Randa (rapper)

Randa
Also known asLarz Randa
Mainard Larkin
GenresRap
Hip Hop
Years active2012–present

Mainard Larkin (better known by his stage names Randa and Larz Randa) is a rapper and recording artist.

Randa is best known for the songs "Heatwave" and "Rangers." "Heatwave was written with Shannon Fowler (aka Tom Lark) and Merk (musician) (aka Mark Perkins) [1]. "Rangers" was written with Josh Fountain, who subsequently became one of New Zealand's most successful producers through his work with Leisure (band) and Benee. [2] 'Rangers' was used on a TV health promotion ad in New Zealand called "Go the distance", which was a marketing campaign that aimed to contribute to changing New Zealanders alcohol consumption behaviour from the current norm of high-risk drinking to one of moderation.[3] One of Randa's early breakthroughs was winning the Critic's Choice Award at the 2014 New Zealand Music Awards. [4] That same year, he also performed at the Auckland Big Day Out 2014 which had major international acts at the same festival including Snoop Dogg, Pearl Jam and Arcade Fire.[5][6][7][8][9][10] This was considered in the top 20 moments of the festivals history in New Zealand[11] Randa would also perform at the major event Big Gay Out in 2020, which had acts like Mika X and Courtney Act.[12]

In 2018, Randa was featured on an Air New Zealand safety video alongside Julian Dennison, Kings and Theia.[13] In the video, the New Zealand musicians were rapping and singing to a song they created called "It's Kiwi Safety".[14] The music adapts two songs, Run-DMC's "It's Tricky" and "In the Neighbourhood" by Sisters Underground.[15] The video was retired by Air New Zealand after only three months due to public criticism.[16]

In 2026, Mainard Larkin released an Alternative country album Rattlesnake Boy under his own name, working in collaboration with his longtime producer Shannon Fowler (aka Tom Lark). [17]

Personal life

Randa was educated at Carmel College, Auckland, for their high school years. Randa started making music while living briefly in Sydney, Australia, in 2011.[18] Randa studied at MAINZ which is a program part of Tai Poutini Polytechnic.[19][20]


Randa identifies as a Trans man.[21][22][23][24]

Nominations and awards

  • 2013 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Best Music Video - Frankenstein (Nominated)[25]
  • 2014 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Critics’ Choice prize (Winner)[26]
  • 2019 RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards – Best Music Video - Rock Bottom (Winner)

Discography

Randa discography
EPs3
Singles9
Music videos8

EPs

Year Title Details
2012 Lunch Box[27] Released: June 2012
2013 Summer Camp[28] Released: October 2013
2014 Rangers[29] Released: October 2, 2014
2020 Heatwave[30] Released: March 28, 2020

Single

Year Title Album
2013 Orange Juice Summer Camp EP
Frankenstein
2014 Cosby Kid Non-album single
2015 Rangers Rangers EP
Lifeguard
Apollo Creed
2015 Turtles Non-album single
2017 Fashion Non-album single
2017 Angel Boy Non-album single
2019 Rock Bottom Non-album single
2019 Toughen Up Non-album single
Year Title Artist Album
2016 Yes (feat Heavy & Randa) Yoko-Zuna Luminols

Music videos

Year Title Album
2013 Orange Juice[31] Summer Camp EP
Frankenstein[32]
2014 Cosby Kid[33] Non-album single
2015 Rangers[34] Rangers EP
Lifeguard[35]
2015 Turtles[36] Non-album single
2017 Apollo Creed[37] Rangers EP
2019 Fashion[38] Non-album single

References

  1. ↑ "Randa returns with two track Heatwave EP". Health Promotion Agency. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Say Yeah, Nah/Ease up on the drink Campaign". The Spinoff. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Say Yeah, Nah/Ease up on the drink Campaign". Health Promotion Agency. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Rapper Randa wins Critics' Choice gong". stuff.co.nz. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ten great Big Day Out moments (and one bad one)". New Zealand Herald. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Live review: Big Day Out 2014 (+photos, video)". New Zealand Herald. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  7. ↑ "Big Day Out 2014 Lineup Announcement - Pearl Jam, Blur, Arcade Fire". Under the radar. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  8. ↑ "Big Day Out: New Zealand bands on the bill". Audio Culture. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "Big Day Out New Zealand 2014 – NZ Announcement". Muzic NZ. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  10. ↑ "Taking the stage at Big Day Out". RNZ. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Holograms, headlocks, bogans and Bjork: The Big Day Out's best moments, ranked". Spinoff. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces HIV research funding boost". Stuff. 9 February 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Watch: Air New Zealand's new '90s-themed safety video has landed". Newshub. Archived from the original on November 6, 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "Air New Zealand's new safety video is joyful display of country's diversity". CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "Air New Zealand safety video divides nation". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Air New Zealand dumps rap safety video". Stuff. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  17. ↑ "Mainard Larkin on life after Randa and his pivot from hip-hop to country music". www.rnz.co.nz. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "rapping with randa, new zealand's hip hop explorer". Vice. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  19. ↑ "LARZRANDA IS "HOT LIKE TIGER BALM"". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  20. ↑ "RANDA REWRITES RAP'S RULES". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  21. ↑ "QUEER HIP HOP – A COUPLE OF PLACES TO START". Gay Express. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  22. ↑ "The importance of being Randa". Stuff.co.nz. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  23. ↑ "The extra factor in new music". Stuff.co.nz. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  24. ↑ "Randa Profile". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  25. ↑ "Best Music Viceo". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  26. ↑ "Critics' Choice prize". RIANZ. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  27. ↑ "Lunch Box". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  28. ↑ "Summer Camp". Soundcloud. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  29. ↑ "Rangers". Spotify. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  30. ↑ "Heatwave". Spotify. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  31. ↑ "Orange Juice Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  32. ↑ "Frankenstein Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  33. ↑ "Cosby Kid Music Video". Vimeo. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  34. ↑ "Rangers Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  35. ↑ "Lifeguard Music Video". Youtube. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  36. ↑ "Turtles Music Video". Vimeo. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  37. ↑ "Someone get the boom box! Randa on Dirty Girls + 'Apollo Creed' Video Premier". Spin Off. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  38. ↑ "Randa - Fashion". Youtube. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
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