TAPZ' guide to growing up in New Zealand

New Zealand-via-Zimbabwe artist TAPZ is one of those artists that just possesses an innate star quality that can't be manufactured or learned. It just exists within them, and luckily, TAPZ knows exactly how to let it shine through.

Hot on the heels of a brand new video and single for 'Didn't Know', the rising star made a quick sojourn across the pond last weekend to play two special shows in both Sydney and Melbourne, in celebration of his new EP which dropped on Friday. Titled Beautiful Nightmare, the release soundtracks exactly that. TAPZ' emotional vulnerability paired with spooky, surreal beats combine to create a swirling dreamscape that's got unpredictability at every turn. The only thing for certain is just how talented TAPZ is, and Beautiful Nightmare puts this front and centre.

Having already kicked more than a few goals recently, including supporting the likes of A$AP Ferg, Jeremih, Tinie Tempah, Hermitude, G-Eazy and Danny Brown and BANKS, TAPZ isn't slowing down in his meteoric trajectory straight to the top, with this EP being what we hope will be the first of many impressive releases to come from him.

Before he well and truly blows up, we got to know a little bit more about him, as he took us through his hometown of Upper Hutt near Wellington, New Zealand.

TE HAUKARETU PARK

My parents moved us from Zimbabwe to a small Wellington New Zealand city called Upper Hutt. There isn’t much to do there but I have the gift of finding joy in everything. TE HAUKARETU PARK has a mesmerising movie like scene, horses, NZ native birds such as the Pukeko, nature, and a pond filled with ducks. Ducks bring me joy.

[caption id="attachment_75166" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image via Mapio[/caption]

SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE

I remember going to this thrift store as a child. It had a very particular smell that I could never forget. My mum would take us to the Salvation Army some days after school; she would search and find some of her favourite pieces to date there. She was a fashion teacher at the time. A process I went on to discover myself. That maybe explains my love for fashion and recycling clothes. I love what they do, and what they stand for; it makes me happy that now I have the luxury of giving clothes to them to pass on to the next family, the circle of life.

[caption id="attachment_75167" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image via Facebook[/caption]

SAVEMART THRIFT STORE

This was the second stop after Salvation Army. I didn’t really like this one as a kid, which is ironic because that kind of still stands today. They’re a business, and how much they give to charity is still disclosed. But… what did bring me joy about SaveMart is their massive car park, and instead of going inside with mum, we (my sister, brother and I) would turn the car park into a massive playground of opportunity.

[caption id="attachment_75168" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image: Supplied[/caption]

HAN RIVER

Han River is my little Korean secret. Hands down the best Korean food in Wellington, and trust me, I’ve been to all the Wellington Korean restaurants. It’s located in the Lower part of Hutt Valley, in between Wellington city and Upper Hutt. It’s like the Switzerland between the madness (Wellington city) and the calm (Upper Hutt city). It’s a family run business, and BG (owner) knows my order off by heart. They even know my birthday… they surprised me with an egg cake. That shit tasted sensational.

[caption id="attachment_75169" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image via TAPZ[/caption]

DAYTONA GO KART RACEWAY

I am an adrenaline fiend. When I have no one to race on the roads of Wellington, Daytona fulfils my speed racer dreams. I perform wearing a leather race jacket… Yea, well now you have some context.

[caption id="attachment_75170" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image via Daytona[/caption]

FIVE BOROUGHS

I am a pancake fiend also. Five Boroughs delivers the best pancakes in the city, I thought maybe it was their American borrowed theme that gave them their head start in flavours. But no… I went to America and tried a dozen different pancake places only to wish I were home in Five Boroughs.

[caption id="attachment_75171" align="alignnone" width="827"] Image via Zomato[/caption]

Beautiful Nightmare is out now via 100s + 1000s

Main image by Josh Wotton

Intro by Emma Jones

CHECK OUT MORE HOMETOWN GUIDES HERE

SEE ALSO

TAPZ HITS HARD IN 'RUN DON'T RUN'

LISTEN TO VILLETTE'S SMOOTH NEW SINGLE, 'IF YOU GO'