What can we expect to see from Niko Ne Zna over the next year?
More touring, more recording, more writing, more action, more more more!!!
What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?
Find what you really love and go for it! Learn as much as you can, play out as heaps, and always challenge yourself. Also listen to more world music.
Who would you most like to support live?
Without a doubt Romanian Gypsy Balkan brass superstars Fanfare Ciocarlia. They are our heroes. If you haven't heard of them you need to check them out!
How do you describe Niko Ne Zna's music?
Energetic, sexy uplifting brass and percussion heavy music that is accessible to all people of all generations and unites them.
What is the best part of being a musician?
Living music. Doing what we love. Spending most of our time doing the thing that we love the most in this world.
What is your favourite NZ venue?
I think every venue can be a kick ass place if there are lots of keen enthusiastic people. On our recent summer tour, Chicks Hotel down in Port Chalmers was a fantastic place to play. Nice old pub feel, nice people and good vibe.
What is your most embarrassing on tour/gig moment?
Being on tour and forgetting to shut the trailer door before driving off and only realising that it's wide open about an hour down the road. Only lost one bag of clothes but it meant Nick the Sousaphone player only had the clothes he was standing in for the rest of the tour so I had to lend him a few shirts. Luckily we didn't loose all our gear!
Niko Ne Zna are New Zealand's very own Balkan Gypsy brass extravaganza.
Comprising trumpet, saxophone, accordion, trombone, sousaphone, drums and percussion, Niko Ne Zna are a truly authentic ensemble. They can roam while playing, and enchant the audience into dancing, singing, clapping and stomping all night long. The band consists of some of Wellington's finest instrumentalists who come from a wide array of musical backgrounds that unite together to produce a cocktail that will make your ears rise to attention and your feet move in a frenzy. Their music is high energy with dark undertones and sexy gypsy style. Niko Ne Zna are a world class act with exotic tunes, fantastic grooves and exciting solos.
The band have played extensively in Wellington with performances at The Wellington Fringe Festival, International Jazz Festival, Cuba Street Carnival, Wellington Summer City Festival to name a few and have been a staple of the Wellington music scene with regular performances all over city.