Mystic on the Road again

Mystik on the road again 23 April 2006

by ELLEN DAVIES The Nesian Mystik boys have been busy in the three years since their debut album Polysaturated entered the charts at the No 1 spot.
Two members of the band have become fathers, one has a baby on the way and singer Te Awanui Reeder has completed a business degree.
Things have changed in three years - and that couldn't help but be reflected in the music of their new album Freshmen, Reeder tells Sunday News.
And the band feels more ready to deal with success the second time around.
"Three years ago, we didn't know what to expect," says 22-year-old Reeder.
"We also didn't know this industry. We were quite naive. In saying that, I think that was good for us.
"We thought we were invincible and now we still do but we are a lot more straight up.
"We have always been straight up with each other ?now we are straight up with anybody.
"We are realistic in that we like our music but it?s business as well."
Reeder and his bandmates Donald McNulty, Junior Rikiau, David Atai, Feleti Strickson-Pua and Heath Manakau formed Nesian Mystik back in 1999 when they were still students at Auckland's Western Springs College.
Polysaturated spawned the hits It's On, Nesian Style, For The People, Unity and Brothaz.
Waiting three years after Polysaturated to release Freshmen was a conscious decision for the Nesians, who are all now in their early twenties.
"We knew there was going to be so much pressure," Reeder says. "That, and every second album we've seen has been kind of stink to be honest - it hasn't been as good.
"It's like the movies - you like the first one and you see the second one and think, 'Why did you make it?"
"We are pretty happy, we are very proud of this album. Musically, it kills the first one. The production is so much better and the structure of songs is better."