|
When it comes to nzgirls who kick ass in the music industry – you can’t go past Lani Purkis. She plays the bass for one of the country’s most iconic rock bands, Elemeno P.
Within the last six years the band has sold 60,000 records, won a Tui for Best Group, released 10 hit singles, three albums and played hundreds of gigs both here and overseas! On top of this, she’s also a full time mum! We chat to this inspirational nzgirl about what motivates and drives her…  Who are your role models?I haven’t really had anyone to look up to for quite a few years. I generally have to make my own path, I don’t follow footsteps.
But when I was younger I really liked Maria from Tadpole and Bic Runga. I remember the first time I talked to her backstage at the Big Day Out a few years ago. I asked her ‘Are you excited about playing in front of all those people?’, and she told me that she was absolutely freaking out about it. It felt so good to know that everyone is human!
What causes are you passionate about?
I’m really into the Love Pigs Not Pork movement. I think that’s a good campaign. It’s not telling people to stop eating meat, it’s just raising the issue of buying free-range pork over battery raised pigs. I’m really into free range food. I just believe that all life should have a fair chance at having a good life. I mean it’s not a chicken's fault it was born a chicken!
So far, what achievement you’re most proud of? Today I worked with a high school band, I’ve only spent about six hours with them all up and I’m already very proud of the way they have come from nothing to being such a really good band. I'm also proud of being a mum!
When it comes to Elemeno P, it’s kinda different with the music, the boys do all the writing and I just play it.
What drives you to succeed? I hate letting people down, I just can’t handle it!  How do you feel about being a role model?Sometimes I feel proud of it, but sometimes there is a lot of stress. You have to always behave when you’re out in public – I’m lucky people don’t recognise me otherwise life would be a lot harder. It means that you have to be really polite to people all the time. As a teenager I had lots of role models, and now I’ve got people looking up to me - it’s kinda like things have come full cycle. If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do? Wipe student loans and some how get more money into families. How do you handle balancing motherhood? It is tough but you get really used to it. You learn to balance things. One piece of advice you wish you’d have known when younger? Don’t ever give up on your dreams – you can do it. My Dad once called me a 'jack of all trades and a master of none’, because I was always starting things but never focussing on getting really good at anything. My advice is to choose one thing and get amazing at it. Girls tend to talk too much about what they want to do rather than just doing it. If you have a dream don’t stop trying to get to it no matter if someone gets in your way.
Ramarea
Want more Lani action? Check her out live with the rest of Elemeno Pat the Red Bull Soundclash on Friday August 22, as they duke it out against Opensouls! Mark it in your diary - it's sure to be a wicked night out. Tickets are available from Real Groovy and Ticketmaster... VENUE: Shed 2, Halsey St, Viaduct Habour.
(80).jpg) |
