Here's Five: Troy Kingi Unveils His Favourite Ghost Songs

Riding high from winning the 2020 Taite Music Prize for his politically charged dub-reggae opus Holy Colony Burning Acres, Troy Kingi is ready to embark on the next phase of his decade-long 10 10 10 Series. Seemingly designed to test whether there are any limits at all to the songwriter / actor's talents, Kingi's massively ambitious project aims to release 10 albums in 10 years in 10 genres, with the forthcoming fifth instalment being a folk-inspired collaboration with none other than Lyttelton icon Delaney Davidson. Kingi will be giving fans a very special preview of the new record as part of The 48th Auckland Folk Festival lineup (which also features Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders and many more), happening at Kumeu Showgrounds over Auckland Anniversary weekend in late January / early February — hot on the heels of the last year's funk-soul long player The Ghost of Freddie Cesar, a reflection on childhood and memories of family life, sparked by the discovery of a mysterious cassette tape while going through his missing father’s belongings in 2007.

In advance of his 2021 Auckland Folk Festival appearance, Troy Kingi generously name-checked some of his favourite ghost-themed tunes and provided accompanying words of wisdom. Delve into his spiritual selections below and don't you dare miss Kingi this summer...

The 48t​h​ Auckland Folk Festival - Kumeu Showgrounds, Auckland
Auckland Anniversary weekend - Friday 29th January to Monday 1st February 2021

Featuring... Troy Kingi, The Eastern, Delaney Davidson & Barry Saunders, The Black Quartet, The Harmonic Resonators, Aro, Jenny Mitchell, BEING., Looking for Alaska, Sadie & Jay, Liddiard and Louise, Gerry Paul and The Elephant Tree Band, Shimna's List, Rough Town, Raylee Bradfield, Songs from the Old Country, Ethno Aotearoa, Polytropos, John Sutherland, Rhubarb, Gavin & Cara

Tickets are on sale now via Eventfinda (children under 10 are free all weekend)
Head over to www.aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz for the 2021 Auckland Folk Festival timetable

1. Johnny Cash - Ghost Riders in the Sky
I recently had the chance to cover this for a tv commercial, also - Johnny Cash is the Shit.

2. Radiohead - Give up the Ghost
Thom Yorke has the most haunting voice in history - hands down.

3. Spirit - The Other Song
Bit of a cheat - but this song by Spirit would be in my top 20 songs of all time.

4. Ghostface Killa & Adrian Younge - Get The Money
Another cheat but I had to find a way to get Adrian Younge's production in there, thank you Ghostface.

5. Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters theme song
Can’t have a list without the granddaddy of them all.

Troy Kingi's latest album 'The Ghost of Freddie Cesar' is out now digitally, on compact disc and limited edition vinyl LP via Triple A Records.