Talkbox Sessions

In this episode of Talkbox Sessions, I sit down with the soulful and innovative artist Huia. Known for her rich bilingual songwriting and boundary-pushing production, Huia shares insights into her creative process, cultural grounding, and the evolution of her sound. We talk about navigating the music industry as an independent artist and the importance of legacy and community. We also jam on an acoustic version of her latest single 'He Kākano'.   Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links: https://www.iamhuia.com/  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/

A live performance of 'Blood' written and performed by Hemi Coates (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links

A live performance of 'Won't Let You Go' written and performed by Hemi Coates (guitar, vocals) with Juliet McLean (keys, backing vocals) as part of a Talkbox Session. Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson   Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants.   Show Links https://linktr.ee/themonswhaler  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/

Join Talkbox Sessions for a rich and reflective conversation with Hemi Coates, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for The Mons Whaler—a swampy, alt-rock blues outfit hailing from Taranaki, Aotearoa.   In this episode, Hemi shares insights into his latest creative projects, the craft behind his songwriting, and how he balances music-making with a busy life. We talk about discipline, navigating the music industry, and the role of authenticity in art. We also found time to jam on a couple of his soulful tunes, “Won’t Let You Go” and “Blood.”   Recorded and engineered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio. Produced by Juliet McLean and Sam Johnson Made with support from New Plymouth District Council Creative Community Grants. Show Links https://www.instagram.com/hemicoatesmusic/  https://linktr.ee/themonswhaler  https://linktr.ee/julietmclean  https://www.rhythmacestudio.com/