Last year was the 20th anniversary of the release of Navigator. A decade defining album that became the sound of the 2000s for many Māori and Pacific Islanders.
Che Fu walks between multiple worlds. He draws influences from his cultures, being of both Māori and Niuean descent, mixing in musical elements of both cultures, whether it be the use of Te Reo Māori or Pacific instruments. Che Fu mixes Pacific sounds with elements of Hip Hop, reggae, conscious rap, and soul which all come together to form a memorable and decade defining sound. Navigator has since gone on to sell thousands of copies becoming a four-time platinum record.
It is a behemoth, a true classic in the purest meaning. Every brown person in New Zealand knows at least some of this album. Songs such as ‘Misty Frequencies’, ‘Fade Away’, and ‘Hold Tight’ were the soundtrack of my generation’s childhood.
Navigator exists at the intersections of so many elements that go on to form legendary moments in New Zealand’s musical history.
