eNViouS Auckland

Join eNViouS in Auckland for what promises to be the launch party of 2020! Experience some of NZ’s finest musicians mixed in with the amazing talent of emerging local artists as we transcend through a diverse line-up of funk, neosoul, R&B, rap and electronica. Join us for a jam - we can’t wait to party with you!

Headlining is the latest project from Francis Kora [KORA] coming to you live for the very first time! ’BOOGIE BADDIES’ is an eclectic sound, where old school funk meets the new funk of today with a ‘lil bit of an edge.

“Boogie Baddies is an idea that I explored during the Covid-19 lockdown. It is a project inspired by Boogaloo dancing. I tried dancing (terribly I might add) with no music, and the movement would be the inspiration behind the music of Boogie Baddies.” (Francis Kora).

Joining him in this three piece band is talented guitarist Karlos Tunks [Kora, Moana and The Tribe, Modern Maori Quartet] and well known producer Ricky Simmonds [Twig Pigeon, Arma Del Amor and Tui] on the drums.

Also taking to the stage we have an electric set from rapper RANDA whose recent release ‘Heatwave’ produced by Shannon Fowler currently features on Spotify’s “Transcend” editorial playlist; LEPANI who with over 1.5 million Spotify streams and a current nomination for the Aotearoa Music Awards is guaranteed to bring you a soulful experience; HOLLY AFOA who has previously graced the stages at Rhythm & Vines and Tora Bombora will be sharing her solo project (with full band) which debuted this year and lastly our resident, DJ Lotion, who has shared the stage with a long list of big names (Foals, Peking Duk, Shapeshifter) both here and abroad. See more below:

RANDA

Randa is a rapper. Randa’s real name is Mainard Larkin. After graduating high school, Mainard began making music about home cooked dishes, Neopets and navigating life as a non-binary trans person. They have been winning over hearts ever since the release of their first studio project, ‘Rangers EP’. Opening for international artists such as Grimes and Le1f, Randa’s live set has proven to be an exciting and captivating extension of a fascinating online music persona.

LEPANI

Born in Fiji into a very musical family, Lepani moved to Rotorua at a young age and then to Auckland for his teen years. It wasn't until he was 14 when his music teacher discovered that he could sing, a talent Lepani had been hiding before then. Championed by his music teacher, he started to write songs and perform. Once the passion for music took off there was always battled between choosing music and rugby, but in the end music took the lead.

As soon as school finished, he started working graveyard shifts to fund his growing passion and to buy music equipment. This led him to record and produce all of his music himself at home in Howick.

A self-confessed nerd, Lepani's other passions in life are comic books, movies and superheroes. He studied digital filmmaking and worked his two dream jobs - at a comic book store and a cinema. He is now pursuing music full time alongside

coaching high school sport as a side passion project.

HOLLY AFOA

Like anyone in their mid-20’s, Holly is confused, restless, mostly sad and sometimes extremely happy. When she’s not writing about loving someone who “burns her edges” she’s soaking up the sun and singing her own praises for wasting time. You never know what emotion Holly will embody next but you can always expect a fine representation of it.

Holly began her live music endeavours with soul/hip-hop collective Round Buddah, swaying crowds into peaceful oblivion across Aotearoa and at local festivals (R&V, Tora Bombora). Since, Holly has collaborated with local producers including now Berlin-based, Less Is More and beatmaker Nah Safe (AKA Cam AKA dartSimpson), delivering alt-hip-hop tunes like ‘Waste My Time’ and ‘Forget You’. Upon Round Buddah’s demise in 2018, it seemed only right to focus on a solo project that would define Holly’s love for live music and R&B. In May 2020, she released her debut EP, Sister, a tribute to important women in her life. Five tracks of soulful and desperate melodies encased in heavy grooves and slick guitar lines. Sister acted as a farewell to Holly’s past and music influences, a brief prelude before the new “thing” set her back into the dark cave of creation.

If 2020 was to be summed up by an artist it would be Holly Afoa, not just because of her unpredictable moods but also her ever changing sound and chameleon personas delivered through her vast music abilities. Stay tuned, the new year will bring a new “Holly” - artist, creator, R&B pioneer.

DJ LOTION

Originally from Wellington, over the past decade DJ Lotion has spent his time based in Edinburgh, London, Melbourne and Auckland. He is a versatile genre-hopping DJ who has been playing for over 17 years. Lotion has supported and shared stages with a long list of prominent bands and artists including: Adam Freeland, RL Grime, Foals, Ratatat, HTRK, The Kills, Peking Duk, Yung Lean, Shapeshifter and The Naked And Famous to name just a few. One of his specialities is as a changeover DJ joining the dots between bands including multiple stints in that role at festivals such as R&V, Homegrown and Sugar Mountain.

Lotion is also a producer, music programmer and radio host. This has included high profile radio shows at 3RRR in Melbourne, Radio Hauraki and before that ten years at Radio Active in Wellington. He is also known to feature in guest broadcast mixes, compiles eclectic online DJ mixes and throws down the odd remix.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday 13th October 7pm.