BIO

Born in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Pākehā descent, Dallas Tamaira was raised in the small coastal town of Kaikōura and has since become renowned for his soulful music around the world.

Best known as the vocalist of the iconic New Zealand group Fat Freddy’s Drop, Dallas has enjoyed a career in the arts spanning over 30 years. After completing high school, Dallas joined the groundbreaking performing arts collective Pacific Underground, whose members have included notable artists such as Ladi6, Oscar Kightley, and Scribe. He later relocated to Wellington in the late 1990s, where he initiated collaborations with DJ, musician, and producer Chris Faiumu, also known as Mu. During these formative years, Dallas partnered with Mu to form the beat-making duo Bongmaster, released a solo EP titled 'Better Than Change' as Dallas Tamaira, collaborated with other artists under the name Joe Dukie, and eventually joined forces with Mu to establish what would become Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Twenty years later, Fat Freddy’s Drop stands as one of the most successful and influential New Zealand acts of the 21st Century. Recognized as one of the premier live acts both locally and internationally, Dallas has been the lead vocalist for the group since their early underground days, performing at venues like the Matterhorn and early gigs in London, to headlining sold-out shows and festivals across Europe, Australia, and Aotearoa. Additionally, Dallas is a talented illustrator, and his cartoon characters have graced the artwork of the Drop’s albums, including ‘Hope For A Generation’ and ‘Based On A True Story.’

While Fat Freddy’s Drop has occupied a significant portion of Dallas’ time over the past two decades, he has continued to make guest appearances on tracks under his pseudonym, Joe Dukie, for local acts such as Shapeshifter, Julien Dyne, Recloose, The Upbeats, and Pacific Heights, as well as international acts like Jazzanova, The Nextmen, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Eva Be, and Boozoo Bajou. Dallas’ stage name, Joe Dukie, pays homage to his father, the singer and songwriter Joe, and his grandfather, a musician nicknamed Dukie after Duke Ellington.

During the pandemic, when Fat Freddy’s Drop was unable to tour, Dallas entered a new phase of personal creativity. The self-isolation and focus on family during lockdowns provided the ideal conditions for this self-proclaimed introvert to work on a collection of new solo music.

Collaborating with his long-time friend, award-winning producer Devin Abrams (known for his work with Shapeshifter, Drax Project, and Pacific Heights), the duo co-wrote and recorded three singles: ‘No Flowers’ (2020), ‘Spider’ (2021), and ‘Just Fine’ (2022), all of which garnered considerable acclaim and collectively amassed 10 million streams.

Now, Dallas is releasing his first solo EP in over twenty years, titled ‘Levels’. Produced by Abrams and engineered by Mu, this fresh body of work finds Dallas exploring new sonic territories across its six intricately woven and beautifully nuanced tracks. For a singer who has delivered countless exquisite performances over the years, the EP showcases Dallas as a vocal explorer, delving into his identity as an artist while remaining a steadfast source of strength and warmth. A remarkable creative statement, the 'Levels' EP marks an exciting new chapter in the career of one of Aotearoa’s most cherished voices.