I’m really proud to be involved with this concept album, full title ‘Shake That Skinny Ass All The Way To The Zygertron’. I was in the studio when Troy was laying it down, and it’s the first time I have written a press release for an album that shot into the Top Twenty in the official charts! Troy is an 80’s baby, born and raised in Rotorua and Tekaha, he now resides in the Bay of Islands with his family. He is described as 'Our Northland treasure' by the NZ Music Commission, where he is a mentor. In 2003 Troy studied at The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand where he developed his passion for music, and has since followed a dual career in acting and music. As well as being a performer, he is also recognized as a songwriter, working alongside Stan Walker on the NZ #1 hit “Aotearoa”, for which they were awarded a Silver Scroll in 2015.
Troy was a mentor on the TV series “Songs From the Inside”, alongside Scribe, Ladi 6 and Anika Moa, working to rehabilitate inmates through songwriting. He made his film debut in 2013 with “Mt Zion”, and has appeared in “The Kick” and “Pa Boys”, but it is for his role as TK in “Hunt For The Wilderpeople” for which he is best known. Taika Waititi is a fan of Troy’s music, and has said that he is keen to do one of Troy’s music videos – although whether his recent success with “Troy: Ragnarok” will allow him the time to do so soon, remains to be seen!
As well as Stan Walker, Troy has worked with Rob Ruha, Ria Hall and featured heavily on Maisey Rika's latest album 'Tira' and in a collaborative soul band 'L(())VE & HOPE' with Mara TK(Electric Wire Hustle) and Mark Vanilau (Dave Dobbyn). Troy released his debut solo album “Guitar Party At Uncles Bach” in 2016, saying "the whole vibe was to record the album live circa Motown/Beatles". He has a desire to release ten albums in ten years, all with totally different musical genres. The debut was ten years in the making, and had more of a blues style, but the sophomore is a 70’s inspired psychedelic soul/ sci-fi offering.
This galactic Seventies funk album, is due to what he has been listening to over the last few years, especially Bill Withers, Shuggie Otis, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green and Marvin Gaye. Troy knew that he wanted an outrageous over the top album, and wrote down the most way out song titles he could imagine, all about being out in space. From there he went to the beach with his brother, and every night they would sit in their deck chairs, stare at the stars, and talk about one of the song titles. Each night they discussed the back story of a song, and from there Troy wrote the album. It was never originally intended to be a concept album, but it turned out that way, with three main characters appearing throughout the lyrics, until they all became one. Some of the songs also turned out to be quite lengthy, but it was never intended, they were just as long as they needed to be. The result is a visual album, one where all songs are cinematic and powerful. Just listen to opener “Aztechknowledgey” and you’ll be hooked, I can assure you. It grooves, it slides, it moves in a way that just doesn’t happen anymore. There probably won’t be another release quite like this ever again, solid.
