Electric Wire Hustle

Electric Wire Hustle

Electric Wire Hustle is a Wellington electronic and soul group formed in 2006. The group’s line-up includes Mara TK, with the original trio also comprising Myele Manzanza and Taay Ninh. Their music blends modern hip-hop, psychedelic elements and soul, with thick drums and percussion, synth lines, Fender Rhodes textures and nylon-string guitar parts alongside soulful vocals.

Career and releases

The group is known by the EWH name and builds on the members’ existing experience in the Wellington music scene. Its first vinyl 12-inch EP features the tracks “Perception” and “Longtime”, the latter a collaboration with Steve Spacek, and it is issued through Wonderful Noise Records Japan with distribution by Jazzy Sport. The group’s self-titled debut album appears on its own label, Every Waking Hour, and includes collaborations with Stacey Epps, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Declaime and Billy TK, Mara TK’s father and a noted New Zealand guitarist. The album is later re-issued by UK label BBE.

Collaborations and live reputation

Electric Wire Hustle works with artists including Om’Mas Keith, Waajeed, Steve Spacek and Recloose. The group also develops a reputation for live performance and shares stages with Dam-Funk, Benji B, Steve Spacek, Alice Russell, Kid Koala and DJ Krush.