Randa (rapper)

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Randa
Also known asLarz Randa
Mainard Larkin
GenresRap
Hip Hop
Years active2012–present

Mainard Larkin (better known by their stage names Randa and Larz Randa) is a rapper and recording artist.

Randa is best known for their song "Rangers", which is used on a TV health promotion ad in New Zealand called "Go the distance". The video was a marketing campaign that aimed to contribute to changing New Zealanders alcohol consumption behaviour from the current norm of high-risk drinking to one of moderation.[1] One of biggest moments of Randa's career was performing at the Auckland Big Day Out 2014.[2]

Randa identifies as transgender and non-binary.[3][4][5][6]

Air New Zealand[edit]

In 2018, Randa was featured on an Air New Zealand safety video alongside Julian Dennison, Kings and Theia.[7] In the video, the New Zealand musicians were rapping and singing to a song they created called "It's Kiwi Safety".[8] The music adapts two songs, Run-DMC's It's Tricky and In the Neighbourhood by Sisters Underground.[9] The video took nine days to record, shooting all across New Zealand. It is the 18th of Air New Zealand's safety videos, which started in 2009.[10] The video was dumped by Air New Zealand after only three months due to public criticism.[11]

Personal life[edit]

Randa was educated at Carmel College, Auckland, for their high school years. Randa started making music while living briefly in Sydney, Australia, in 2011.[12] Randa studied at MAINZ which is a program part of Tai Poutini Polytechnic.[13][14]

Nominations and awards[edit]

  • 2013 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Best Music Video - Frankenstein (Nominated)[15]
  • 2014 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Critics’ Choice prize (Winner)[16]
  • 2019 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Best Music Video - Rock Bottom (Winner)

Discography[edit]

Randa discography
Music videos8
EPs3
Singles9

EPs[edit]

Year Title Details
2012 Lunch Box[17] Released: June 2012
2013 Summer Camp[18] Released: October 2013
2014 Rangers[19] Released: October 2, 2014
2020 Heatwave[20] Released: March 28, 2020

Single[edit]

Year Title Album
2013 Orange Juice Summer Camp EP
Frankenstein
2014 Cosby Kid Non-album single
2015 Rangers Rangers EP
Lifeguard
Apollo Crews
2015 Turtles Non-album single
2017 Fashion Non-album single
2017 Angel Boy Non-album single
2019 Rock Bottom Non-album single
2019 Toughen Up Non-album single

Featured artist[edit]

Year Title Artist Album
2016 Yes (feat Heavy & Randa) Yoko-Zuna Luminols

Music videos[edit]

Year Title Album
2013 Orange Juice[21] Summer Camp EP
Frankenstein[22]
2014 Cosby Kid[23] Non-album single
2015 Rangers[24] Rangers EP
Lifeguard[25]
2015 Turtles[26] Non-album single
2017 Apollo Crews[27] Rangers EP
2019 Fashion[28] Non-album single

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Say Yeah, Nah/Ease up on the drink Campaign". Health Promotion Agency. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Ten great Big Day Out moments (and one bad one)". New Zealand Herald. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. ^ "QUEER HIP HOP – A COUPLE OF PLACES TO START". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ^ "The importance of being Randa". Stuff.co.nz. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  5. ^ "The extra factor in new music". Stuff.co.nz. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. ^ "Randa Profile". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Watch: Air New Zealand's new '90s-themed safety video has landed". Newshub. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Air New Zealand's new safety video is joyful display of country's diversity". CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Air New Zealand safety video divides nation". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Air New Zealand's '90s throwback safety video starring Julian Dennison, Kings, Theia, Randa". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Air New Zealand dumps rap safety video". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  12. ^ "rapping with randa, new zealand's hip hop explorer". Vice. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  13. ^ "LARZRANDA IS "HOT LIKE TIGER BALM"". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  14. ^ "RANDA REWRITES RAP'S RULES". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Best Music Viceo". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Critics' Choice prize". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Lunch Box". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Summer Camp". Soundcloud. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Rangers". Spotify. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Heatwave". Spotify. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Orange Juice Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Frankenstein Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Cosby Kid Music Video". Vimeo. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Rangers Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Lifeguard Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Turtles Music Video". Vimeo. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Someone get the boom box! Randa on Dirty Girls + 'Apollo Creed' Video Premier". Spin Off. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Randa - Fashion". Youtube. Retrieved 16 March 2019.