Tinity Roots, one of Aotearoa's most beloved bands, have been through their fair share if financial difficulties. They're now passing on the lesson they've learnt to other musicians.
For nearly two decades Trinity Roots has been a well-loved mainstay of the local music scene with their distinctively soulful, reggae-tinged roots sound.
Despite their success on stage and in studio with their platinum LPs True and Home Land and Sea, the business side of things has proved more challenging.
By 2012 the band’s company was in liquidation, owing $100,000 in unpaid tax to IRD. It was clear to the liquidator that they were accomplished musicians, "However these skills are not complemented with equivalent business application."
The report concluded that it probably wasn't an experience uncommon to those in the entertainment industry.
Fast forward four years, and the band's frontman Warren Maxwell is teaching others th lessons he learned, as part of the teaching faculty at Massey University’s Commercial Music degree,
"Nobody knows about this stuff and they should!" he emphasises, "We've had to learn this stuff out at the coalface. The business side of being a musician, I think it's really important that artists realise they have to market themselves"
And though Warren's time with the band is having to be balanced by these work commitments, it has actually benefited Trinity Roots, as bassist and fellow founding member Rio Hemopo explains.
"A cool little by-product is that we've been able to bring into the business side of Trinity as well...it's helped us with little areas in our own business"
The newfound approach, or "real-world application" of Maxwell's course work has also allowed the band to function via distance now that Hemopo and family are based in Rotorua,
"We have weekly Skype meetings...and we have to report back on our tasks each week."
By their own admission, they are nerds. But when it's time to get into the rehearsal room
"There's a good foundation.. its mainly just getting the cobwebs out and getting back into the groove."
Related content
- Nick Bollinger reviews Citizen
- Melody Thomas and Trinity Roots on Citizen
- Warren Maxwell talks with Emma Smith about 'Haiku' from Citizen
- The Mixtape: Warren Maxwell
- NZ Live - Trinity Roots and Friends
- WOMAD 2015 Live: Trinity Roots
Music details
Artist: Trinity Roots
Song: This Road
Composer: Trinity Roots
Album: Citizen
Label: Trinity Roots
Artist: Trinity Roots
Song: El Kaptain
Composer: Trinity Roots
Album: RNZ Recording
Label: RNZ Recording
