Ta-ku

Regan Mathews, better known by his stage name Ta-ku, is an Australian musician, producer and photographer.[1]

Ta-ku
Birth nameRegan Mathews
OriginPerth, Western Australia, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Producer
  • musician
  • photographer
Years active2008–present
Labels
Websitewww.ta-ku.co

Life and career

Mathews was born and raised in the Australian city of Perth.[2] He is half-Filipino, half-Māori. Mathews attended high school at John Curtin High School. Before he decided to focus on music, Mathews held a sales job at Medibank for five years.[3] Mathews' stage name "Ta-ku" is a nod to his Māori heritage.[3]

In 2008, an invite to the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy in Barcelona, taking counsel from the likes of DJ Toomp, Chuck D, Bun B, Omas Keith and Dennis Coffey. The trip was a breakthrough moment for Ta-ku as he channeled his experience and new found motivation to liberate a slew of free beat tapes within months of his return. Shortly after flooding the internet with a diverse array of releases, his output was rewarded with subsequent collaborations involving CyHi Da Prynce (G.O.O.D music), John Robinson, Raashan Ahmad (Paper Chain labelmate), Joe Scudda, Outasight, Kid Daytona, Phil Ade, Raaka (Dilated Peoples) amongst many others.[4]

Ta-ku's album Songs to Break Up To was released 8 October 2013. It peaked at No. 18 of the ARIA Album Chart.[5]

Ta-ku has featured on Boiler Room[6] and toured around Australia as part of Listen Out festival in 2014.[7] In May 2015, Ta-ku was a Youth Speaker at TEDxSydney.[8]

Ta-ku made his U.S. live debut at New York's MoMA PS1 in October 2015.[9][10]

In 2016, Ta-ku collaborated with singer songwriter Wafia to create the album (m)edian.[11]

Mathews was previously a co-owner of Weston's Barbershop in Northbridge and the fashion brand Team Cozy.[12][2]

In 2018, Mathews started a creative agency called Pretty Soon with friend Ben Wright.[13] Pretty Soon has done work for Red Bull, Puma, Nike, G-Star and Apple.[2]

From 11 February–6 March 2022, Ta-ku's Songs to Experience ran as part of the Perth Festival. The immersive music installation was a reflection of his forthcoming album of the same name.[2][14]

On 9 June 2023, Ta-ku announced on his Instagram new album Songs to Come Home To, scheduled for 25 August 2023.[15]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak positions
AUS[16]
Different Spaces
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Paper Chain (PCPCD002)
  • Format: CD
 -
Tribute: Dilla
  • Released: 26 September 2010[17]
  • Label: Ta-ku
  • Format: CD, digital
 -
Beat Sketches Vol.1
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Digi Crates Records
  • Format: digital
 -
Latenyc
  • Released: 5 December 2011[18]
  • Label: HW&W Recordings
  • Format: digital
 -
Do What you Love
  • Released: 21 June 2013[19]
  • Label: Jakarta
  • Format: digital
 -
Songs to Break Up to
  • Released: 8 August 2013[20]
  • Label: HW&W Recordings
  • Format: digital
 18
Songs to Make Up to
Songs to Come Home to
  • Scheduled: 25 August 2023[15]

EPs
Title Details
Darker Than Wax
  • Released: April 2011[22]
  • Label:
  • Format: digital
50 Days For Dilla (Vol. 1)
  • Released: 15 March 2012[23]
  • Label: HW&W Recordings
  • Format: digital
50 Days For Dilla (Vol. 2)
  • Released: July 2012[24]
  • Label: HW&W Recordings
  • Format: digital
Beast Mode
(with Jaden Smith)
  • Released: February 24, 2015[25]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
(m)edian
(with Wafia)
25 Nights for Nujabes
  • Released: 21 December 2018[27]
  • Label: Jakarta & 823 Records
  • Format: digital download, streaming
Black & White
(with Please Wait & Matt McWaters)
  • Released: 13 December 2019[28]
  • Label: 823 Records
  • Format: digital download, streaming

As lead artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS[29]
"Down to Earth Music"
(with Miles Benny])[30]		 2011 -
"1990s"
(featuring Drapht)[31]		 2013 -
"Love Again"
(featuring JMSN & Sango)[32]		 2015 -
"American Girl"
(featuring Wafia)[33]		 -
"Meet in the Middle"
(with Wafia)[34]		 2016 - (m)edian
"Love Somebody"
(with Wafia)[35]		 74
"Leave (Get Out)"
(featuring Wafia)[36]
(Triple J Like a Version)		 2017 - non album single
"White"
(with Matt McWaters)[37]		 2019 -
"Flight 99"
(with Please Wait & Matt McWaters)[38]		 - Black and White
"Glitter"[39] 2020 -
"Cruel"
(with Panama)[40]		 -
"Notice"[41] -
"Misery"
(with terri)[42]		 -
"Smile"
(with Xavier Omar, DAISY WORLD & ROMderful)[43]		 2023 - Songs To Come Home To
"Way Out"
(featuring Milan Ring, Matt McWaters and ?uestlove)[44]		 -
"Better"
(featuring Jay Prince & Billy Davis)[45]		 -
List of singles, with selected details
Title Year
"Tasty"
(Drapht featuring Ta-Ku)[46]		 2013
"Frogs"
(Charles Murdoch featuring Wafia, Hak & Ta-Ku)[47]		 2015
"Sunflower Love"
(Lyss featuring Ta-Ku)[48]		 2019

