an enchanting atmosphere... not to mention the Green Man
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I'd like to see more of Fraser Ross, Benjamin Lemi Wood, Very Nice Tree House and The Merlin Webster as they all show such great potential but are not widely known at this stage. You should all check them out if you get the chance. I'd also like to see TrinityRoots again
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
hmmm... maybe when I was playing at the Town Hall and looked down to realise I'd forgotten to put on my pants... oh hold on... that was just a dream. In that case I guess it would have to be one of my first public performances on a stage in Sydney when my friend and I started singing so out of tune with each other that everyone started laughing the moment was even caught in a live recording somehow, so all the family and friends back home got to enjoy it too. We had a good laugh too but "oh shame "
How did you come up with the band name Roy G and The BIVinators?
It's based on the acronym R.O.Y. G. B.I.V. which is often taught in primary schools to help us remember the colours of the rainbow, or the order of the spectrum of light. So it's basically a light hearted reference to the rainbow (symbolising joy for me), as well as to the power of community, the 7 visible colours existing in harmony (among the subtle frequencies) to create The Light. It also references all the other 'and the' names I've enjoyed such as Justin Hinds and the Dominoes, or Bob Marley and the Wailers... etc.
How do you describe your music?
I spent many years being reluctant to answer that one, but these days I say "it's a cohesive blend of Folk, Ska, Soul, Funk, Roots, Rock and Reggae with an upbeat positive energy that's designed to get your boody moving..." or something along those lines. I'm happy to recieve feedback on how other people would descibe it too. Any thoughts people?
What can we expect to see from Roy G and The BIVinators over the next year?
Well we're just releasing our album now 'The Rainbow Throw', it'll be in stores Jan 11th through Border, online through amplifier and iTunes, and available at our shows over the album release tour which runs from Dec 09 to Jan 2010. After that we'll start working on a new album for release in another year or so, and keep playing as many live shows as possible. We're also keen to get overseas and develop our audiences internationally, make lots of music videos, play at lots of parties, and have a grand old time while selling enough albums to keep the ball rolling We're always working to develop our Party State Of Mind and find new ways to share it with everyone. Who knows what the future holds? Not me... but I have a good feeling it will be full of good times and abundance I think we're going to be involved in helping to put together the Harvest Festival which is being planned for early 2010 at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay, Wellington. Things like that seem to be what we're drawn to.
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Keep thinking positive, you never know what opportunities are lying around the corner. Are you going to be ready to take advantage of them when they come? Or are you just sitting there thinking about how hard it all is? Everyone has there ups and downs, you've just got to decide why you're doing it... and whether or not you're really committed. Organise your own events with the members of your musical community you want to play with and put yourself out on a limb. Get busy! and think of as many ways to have people remember your name as you can. People see a lot of posters so by the time yours is up you want people to already know the name from somewhere.
Much love to the Aotearoa Massive. Hopefully we'll catch you on the dance floor at one of our album release shows this summer. Che!
What is the best gig you have ever performed at, and why?
The 2008 Parihaka International Peace Festival. The sun was just going down and the light was beautiful. Everyone looked amazing and the vibe was just right. That was what I like to think of as the birth of the BIVinators. That got the ball rolling and the project has had great momentum from that moment... Kia Ora Te Miringa!
What is your favourite NZ venue?
oooo... I'd have to say the Newtown Community & Cultural Centre in Wellington, or Sammy's in Dunedin. The Newtown Community & Cultural Centre has shown us some great times with the events we've put on there (Woken Bird!), you can feel the community energy in the room and it's just the right size to keep everyone together as one group while still offering a nice amount of space. Then there's the amazing Sammy's in Dunedin which is run by a great crew of people that make the place magic. The ceiling is so high you might not be able to throw a ball at it, and the decorative elements of the archway and the building in general make for an enchanting atmosphere... not to mention the Green Man
What NZ musicians or bands would you like to see more of, and why?
I'd like to see more of Fraser Ross, Benjamin Lemi Wood, Very Nice Tree House and The Merlin Webster as they all show such great potential but are not widely known at this stage. You should all check them out if you get the chance. I'd also like to see TrinityRoots again
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
hmmm... maybe when I was playing at the Town Hall and looked down to realise I'd forgotten to put on my pants... oh hold on... that was just a dream. In that case I guess it would have to be one of my first public performances on a stage in Sydney when my friend and I started singing so out of tune with each other that everyone started laughing
the moment was even caught in a live recording somehow, so all the family and friends back home got to enjoy it too. We had a good laugh too but "oh shame "How did you come up with the band name Roy G and The BIVinators?
It's based on the acronym R.O.Y. G. B.I.V. which is often taught in primary schools to help us remember the colours of the rainbow, or the order of the spectrum of light. So it's basically a light hearted reference to the rainbow (symbolising joy for me), as well as to the power of community, the 7 visible colours existing in harmony (among the subtle frequencies) to create The Light. It also references all the other 'and the' names I've enjoyed such as Justin Hinds and the Dominoes, or Bob Marley and the Wailers... etc.
How do you describe your music?
I spent many years being reluctant to answer that one, but these days I say "it's a cohesive blend of Folk, Ska, Soul, Funk, Roots, Rock and Reggae with an upbeat positive energy that's designed to get your boody moving..." or something along those lines. I'm happy to recieve feedback on how other people would descibe it too. Any thoughts people?
What can we expect to see from Roy G and The BIVinators over the next year?
Well we're just releasing our album now 'The Rainbow Throw', it'll be in stores Jan 11th through Border, online through amplifier and iTunes, and available at our shows over the album release tour which runs from Dec 09 to Jan 2010. After that we'll start working on a new album for release in another year or so, and keep playing as many live shows as possible. We're also keen to get overseas and develop our audiences internationally, make lots of music videos, play at lots of parties, and have a grand old time while selling enough albums to keep the ball rolling
We're always working to develop our Party State Of Mind and find new ways to share it with everyone. Who knows what the future holds? Not me... but I have a good feeling it will be full of good times and abundance I think we're going to be involved in helping to put together the Harvest Festival which is being planned for early 2010 at Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay, Wellington. Things like that seem to be what we're drawn to.What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Keep thinking positive, you never know what opportunities are lying around the corner. Are you going to be ready to take advantage of them when they come? Or are you just sitting there thinking about how hard it all is? Everyone has there ups and downs, you've just got to decide why you're doing it... and whether or not you're really committed. Organise your own events with the members of your musical community you want to play with and put yourself out on a limb. Get busy! and think of as many ways to have people remember your name as you can. People see a lot of posters so by the time yours is up you want people to already know the name from somewhere.
Much love to the Aotearoa Massive. Hopefully we'll catch you on the dance floor at one of our album release shows this summer. Che!
About ROY G and the BIVinators
The Debut EP 'For the pEoPle' (2008) and the full length album 'The Rainbow Throw' aimed for official release in 2009 were recorded at Roy G Records, Maz's studio, which even in it's beginning stages is producing some beautiful recordings with the soulful sound.
During the last two years Roy G and The BIVinators have appeared as a 9 piece band at various festivals and events including the Parihaka International Peace Festival in Taranaki (the most culturally significant festival in Aotearoa New Zealand) and the Newtown Festival in Wellington, as well as many other small venue gigs around the country.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for ROY G and the BIVinators
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