Hellhole of the Pacific (LP)

Hellhole of the Pacific (HOTP) is a concept EP and multimedia storytelling project that reclaims and reimagines Aotearoa's narratives through an urban Māori lens. It draws its name from the infamous label given to Kororāreka (Russell)in the 1830s-a time when lawlessness, colonial exploitation and cultural upheaval defined the region. This project asks: how far have we really come from that "hellhole", if many of the same systemic issues persist today?

Land theft and colonial exploitation resulting in generational impact. Through sonic landscapes and lyrical storytelling, HOTP explores the lived realities of working-class Māori, the fraught relationship between the Crown and Tangata Whenua, and the enduring strength of whakapapa and whenua. It's a creative reckoning-a call to reflect, reframe and reimagine.

Inspired by literary giants like Witi Ihimaera and Whiti Hereaka, and activists like Tame Iti, HOTP embraces storytelling in formats that challenge the norm. It's about telling our stories in ways that make you think, feel, and engage with our hītori and pūrākau more intimately-through waiata, sound and personal connection.

Greatsouth is the musical project of ringa toi Māori artist Payton Taplin (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), based in Papakura, South Auckland. His sound blends indie rock, traditional tāonga puoro (Māori instruments) and the urban Māori experience, drawing influence from artists like King Krule, The Beths and The Smiths, while remaining firmly rooted in te ao Māori.

The name Greatsouth is a reference to the colonial infrastructure of Great South Road- originally built to invade the Waikato during the 1860s-and reclaims it as a site of resistance and identity. The debut self-titled EP released at the end of 2024 is a sonic response to that history, being coined as one of the best releases of 2024 by RNZ's Music 101 and featured in Dazed magazine's '10 great albums you may have missed' October 2024.