Toronto Treasures

Rio Hunuki-Hemopo

Wellington, New Zealand

Rio Hemopo knows just how to spice up the dance as a seasoned member of Wellington's dub/soul/fusion scene. Besides contributing to tunes by Fat Freddys Drop and Recloose, he was a founding member of now-defunct kiwi dub/reggae/jazz band Trinity Roots, with whom he toured Europe and played alongside artists like Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Ben Harper and the Mad Professor. Speaking of roots, his hark back to a young Rio and his family throwing christmas parties in the shed, where he got a chance to demonstrate those chords his mum had taught him. A graduate of the Conservatory of Music, he's not afraid to give his many live projects like Breaks Co-op a slap around the bass, channeling the low-slung maneuvers of James Jamerson, Bootsy Collins and Pino Palladino.