Karoline Tamati, aka Ladi6, is back in the studio, back on stage and back from the brink of completely losing her voice. Ahead of her performance at the South Island Wine & Food Festival in December, she shares her relief and her dreams for the future with Cityscape.

How’s work going on the new album? It’s going slowly – I always forget how much time it takes. It’s always good for me to remember to have deadlines but also to trust the process and forget the pressure.

You’ve had a rough time over the last few years, including losing your voice – you must be enjoying getting back on stage and back in the studio? Did you ever start to wonder if you would return? When I lost my voice and was recovering I did wonder, and it was heartbreaking, I can’t lie. So, as you can imagine getting my voice back and having the opportunity to write a new record means the world to me. I feel extremely grateful and am really enjoying every moment I have right now onstage, in the studio, dreaming up the next steps I want to take.

There’s a real culture of collaboration in New Zealand hip-hop – why do you think that is? I think it comes with being a small country and having the right attitude. I’ve had so many amazing collaboration opportunities throughout my career and it’s always been through mutual respect and joy for the craft. I believe we can and will continue to grow and foster that attitude here in Aotearoa.

Who do you dream of doing a collab with? I dream of collaborating with a world-renown theatre someone and lighting director to create some Ladi6 musical experience that’s unique and crazy exciting with a full party atmosphere. I don’t know what and I don’t know who but I love dreaming about it!

How do you think your Samoan heritage has influenced your music and career? Being Samoan has influenced the way I interact with the world in every way, every day. There is no real way I can distinguish, define and divide myself to explain how and where it has influenced me. I simply am because I am Samoan.

Tell us about your tattoos – do they have particular cultural or personal significance? Yes, my hand is directly copied from my own mother’s hand, who was gifted its design by master tatau artist and family friend Suluape at a time when my dad was also being given his tatau. The motifs represent Samoan navigation by the stars across oceans and symbolism of Samoan people and lifestyle, worms we eat, mountains we have and people in my family.

You got your break working with Shapeshifter and Fat Freddy’s Drop and now you are doing the same for JessB, Bailey Wiley and others – is that important to you? It’s important to me to collaborate with artists I admire and generally like and connect with as people. I don’t see myself as giving them their break so much as collaborating with artists that are smoking hot flames. That’s why I’ve always collaborated on shows with SilvaMC all these years, because she’s pure flames talent.

You have a strong sense of personal style – what brand are you crushing on at the moment? I’m actually out of the loop – I rely heavily on my stylist, Sammy Salsa, to tell me what’s out there – but I’ve always loved Kowtow and other ethical New Zealand brands. I like making my vote on ethical fashion by where I spend my money – I don’t think I’m unique in that way.

What’s the favourite item in your wardrobe? My favourite currently is my sister pink floor-length kimono from Geoff’s Emporium.

You wear some striking jewellery – what can you tell us about it? Do you have a favourite piece or jeweller? My favourite piece of all time is my custom gold choker that was made for me by jeweller MichaelJohn and his friend. They handcrafted this incredible piece of art and I wore it at a Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.

What can you never leave behind when you go on tour? My lavender oil. I’m so addicted to it, and I’ve gotten into the habit of taking my vaporiser too these days.

What’s your go-to spot in Christchurch? I don’t have one. I’m slowly getting to reconnect with Christchurch and all the things that are there, as I’ve lost touch a bit.

If you weren’t doing what you are now, what would you want to be? I’ve thought about this a bit lately, and I always dreamed of being an actor when I was little, but I also want to learn to fly and I’d love to run a very small boutique business that requires lots of detail and attention – so yeah, nah, I don’t know!

Ladi 6, South Island Wine & Food Festival, Hagley Park, December 7

winefestival.co.nz