With support from Creative NZ, we are proud to announce our guest writers for Moana SongHubs 2025 curated by David Dallas: Vince Harder, Smoke, and Jessica Hansell/Coco Solid.
Moana SongHubs is a weeklong collaborative songwriting retreat that will connect Pasifika songwriters and producers at Roundhead Studios this August 4 - 8. Participants will have the chance create brand new music, expand their network within the music community, and learn from reputable guest writers.
There are 12 positions available to NZ APRA members, with funded spots available to those outside of the Auckland region.
Application deadline extended to 5pm Tuesday 17 June.
GUEST WRITERS
We're excited to welcome Vince Harder, Smokeygotbeats, and Jessica Hansell (Coco Solid) who will join the week-long collaborative retreat as guest writers alongside David Dallas. They will bring their unique vision for songwriting and production, offering their expertise where needed, and help to guide the sessions each day.
VINCE HARDER
Whether you know him as a singer, producer or songwriter, RnB legend Vince Harder is undoubtedly one of Aotearoa’s most Talented performers. He is also responsible for 3 #1 hits and an array of Gold and Platinum certified NZ songs for other artists including his own timeless house party anthem ‘Everything’ with P Money.
Vince has twice won ‘Best Male Artist at the Pacific Music Awards, along with ‘Best Urban Artist’ and ‘Best Producer’ in 2016. He also received the APRA Maiaoha award alongside Stan Walker and Troy Kingi for 'Aotearoa'.
After focusing his craft as a solo artist, Harder soared into the charts in 2018 with ‘Not Gonna Let Go’ followed up by ‘Next To You’ in 2019 which saw heavy rotation on radio and sat in the top 10 for weeks.
As well as having extensive experience in the studio, Vince is also an accomplished musical theatre artist having performed in shows across Australia and NZ. Most notably, Vince played the lead role of Simba in Disney’s “The Lion King” in Australia, and “Barry Belson” in the Australian and NZ tour of “Jersey Boys”. He also starred alongside Lucy Lawless in Rob Taperts’ immersive experience show “Pleasuredome”.
2021 saw him as a panelist for TVNZ’s Popstars reboot alongside Grammy winner Kimbra and NZ rock royalty Nathan King.
Vince continues to release, write and produce music for himself as well as a whole cohort of Aotearoa’s finest recording artists. In 2024, Vince was a finalist for the APRA Silver Scroll Award for co-writing Stan Walker’s smash bi-lingual track 'I Am' which feature on Ava DuVurney’s film Origin.
SMOKE
Smoke is a New Zealand-based music producer and a core member of the acclaimed hip-hop collective SWIDT. Known for his distinctive production style, he has collaborated with a wide range of renowned artists, including YG, Jay Rock, Hit-Boy, Madison Beer, Dirty Heads and many others.
JESSICA HANSELL / COCO SOLID
Jessica Hansell (Ngāpuhi/Samoa) is a writer, multimedia artist and musician from Auckland, long known by her rap nickname Coco Solid.
In 2022 Hansell released her bestselling novel How To Loiter In A Turf War (Penguin Random House) a story of three friends and their gentrifying city. She is currently director of underground art space Wheke Fortress in Onehunga, Auckland.
Hansell is the creator of cult Māori cartoon Aroha Bridge with screenwriting credits ranging from comedy Wellington Paranormal, indigenous soap Ahikaroa, through to her upcoming science-fiction series Jupiter Park.
With music projects (Coco Solid, Parallel Dance Ensemble, Badd Energy and Fanau Spa) and an international following, Hansell now heads artist-led record label and production house Kuini Qontrol. Hansell was named the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific writer in residence in 2018, studying at the University of Hawai’i. The following year Coco was named a national art laureate by The Arts Foundation NZ.
Across all mediums Coco consistently strives to prioritise Oceaniac narratives, wahine, LGBTQIA expression and underground creatives of colour.
Moana SongHubs 2025 curator: David Dallas
David Dallas occupies a rare space in New Zealand music. Introduced to us via his prodigious guest verse on the classic ‘Not Many Remix’ - few could have foreseen a career that would have him still selling out shows and garnering award nominations two decades later.
Over the years we’ve seen everything from chart topping albums, video game placements, a partnership with legendary NY label DuckDown, a WWE theme, a hat tip from Kanye West, features from Freddie Gibbs, and huge placements in Hollywood films such as Adam Sandler’s “Hustle”. He even founded Red Bull’s ‘64 Bars’ which is now a worldwide series showcasing MCs around the globe.
More importantly songs like “Runnin” have become legitimate anthems in this country. Ubiquitous at sporting events - a local rap song being the unofficial sound of NZ’s 2017 America’s Cup campaign would not have been on anyone’s bingo card, yet it happened.
Most recently Dallas released VITA, an 8-track EP, written back in his childhood home in South Auckland. VITA captures a pivotal moment of reflection and connection after the passing of his brother. In between renovating a house and clearing out 30 years of family memories, Dallas found release in creating music, reuniting with his original producer and close friend, 41.
In a truly full circle moment, this EP has seen him nominated for best rap artist at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, 19 years after winning his first.
With the generous support of Creative NZ
