One of the first things Charles Looker said to his now-wife Emily when they started dating was, “Write down your dreams and let’s make it happen.”
That was in 2015 and now they spend their days travelling the country, writing and recording music together, and hosting workshops for rangatahi (younger generation), all while living out of a caravan with their two – soon-to-be three – children in tow.
“Em had been saying for a few years how cool it would be to be on the road with our kids, but I didn’t realise she wanted to put hands and feet to it,” shares Charles, 36.
“When she brought it up again for the eighth time, or thereabouts, I said to her, ‘You’ve said this heaps. I keep thinking it’s just a dream session, but do you want to make it happen?’ “If we have ideas
or visions in our minds, I don’t think it’s accidental and we have the ability to make them happen.”
So last year, they packed up and rented out their house in Pukekohe and moved into a custom-fitted Rugged Kiwi caravan with their children Olive, then four, and Teaumarino, one. Charles and Emily, who perform as the multi-award-winning, bilingual duo Aro, even wrote their new album, Tāwauwau, while in the caravan with support from a Te Māngai Paho grant.
Making music on the move
“Everyone says, ‘How the heck do you write music on the road?’” laughs Emily, 34.
“A lot of it was through winter, so we’d put the kids down to bed, turn the light on or a candle, get the guitar out and musical ideas would flow from the conversations of the day.”
The new music is inspired by the natural world that’s now their backyard and seeing it through their children’s eyes.
Inspired by nature and childhood wonder
“When we’re growing up, the world feels like our oyster,” muses Charles.
“Part of the challenge is as we get older, we lose that wonder or the touch of the magic that’s innate in all of us – that anything is possible and dreams are healthy.”
While it’s undeniably a busy life, Charles and Emily, who are planning to homeschool their kids, agree travelling with young ones has brought peace.
“Before the caravan, we still moved about a lot, doing gigs, shows and workshops, but we were always settling kids into accommodation and that took its toll on our family,” reflects Emily.
“Now our base is always with us. We can go to these communities and connect to others without that stress.”
Music with a mission
Connection is at the heart of everything they’re trying to achieve through Aro.
Charles explains, “It goes back to 2015 when my cousin decided it was best he not exist in te ao tūroa [the physical world] any more. It concerned me that someone that young thought it was the best decision. I have been on a journey since trying to learn and reach as many young people as possible before they get to this point.”
With support from the New Zealand Music Commission, the whānau runs songwriting workshops at schools, empowering youth to share their stories.
“Living in a caravan, we can better reach some of these communities where they might not otherwise get people who are somewhat public-facing, take the time to venture to their kura [school], write songs with them and hang out with them,” tells Charles.
Much of their own music is in te reo Māori. It’s Charles’ first language and Emily has embraced it.
“I’ve married into this beautiful Māori whānau, and we have our own kids who are Māori and Pākehā,” she enthuses.
“I feel really honoured to learn as much as I can and I want to embrace what it means being Pākehā living in Aotearoa.”
Tour, tunes and tiny humans
Next up, they’re excited for the March 20 full release of Tāwauwau, followed by performing at Wellington festival CubaDupa on March 28-29, and touring the country in April for what they’re calling the Secret Sun Tour.
Then it’s time to park up in Auckland and await the arrival of their third baby before hitting the road again. They both admit to briefly questioning whether van life would be possible with a newborn in tow. But as always, they’re committed to making the dream become their reality.
Emily elaborates, “I suggested, ‘Is the option of going back to our whare something we want to do?’ But that’s back to paying a mortgage and one of us having to work full-time and not doing our music
as much as we are now, so it makes sense to keep living like this. We have this beautiful, flexible life and caravan. We’re so grateful.”
To find more about shows, new music and workshops, visit aromusic.co.nz
