Interview: Kora & Black Comet - Album Release Spring Tour

Whakatāne's legendary Kora have just unleashed their first studio album in thirteen years Fifth Season, and are about to go on tour with Black Comet, who themselves have a new long player out in the world entitled Episode Two: The Force Between Us. Kora co-founding brothers Francis Kora and Laughton Kora, who now travels interstellar funk spaceways with Black Comet, generously took time out to answer a volley of questions from Lucy Macrae — who heroically wears many hats in our community with Dick Move (currently conquering Europe), Double Whammy / Whammy! and The Label. They chatted about family roots and genre-spanning influences, their intertwining musical journeys plus more. Go catch these mighty Aotearoa groups touring Te Ika-a-Māui this spring, brought to you by Eccles Entertainment and Spark...

Kora
with special guests Black Comet

Saturday 20th September - The Factory, Hamilton
Friday 3rd October - Powerstation, Auckland
Saturday 11th October - Meow Nui, Wellington

Tickets on sale via kora.nz

Lucy Macrae: First off — you’re brothers! Who's older? What was life like growing up together? Was there always music in the house?

Francis Kora (Kora): Lawty is the first born of four brothers. Looking back we had the best childhood. Sports, video games, cartoons and music was our upbringing. Mum and Dad were always involved with sports (rugby, touch rugby, cricket, waka ama) either competing, reffing, coaching, etc.

Growing up through the '80s and '90s was THE GOLDEN ERA. There were lots of bands, and DJs weren't really a thing in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Dad played in a few bands, and the rehearsals were always at our place. Live bands was our radio station in a way, which is fricken rad come to think of it!

What was playing? Who were your influences?

Laughton Kora (Black Comet): Angus Young lead guitarist of AC/DC, Mike Patton, John Williams.

Francis: We didn't have a very big music collection, but I'd say it was a great collection of jazz, metal, soul, rock, reggae and heaps of obscure stuff haha. VHS tapes with our fave bands, or recordings of our fave TV shows to VHS. Ready To Roll, late night heavy metal show, music tutorials, etc.

Who picked up an instrument first? Who was the one grabbing the guitar at parties?

Laughton: I did. Because I’m the eldest. I wasn’t around for many of those parties, but if I had to pick it would be Brad.

Francis: Being the oldest, Lawty picked up the first instrument. He's still a mean harmonica player today. Any one of the brothers can pickup the guitar at a party, and bust out a few sing alongs.

Were you always playing music together — as children and teens?

Francis: Yup! From the age of seven to eight years old we had our first gig playing for the Telethon. Out of the three, Brad was the brother I played music with the most. Dad created a whānau band called Zig Zag, with Brad on the drums, Dad on vocals / guitar, my Aunty Cheree on keyboards / vocals and myself on the bass. We played with Zig Zag through intermediate and high school, gigging almost every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, but we still managed to do all the sports etc and just be a kid! This was our true foundation of where we cut our teeth as young fullaz playing music.

Let’s talk about the beginnings of Kora. What are your first memories of the band?

Francis: Kora was much the same as Zig Zag, but we just make originals instead of playing covers. My fave memory had to be Sound Splash in Raglan. It was our first time playing at a festival, but for me it felt more like the world's best camping trip. We were hardout into surfing, which was perfect because of where the festival was. We all looked like we just got out of the water, made our way to the stage at the top of the hill, and it was that show that really kicked off what Kora is known for today. A powerful live act!

When did you start to take it seriously?

Laughton: When I got paid.

What are your musical career highlights to date?

Laughton: Writing sound design and musical arrangements for Tāme Iti in partnership with the NZSO. It was a Tūhoe story.

Francis: Playing music with my Dad, and having him feature. Nothing can top that!

How have your musical projects and journeys evolved since then?

Francis: In regards to the creation of music, nothing has really changed. The Journey has only ever been about telling stories from my own point of view, and how I see the world. When creating 'your own art', that should be the only thing that matters.

Laughton: I’ve been able to work with international directors, designers, photographers, through film and poetry. I have done a lot of work with a project called Mana Moana.

How would you describe Black Comet’s sound vs Kora’s sound? Are there any similarities to Black Comet’s and Kora’s new albums? What are the big differences between the two records?

Laughton: It’s literally the shame shit, 10 years later, The Kora DNA of heavy grooves is a main part of our family sound. The similarities are heavy grooves and strong melodies. The differences are new players to bounce off.

You're on tour together again this spring — can you tell us what you're looking forward to?

Laughton: The hangs, the conversation.

Francis: Looking forward to a smooth run. The musicians on this tour are seriously world class. Overall, It'd also be nice to make some money. Aotearoa is crazy fucken expensive!

What’s one thing you can spill about each other that fans might not know?

Francis: When a Kora brotha is hyper fixated on an idea or something they're into, doesn't matter what it is, its easier just to get out of the way until they get it!

Laughton: All the boys don’t have ADHD but they act like it.

Last words – what do you want fans to know about your journey together?

Laughton: It’s good to see where we’ve landed as adults together in the industry. All four of us have had real journeys, so it’ll be nice to catch up.