Awards

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2014[49][50] Songs to Break Up To Best Independent Dance/Electronic Album Nominated
AIR Awards of 2015[51] Songs to Break Up to Best Independent Dance/Electronic Album Nominated

West Australian Music Industry Awards

The West Australian Music Industry Awards are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc.[52][53][54]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2013 Ta-ku (Regan Mathews) Electronic Producer of the Year Won
2014 Ta-ku (Regan Mathews) Electronic Producer of the Year Won
2015 Ta-ku (Regan Mathews) Electronic Producer of the Year Won

References
  1. "triple j Unearthed". triple j. Triple J. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. Collins, Simon (22 January 2022). "After a break, Ta-ku returns for Perth Festival". The West Australian. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  3. Collins, Simon (4 June 2015). "Perth producer Ta-ku launches EP with Boiler Room show". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  4. "Ta-Ku". Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  5. "Australian Charts". ARIA. Australian Recording Industry Association. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  6. "RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY X BOILER ROOM CHRONICLES 002". Boiler Room. Boiler Room. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. "Listen Out 2015 dates and venues announced, line-up "coming soon"". ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  8. "Sharing My Perspective and Baby Photos". TEDxSydney. TED. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  9. "Ta-ku LIVE With Basenji, Charles Murdoch & Future Classic DJs". MoMA PS1. MoMA. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  10. "Tears With Happiness: Ta-ku Makes His Live Debut At MoMA PS1". The Fader. The Fader. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  11. Smith, Joseph (5 August 2016). "Ta-Ku And Wafia Tell The Story Behind Their Joint EP '(m)edian'". Stoney Roads. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  12. "Ta-Ku's Songs to Make Up To delves into intensely personal territory". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  13. O'Neill, Holly (5 November 2018). "We talk to the minds behind the incoming Bright Futures events, creative agency Pretty Soon". Purple Sneakers. Archived from the original on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  14. "Ta-ku & Friends". Perth Festival. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  15. Mathews, Regan (9 June 2023). "takubeats". Instagram. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  16. "Ta-Ku Songs to Break Up To". Australian Charts. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  17. "Tribute". Bandcamp. 26 September 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  18. "Latenyc (DD)". Apple Music. December 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  19. "Do What you Love (DD)". Apple Music. June 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  20. "Songs to Break Up to (DD)". Apple Music. 8 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  21. Ta-Ku - Songs To Make Up To, September 2015, retrieved 27 June 2023
  22. "darker than Wax". bandcamp. April 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  23. "50 Days For Dilla (Vol. 1) (DD)". Apple Music. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  24. "50 Days For Dilla (Vol. 2) (DD)". Apple Music. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  25. "Jaden Smith 'Beast Mode' (Produced by Ta-ku) | Sidewalk Hustle".
  26. "(m)edian (DD)". Apple Music. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  27. "25 Nights for Nujabes(DD)". Apple Music. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  28. "Black & White (DD)". Apple Music. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  29. "Chart Watch 381". auspOp. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  30. "Down to Earth Music single". bandcamp. March 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  31. "1990s". Apple Music. February 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  32. "Love Me Again". Apple Music. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  33. "American Girl". Apple Music. October 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  34. "Meet in the Middle". Apple Music. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  35. "Love Somebody". Apple Music. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  36. "Leave (Get Out)". Apple Music. December 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  37. "White". Apple Music. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  38. "Flight 99". Apple Music. November 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  39. "Glitter - single". Apple Music. May 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  40. "Cruel - single". Apple Music. August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  41. "Notice - single". Apple Music. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  42. "Mysery - single". Apple Music. November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  43. "Lastlings, Romy, Ta-ku, Skeleten, SMAK, Zion Garcia + More Purple Sneakers Best New Music". Purple Sneakers. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  44. "Ta-Ku Recruits A Team Of R&B All-Stars For His New Single, 'Way Out'". Life Without Andy. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  45. "Ta-ku: BETTER (feat. Jay Prince & Billy Davis) (Official Visualiser)". YouTube. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  46. "Tasty (single)". Apple Music. January 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  47. "Frogs (single)". Apple Music. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  48. "Sunflower Love (single)". Apple Music. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  49. "CARLTON DRY AIR AWARDS 2014 NOMINEES ANNOUNCED". speaker tv. September 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  50. "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  51. "1 Dads, Courtney Barnett Lead This Year's Independent Music Award Nominations". MusicFeeds. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  52. "Tame Impala Boost Trophy Cabinet, Scoop 2013 WAM Awards". tonedeaf. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  53. "Timothy Nelson & The Infidels, Pond Dominate 2014 WA Music Awards". Music Feeds. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  54. "Tame Impala Dominate The 2015 WA Music Awards". Music Feeds. 6 November 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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