Within one week of releasing your second album “Black, Brown and White”, you’ve entered the NZ Album Top 40 chart at number 12.  How does this feel?

 TG: It’s great, we can’t believe how receptive the New Zealand audience has been in such a short space in time.  It’s still sinking in still I think.

JW: It’s awesome because we’re still only part-way through our tour and we are out there amongst it, sharing our music with audiences all around the country.  It’s exciting times.

Where did the name “Black, Brown and White” come from?

TG: “From a title point of view, there are differing interpretations from the group.  Marty (vocals) will probably give a completely different interpretation on it coming from a lyrical standpoint. My take on it, is that it is a representation of the album being all these different styles together with everyone’s individual input on the record.  You’ve got your funk, your reggae, then this porn-thing going on in the middle. It’s a real mish-mash of eight different people getting in a room and playing together. It’s all about ambiguity.

What are the main influences of “Black, Brown and White”

JW: Heaps. Everyone gets in there and throws their own little spin on their particular instrument and it kinda comes together that way.

TG: It’s a real personal thing, it comes down to everyone’s role in the band and also everyone’s role in writing the music. Our song writing process is born out of a jam.  It’s everyone just getting in there and putting their own bit in there.

Tell us about the recording process and working with “Dr” Lee Prebble to produce the album?

JW: Sweet.

TG: Flying everyone to Wellington, staying in the same place, having the time off work and concentrating on it. Going back at the end of the night and bouncing ideas off each other was great .  Having this time, together with Lee’s way of doing things, meant the whole thing was really relaxed. Lee has a real chilled out and hands-off approach, which was wicked. 

You released “Reflections” in October ‘07, what other differences are there between the two albums?

JW: We’re a lot more indulgent and extreme in our songs.  We are more willing to venture down the reggae angle, venture down the funk angle or the roots angle.  A lot more of the album is recorded live too, because we had a lot more time.

TG: Well…for starters there are four other members, that’s a big change.  Since “Reflections” we’ve grown not only in size but as musicians, we’ve grown from a group of friends who get together and play.

Currently, you guys are amidst your “Black, Brown and White” NZ album release tour, what has been the highlight so far?

TG: The spa pool until 4.30am after one of our shows, and then trying to escape the next morning. 

TW: Getting through the gig a Whitianga with a paper clip as the fuse in my base amp.

Tahuna Breaks toured Australia earlier this year, what was your impression of the Australian dub/reggae scene compared to the New Zealand scene?

JW: The bands are over there are really enthusiastic ‘cos it doesn’t seem like there is as much interest in funk and reggae over there as here at home.

TG: “To be honest, I haven’t heard a huge amount of Ozzie stuff. I need to see more.  Going by the bands we played with over there, for example Dubmarine and Darky Roots were awesome.   If they’re anything to go by it sounds great.  There also seems to be a lot of respect for artists that come out of NZ with that sound.

What’s your favourite venue you have played in so far?

TG: I’d be lying if I didn’t say Vector Arena.  I’ve got some pretty fond memories of the Razza at Piha.  That is a really warm and cool place out there.

JW:  Overlooking the whole of Queenstown playing at the Jazz Festival at the Skyline Gondola, was pretty damn good.  Best backstage area was Vector Arena though!

What should people who have never seen Tahuna Breaks live except to when at one of your concerts?

TG:  Quite possibly the sweatiest front man in NZ music!

JW: A real mish-mash of energy, a bit of funk, a bit of reggae.  Eight people having a jam and wicked time whilst doing it. 

If Tahuna Breaks was a type of drink, what drink would you be?

JW: A protein shake.

TG: A shot of protein.

(Both laugh hysterically)

Visit www.tahunabreaks.com for more information