Kevin’s music popular

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 30

Kevin’s music popular

The music and voice of Kevin Ihaia are fast becoming popular around the entertainment spots of Marlborough —which isn’t bad for someone who neither sings, nor plays a musical instrument. The reason for his popularity is basically his collection of more than 1000 records and tapes, and four turn-tables and one tapedeck — collectively known as Visions Discotheque. Kevin was one of the pioneers of discotheque in New Zealand, starting in Auckland in 1973. A year later, he moved to Taumarunui under transfer with the N.Z.8.C., taking a disco with him. ‘‘At first,” he said, “public reaction was rather sceptical about hiring something that when described, sounded like a spaceship; but after one function bookings flooded in and I worked every Saturday night for the year I was there.” Kevin has been in Blenheim for one year, working as a sales representative for the local radio station 2ZE.

He called a halt to his discotheque activities for six months, “so my wife and I could enjoy ourselves

properly on a Saturday night.” In February, he started up again, this time with two discos, and after only a few functions bookings have started pourihg in again, from all' over Marlborough — and some from Nelson. Kevin says he's been so well accepted in Marlborough cliat he's already bought most of the equipment needed for the third disco, although a problem has beer, encountered finding a good “D.J.” The major, reason for his success, says Kevin, is the music itself. “You could almost say it’s ‘perfect’, because it is what people are used to hearing at home — and I believe it’s preferable, to hearing a bad band ruining a popular song.” Another reason is the variety of music, which, he says, ranged from Gay Gordons to rock, so he can cater for all ages. Lighting is also an integral part of the discos, he says. Psychedelic projectors, fluorescent lighting, changing slides and spot lights, create a different sort of mood and atmosphere, which, he says, even the older people found enjoyable.