From the farmland of Otorohanga to being the best in the world – that’s the dream of country-rock singer Triggar Happy and he’s throwing all he has into making it happen. Triggar, aka Regan Tucker, has already had two albums hit the number-one spot in the Aotearoa Music Charts and now he’s going for the trifecta.
“I’m so hungry to succeed!” he tells Woman’s Day.
“In my mind, I’m already a legend. That sounds unhumble – and I suppose it is – but I have to believe I’m not wasting people’s time because otherwise I can’t do it. When you put everything on the line, you can’t back down.”
The Harley Davidson-riding former farmer, 50, lives on a four-hectare block in the Waikato, and is funding his bid for stardom with money earned mowing lawns and cutting down trees. He has already lost everything once and is going into the red again to fund his recording career, but Triggar has faith in God as well as himself.
“I get up every day and I’m super-energised,” says Triggar.
“I thank God for that. No matter what, I keep asking Him for help and every day there’s something new.”
The gig he couldn’t turn down
There’s been some unexpected opportunities – like the title track of his latest album, Love, Loyalty, Respect, which came about after an approach from the Bandidos Motorcycle Club in Australia.
“They’re a big, ferocious bunch of men,” tells Triggar.
“But they’re also full of love, loyalty and respect – that’s one of their mottos. They contacted me to say they loved my voice and wanted me to write them a song. Then they said they’d really like me to go to Canberra and sing it for them.”
The invitation meant flying over to perform in front of 4000 people. The only snag was that Triggar’s fiancée Cherie Jaques – who has inspired his new single Sundown – was about to give birth to their second child.
“I told him he should go,” says Cherie.
“I never want our family to get in the way of him living his dream. At the same time, I was crossing my fingers that I wouldn’t go into labour before he came back.”
The prospect was pretty scary, admits Triggar.
“But I had the balls to go and perform for them. They’re a tough crowd!”
One opportunity sparked another
That gig led to another unexpected opportunity. In the audience was the boss of Australian publishing company New Holland, which was launching a book about the Bandidos. She ended up commissioning Triggar to produce a book of his recipes.
He explains, “They asked, ‘What do cowboys eat?’ I’m a solid dude, and I eat meat, seafood and salad – real healthy meals. Like the music I write, the food I cook is influenced by my Kiwi upbringing, my time living in Australia and my love of American style.”
With Cherie’s help, he’s been creating and photographing 55 recipes to appear in Country Rock Kitchen, which will launch in October, at the same time as the new album he’s also busily recording. Then there are plans for gigs in Sydney and maybe further afield.
“I don’t do shit by halves,” he grins.
“I do it the full hog.”
Fortunately, despite his schedule, Triggar managed to make it home with only a day to spare for the birth of his baby girl, who came into the world on 18 November, weighing in at 4.5kg.
The moment they knew her name
Choosing her name was a spiritual experience for Cherie, who was driving home late one night from her job as veterinarian for the Ministry of Primary Industries when she had what she describes “a download from God”, saying her name is Claire.
“At that stage, I didn’t even know I was pregnant, but it was so loud that I almost had to pull over,” she says.
“I came home and said, ‘You’re going to think I’m nuts,’ then we found out I was pregnant. It was a girl and she’s Claire.”
Cherie’s making the most of her maternity leave, spending as much time as possible with their new daughter and her big brother Billy, who’s almost three.
“Billy adores his sister,” she says.
“He gives her little kisses, and is really gentle and loving.”
The couple is hoping for a summer wedding, although at this stage, they aren’t sure when or where. As Triggar’s career gains momentum, it’s taking up all their time and energy.
He’s working with producer Noema Te Hau and has met members of the band Six60, who have taken him under their wing. Triggar also has a tour manager now and his song Zombies has been played on radio station The Rock.
“Things are starting to heat up,” he grins.
Next stop: World domination! Triggar Happy’s new single Sundown is out Friday. For more info, go to triggarhappy.com.
