Listen to Lord Echo
Locally raised, internationally renowned musician Mike August aka Mike Fabulous and Lord Echo will play a gig in the Wairarapa. The former Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties multi-instrumentalist will headline the sold-out Tora Bombora festival in January as Lord Echo, with his fabulous band of longtime collaborators.
Hailing from Parkvale, Mike is the son of well-known landscaper Paul August and nephew of busy alternative energy expert Greg Hoskins. “I don’t remember music being a dominant thing growing up, but it was always something we did. Greg and Paul had a band and as a teenager I did too.” One of Mike’s bands, Atlas Woods, took the national Rock Quest title in 1997. It was at Kuranui College that August picked up the nickname Mike Fabulous, which has stuck with him to this day.
Now based in Wellington, Mike has recorded three albums over ten years as Lord Echo, helming the projects as producer and engineer. A perfectionist, Mike locked himself away in a dingy Hutt Valley warehouse for two years to produce the third in the trilogy, Harmonies,
released in 2017. He told NZ Musician magazine, “The intent was working with the kinds of music I really like, reggae, East and West African music, disco, soul, some jazz and various sonic elements to make an album that would be useful to DJs but also one that you could put on at home...” All three records have had major critical acclaim and considerable sales internationally.
where huge digital billboards shine with images of Mike’s distinctive hatted head, announcing either an album release, a band performance or one of his DJ sets. “Japan is pretty dreamy. I love the culture and it’s reasonably easy to get to. I feel an affinity with the Japanese, they pay attention to the details in the music, like I do when I’m creating it. I know there’s potential in Europe but I don’t enjoy touring much. However, I am supporting Fat Freddy’s Drop there in April and May and I’m optimistic about it being fun”.
Since Harmonies, Mike has stepped back from recording. “The work has been very hard for me. Making music feels like me against every other musician who’s ever lived. I’ve spent the last two years being a parent and doing some house painting. It’s relaxing not having to create anything, just seeing what has to be done and doing it. I never get that feeling making music, the satisfaction of a job turning out just how I want it to. But I listened to a lot of music while I was painting houses, almost like studying it, so it’ll be interesting to see what comes out of that.”
Mike credits Kuranui College for laying the foundations for his creative life. “My art teacher Roger Thompson gave me a room of my own where I listened to free jazz and created stuff, and I had two great music teachers, Bill Carter and Katherine Hodge.
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“I loved being in country, being able to make some noise. I find it uncomfortable others being able to hear me, that’s why I went out to Seaview to produce Harmonies. I loved making music while others were sleeping.”
Getting Lord Echo is a major coup for Tora Bombora event director Louis Murphy-Harris, and he’s excited. The young entrepreneur curated a hugely successful one-night festival in 2019, expanded to two nights for 2020.
Mike August is excited, too, to be playing the first Lord Echo show in his own neighbourhood. He concedes that the organisers had to work hard to get his attention, though. “I’m notoriously slow at replying to emails, but Louis is best friends with my cousin so he got my aunty to give me a prod!”
“We’re only doing a small handful of shows over the summer so it’s great to be playing in the Wairarapa. I’m really happy to be supporting a young guy who’s taking a risk, creating something for others in a fantastic location.”
