Bandi - "Third Culture Kid's" recipe of health, happiness and hard work.

Kiwi-Brazilian artist ‘Bandi’ was born and raised in Auckland but from a young age  bounced back and forth between the foothills of Los Angeles (LaVerne) and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

You’ve had a unique mix of geographical influences, how have these contributed to your development as an artist?

There’s a name for someone like me: ‘a third culture kid’. Third culture kids are those raised in a culture other than that of their parents, or their birth country. They also live in different environments during a significant part of their upbringing. Growing up like this is an emotional rollercoaster. These experiences and cultures become part of you in a way that’s difficult to express to others. Music became my outlet for this expression.  

Throughout my life, I’ve been confronted with cultural walls I struggled to scale and break through. I’ve always been labeled as "different" to the mainstream culture I was encouraged to belong to, cut adrift and left to float in a sort of twilight zone. This resulted in me forming somewhat of a cultural hybrid: a blend that’s interesting to people, but confusing and frustrating to me at the same time. You can hear these diverse influences in my music; the sounds, the lyrics, and the genres I love, from Latin Pop       to Pop and R&B. These are all born out of the experiences i’ve had growing up in Brazil, America and New Zealand.

Outside of music what’s important to you?

A simple answer to this question would be ‘the 3 H’s’: Health, Happiness and Hard Work. These things are so important to me. I believe prioritising your health can help you flourish in all other areas of life, and that consciously working towards these things can instil a sense of fulfilment and purpose.

Outside of these, interior design is something I'm truly passionate about. I’m a qualified interior designer and an absolute nerd when it comes to architecture and design. I also love all forms of art: drawing, painting, digital, anything creative really.

Above all, the most important things in life to me are my family, friends, incredible boyfriend, and my cat, Pablo. 

Tell us about your family’s relationship to music?

I was fortunate to grow up in an incredibly talented family of writers, singers, performers and instrumentalists. My brother is a gifted writer/poet, and my sister is one of the most talented piano players I know. My parents were both pastors, writers and public speakers too, so my songwriting skills and performance abilities stem from watching them whilst growing up. I also think having to go to church every Sunday and sing in a choir played a huge part in developing my voice. 

How did your video come about and have you always been a lego fan!?

My sister married the Lego master, Brandon Wike, who’s ranked 12th in the world for Lego making. He’s built for Legoland, the Lego movie, and has his own business in Lego creation.

Whilst brainstorming ideas for my music video, I came across Barbie Girl by Aqua and thought how incredible it would be to have a full Bandi Lego-world, drawing inspiration from the Barbie Girl aesthetic. The idea was born from there, and took on a life of its own. 

All-time greatest musical influences?

My biggest musical influences are any artists I’ve felt connected to growing up, whether that be their sound, their voice, their lyrics, or just who they are as people.

If I had to choose, a few of my greatest musical influences would be: Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Cassie, Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, A Tribe Called Quest, Mac Miller, J. Cole and Frank Ocean.

Where do you see the music business going?

The music industry is undergoing an exciting evolution, driven by Web3 and emerging digital technologies. I’m optimistic about a future where creatives are rewarded more fairly for their work, and where music fans have greater ownership of the music they love. I think artist independence will thrive as those in the industry are afforded more control over their music and direction, with record labels becoming less integral to their success.

I also feel the world is waking up to the reality that the majority of musicians, artists and creatives aren’t compensated fairly for their work. The amount of energy and effort involved is astronomical, so as these new technologies democratise the space further, I see the industry shifting to one that’s fairer for everyone. 

What's next for you?

A whole lotta new music! I’ve just come back from an incredible trip to Brazil and relaxing in the Bahamas, so i'm feeling super inspired and ready to write.

I also have my debut EP ‘Bittersweet’ which is out  2023, which I’m super excited for everyone to hear!