Mental Notes Project: Hamilton Students Honour Split Enz with Vinyl Release

Interview with Ziggy Hauraki, Age 10, Hamilton East School
By Kaupapa Kid (Lachie Holt)

The Split Enz Mental Notes Project is a special tribute to the iconic New Zealand band Split Enz, celebrating 50 years of their music. Students from Hamilton East School and ex-Hamilton West School have reimagined the album, performed the songs themselves and created the original artwork. Now, this incredible school project is available on vinyl for pre-order at JB Hi-Fi here.

Kaupapa Kid Lachie Holt spoke with 10-year-old Ziggy Hauraki from Hamilton East School about the project, performing with music legends, and what it’s like to have their work pressed on vinyl.

Lachie: So Ziggy, the Split Enz Mental Notes Project is now available for pre-order at JB Hi-Fi. How does that make you feel?
Ziggy: I’m shocked! I never thought our little school project would become this big and be in shops!

Lachie: Can you tell us what your favourite part of the project has been so far?
Ziggy: Probably the actual day, meeting and playing with Mike Chunn and the other students. Playing “Time for a Change” on stage with Mike Chunn was really special.

Lachie: What was your favourite song and why?
Ziggy: My favourite was probably I Hope I Never, because it was the most “normalish” song. It was also nice singing with Madeleine.

Lachie: Why do you think it’s exciting to have the project released on vinyl?
Ziggy: Because it was just meant to be a little school project. It was never meant to go this far and be pressed on vinyl.

Lachie: What do you hope people feel when they listen to the vinyl?
Ziggy: I hope they think it’s good and that we played the songs well.

Lachie: How did the class work together to bring the project to life?
Ziggy: We had heaps of practices with our classes to learn Stranger Than Fiction. The teachers helped a lot. I think the whacky hair and blazers we designed also helped bring it to life.

Lachie: Can you tell us about the album artwork and how it was created?
Ziggy: Room 13 painted and designed the artwork on old projector screens. We also went to Roundhead Studios and gave Neil Finn the artwork, which was pretty cool.

Lachie: What’s one thing you’ve learned from this project that you’ll never forget?
Ziggy: That anything is possible. It’s not only the big things that get attention—even our little school project can go far.

Lachie: What was it like meeting and performing with Neil Finn?
Ziggy: That was really cool. I was really nervous as Sweet Dreams was more Madis’ song. Neil was cool; at the start he said he wasn’t sure if he remembered how to play it, and then he just started playing perfectly! The studio was awesome.

Lachie: What’s next for this project?
Ziggy: We are going up to Stebbing Studio to watch the vinyl get made. I’m so excited to see how vinyl gets made!

Lachie: Why should people buy the album?
Ziggy: Because it’s awesome! It’s a kids’ project that was pressed on vinyl. Not many kids’ projects get pressed on vinyl. It’s an amazing tribute to Split Enz for their 50th anniversary. We’d also love it to hit the NZ charts—that would be crazy!

Lachie: What do you think about all the Split Enz members helping you—Wally Wilkinson, Mike Chunn, Emlyn Crowther, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie?
Ziggy: I was really surprised they all gave up their time to help our school project. I’m really grateful for all their support—we couldn’t have done it without them!

Pre-order your copy of the Hamilton East School Mental Notes Project vinyl at JB Hi-Fi now!