Music Commission News

Each month, we’ll be featuring some members of our music community taking part in both our Industry Internship Programme and Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme.

This month, we’d like for you to meet David Feauai-Afaese and Jimmy Christmas. David currently interns at APRA AMCOS NZ under our Industry Internship Programme while The D4 and Luger Boa frontman Jimmy mentors under our Musicians Mentoring in Schools Programme.

MEET THE INTERN: DAVID

What’s your name and your internship position?
My name is David Feauai-Afaese and I am Music Data and Research Assistant Intern at APRA AMCOS.

Outside of your internship, what other things do you get up to?
Too many things, not enough sleep – maybe too much food though. In seriousness, I am a recording artist and screen composer, fronting Samoan art rock project LEAO, 1/3 of Moana-soul band Sanguine and one half of screen composition duo, Hanisi Garue. Atop of this I manage project distribution deliveries as the Recorded Works Manager for Noa Records, a pan-Moana record label, and have recently started work as a Music Coordinator for a Samoan TV Drama.

What are you enjoying the most about your internship role so far?
I’m really enjoying the research and comprehensive data administration work. Gaining in-depth, hands on experience with how APRA as a performing rights organisation operates; learning more about how the performance royalties distribution system in the Australasia territory works; and being part of a work environment whose ethic is deeply bound in its pursuit to support musicians is overwhelmingly inspiring to say the least. I’ve sorely missed vigorous research work, thus being able to work with mass amounts of data everyday, in a manner that is in service to my wider music community is without a doubt fulfilling.

What are you looking forward to in your role?
Truly, I really do just look forward to just learning more. APRA has such diverse strategies to help its members, that despite having lots to do in a day, the next day ushers a whole new plethora of mahi and comprehension. However, I do look forward to contributing to or potentially taking on a project in which I can deliver assistance to music communities, particularly for Pacific peoples or small music collectives/micro labels. It goes without saying that education is our greatest tool for achieving successful and meaningful careers. Being able to apply what I am learning in this internship to help educate others would be a great achievement for me.

Photo credit: Apela Bell

MEET THE MENTOR: JIMMY

What’s your name and how long have you been involved with the Music Commission’s Mentoring in Schools Programme?
I am Jimmy Christmas and it has been a real privilege to have been mentoring with the program since 2006, so rapidly approaching 20 years of working with the amazing team to deliver the programme to schools across Aotearoa!

How are you connected to music? Do you have any musical projects and/or are you involved in other ways?
I have been a working musician for much of my adult life, chiefly as a songwriter/vocalist/guitarist playing in a rock’n’ roll band. My main musical projects include The D4 and Luger Boa.

What do you enjoy most about the Programme?
I absolutely love working with young people utilising music as a vehicle to promote connection, creativity and confidence. Watching others find and express their personal voice is immensely rewarding.

What is one of your favourite mentoring memories or moments from the Programme?
So so many! To pick one? Manurewa Intermediate many years ago… One of the students I worked with had an incredible voice, and none of his teachers had heard him sing. The group performed in front of assembly after our 2 days of mentoring, and when he hit the first note I could see jaws drop and actual tears well up. It was an amazing thing to witness.

What aspect of the Programme are you most excited about this year?
I am really enjoying delivering the Gig Starters programme alongside the music mentoring. It encompasses the broader aspects of the music industry and definitely provides inspiration for a wider group of students by shining a light on the many technical and business pathways possible. It excites me to be able to expose rangatahi to that side of the industry, (plus it allows for smoother segues into some more of my accumulated stories!)

Photo credit: F Yamanata