Dallas Tamaira, occasionally known by the aliasJoe Dukie (Ngāti Tūwharetoa; born 3 June 1974), is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician, best known for being the vocalist for the urban pasifika and dub group Fat Freddy's Drop. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboard, and is noted for his "handsome, pure tenor" voice. Tamaira is credited with helping bring New Zealand reggae to worldwide prominence.
Early life
Tamaira was born in Christchurch in 1974 to a mixed Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Pākehā family, and grew up in Kaikōura. Whilst he had little contact with his father when he grew up, it was his father's influence that got him into music. Upon leaving secondary school, Tamaira joined the Auckland performing arts collective Pacific Underground, before moving to Wellington in the early 1990s.
Career
Tamaira formed the music duo Bongmaster with Chris Faiumu, with whom he formed Fat Freddy's Drop in 1999. The band self-released their breakthrough debut album, Based on a True Story, in 2005. Tamaira was awarded Best Vocalist at the bNet NZ Music Awards the same year. He made the comic strip on the cover and sleeve of Fat Freddy's Drop's EP Hope for a Generation (2004).
Tamaira has recently released solo work with producer Devin Abrams.
Discography
Fat Freddy's Drop during a European tour in 2008. Left to right: Tehimana Kerr, Joe Lindsey, Chris Faiumu, Iain Gordon, Dallas Tamaira, Toby Laing, and Scott Towers.
Solo (under the name "Dallas")
Better Than Change EP (The Drop, 1999)
The Garden, on the compilation Styles Upon Styles Part Two (Sugarlicks, 2002)
With Bongmaster (Dallas, Iain Gordon, Mu, Antsmif)
Bongmaster, "Ground My Ego," Loop Select 003 (Loop, 2002)
With DJ Fitchie
Seconds b/w "Grounded" (Especial, 2005)
This Room [split 12" with Fat Freddy's Drop] (Best Seven, 2003)
Midnight Marauders b/w dub version (Best Seven, 2002)
Tamaira's alternative stage name is inspired from his father Joe, also a singer, and his grandfather, a musician nicknamed Dukie after Duke Ellington. Tamaira is Māori.
He has stated that his style is influenced by Bill Withers.
