'I don’t change for no one' - Hori Shaw and those blood stained crocs

Aotearoa Music Awards’ breakthrough artist of the year Hori Shaw says he won’t change for anyone – no matter what they say about his laidback style.

On Thursday night at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, the Ōpōtiki-based reggae artist rocked up in his blood-stained crocs and hunting jacket to accept the award, thanking his family and his supporters.

“Everyone knows my name now, don’t be shy to come say hello, I’m just the Hori fella, aye, Hori fella from the East Coast,” he told the crowd.

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The artist, who has 184,000 listeners on Spotify, told Afternoons he recognises it’s a big achievement, “especially coming from a little town, aye, a little town that’s sort of recognised for bad things".

“I’m still the same, I’m still ‘chur chuz’.”

Known as Hoaris the Boaris, Shaw is no stranger to coming to the awards in a casual style. Last year, he wore gumboots.

This year, he had blood on his crocs from a deer hunting trip the previous night and had forgotten to clean them.

“I feel comfier wearing that sort of clothing, I don’t change for no one, brother. I stay true to myself.”

The soon-to-be father of three switched to making music full time after a hunting accident on his horse left him paralysed three years ago. He had been a labourer prior.

“I just thought I’d do a song or something and put it out there and it’s led me this far now in the industry, so I don’t think I’m going to stop now, it's sort of my full-time job now.”

Although his only previous experience with music was at parties and old school sing-along gatherings with the whānau, he had his first taste of success almost immediately with the release of his first song, 'Mother Nature', in 2023.

It’s one that means a lot to him because it reminds him of his refuge far from people, he says.

“[Being in the bush] just releases everything I’m feeling, it just all goes away… I don’t do this music for the fame or anything, it’s more for my kids and their future so they’ve got a solid foundation when they get older.

“I don’t really care about that fame stuff, doesn’t bother me, I’d rather be in the bush to be honest.”

Even his lyrics touch on topics that relate to his daily life, he says.

“I see no point in writing music if it’s all fake, aye, you know, like the lyrics and all that.”

His early songs were recorded on his phone from his bedroom.

“It’s amazing what you can do, aye, it just goes to show that you don’t really need a big studio or anything.

“I just done it all myself and then put it out to the people and then people liked it and then they shared it around and now look at it, it’s worldwide.”

Next week, Shaw will be in Australia for his first international tour before coming back to do a North Island tour. He also hopes to release an album this year.