Tami Neilson

Meet the Designer Part 1: Tami Neilson

Photography and video by Stephen Tilley Video edit by Jacket Productions

Meet the Designer Part 2: How Tami Neilson is Great Full

On touring as a musician since childhood…

I’m originally from Canada. I grew up in a family band and we toured for the better part of a decade across North America. I got to open for people like Johnny Cash and legendary country stars. I didn't realise then that was actually not normal. Looking back, I realise that it was a pretty wonderful way to grow up.

On being a musician...

"What else can I do? What can I do other than music?" Those thoughts hit you quite often when you're a musician. But it's so much a part of who we are as creatives and musicians that we don't really have that much of a choice. We have to keep pushing forward. Creating is what we're put on this earth to do.

On fueling creativity...

Connecting with an audience is always a really important element when it comes to fuelling my creativity. Also, in different phases of your life, different things inspire you. Losing my dad fuelled creativity because I wanted to create something that my children could hold [onto] to remember their papa. My greatest inspiration is my dad. He is the one that laid the foundations. I stand on his shoulders and every accomplishment is his accomplishment. Making sure to honour that legacy and to carry it on, to pass it on to my children, is the fuel that drives the car of my music.  

On collaborating with family…

My brother, Jay, we often joke, is like the other half of my brain. I usually see him every month or so because he's in my band and has toured with me internationally for years. Over the past couple of years of the pandemic he’s been in Canada so we've had to find other ways to collaborate. This has meant a lot of song writing. And when I was asked to be part of this project, I immediately got in touch with him because he's a great illustrator. I was specific about what I had in my mind and he ran with it. 

On the inspiration behind the Yee to the Haw artwork…

As a country music artist, for this project I wanted to capture the fact that I'm a Canadian New Zealander, and I grew up touring across North America. Yee to the Haw brings together my two worlds, my two families, my two communities of New Zealand and Canada. The illustration very much captures the way acoustic country musicians perform on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville – gathering around one microphone and harmonies blending. Complete in their cowboy hats, boots and fringe shirts, the characters are Kiwis – a literal kiwi, a tuatara and a penguin. 

On supporting children’s health through Cure Kids…

I think every parent's number one priority is their children. And for me, all of this—the music and everything—means nothing without the health of my children. Cure Kids funds medical research when it comes to kids’ health. One area that they’ve made an impact in is asthma – a condition that’s close to my heart. My son suffers from asthma and the inroads that Cure Kids has made possible has helped him and thousands of other asthma sufferers. 

On collaborating with Great Full on ‘Jams’ to support Cure Kids...

Whether it’s for your own kids or as a gift, I highly encourage you to pick up a pair of Great Full Jams. By purchasing these, you're supporting sustainable and local. And most importantly, you are supporting Cure Kids, an amazing charity. These people work so hard to help our kids here in New Zealand. The least we can do is buy some amazing pyjamas.