Dallas Tamaira


Dallas Tamaira, occasionally known by the alias Joe Dukie, 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 (Fat Freddy's Drop 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.
Tamaira has recently released solo work with producer Devin Abrams.

Discography

Solo (under the name "Dallas")

  • Better Than Change EP
  • The Garden, on the compilation ''Styles Upon Styles Part Two''

    With Bongmaster (Dallas, Iain Gordon, Mu, Antsmif)

  • Bongmaster, "Ground My Ego," Loop Select 003

    With DJ Fitchie

  • Seconds b/w "Grounded"
  • This Room
  • Midnight Marauders b/w dub version
  • Midnight Marauders b/w "Seconds"

    With Fat Freddy's Drop

See Fat Freddy's Drop discography.

Appearances on other artists' tracks

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 style is influenced by Bill Withers.