TAKATAPUNANI is the rap alter-ego of Asher McCarten (Ngāpuhi), already a local ballroom fixture in her community (House of Coven) and a South Auckland teenager still finishing high school. McCarten recently celebrated her coming-of-age 18th birthday by dropping her menacing debut single ‘Perfect Ten’ (Kuini Qontrol) citing it as her contribution to both Aotearoa ballroom and club music. Working alongside producers Big Fat Raro and Coco Solid, McCarten is nearing completion on her first mixtape ‘Arrival’ due out early 2026.

Asher is interviewed by visual artist Latamai Katoa (Tonga, Ha’asini)  her close collaborator and art director. Katoa (as well as providing secret back-up vocals on ‘Perfect Ten’) has created a symbiotic partnership with McCarten common for emerging creatives. The two under-21 prodigies got together to talk about the defiant ode to femme queens, the city of Tāmaki Makaurau, creating a persona while you’re still learning who you are and the fun the two have working together.

Latamai Katoa
Happy 18th babes, releasing your debut on your birthday is such a power move. What’s the significance of the timing for Perfect Ten?

Takatapunani
Well, I think that it’s my first entry into the adult world. This is my “hi, I’m here” and it’s sort of my first offering as a musician, I guess. Cutting off the vines and beating the new trail for my entrance into the world as Takatapunani.

Latamai
She a trail blazer. She’s getting blazed on that trail.

Takatapunani
It’s also just like my birthday gift to the world, because everyone’s poured so much into me. Especially the last two years. The ballroom community and Wheke Fortress and…. well everybody has poured so much into me the past 18 years. So it’s my, “Here you go. This is my gift to you” to say thank you. Everything that gets poured into me, I pour right back out into the community. All of my music is a thank you letter, even if it’s a diss track!

Latamai
‘Perfect Ten’ feels like both a strut and a spell. If this track was a category in a ball, what would it be… and what would you wear?

Takatapunani
It would literally be Femme Queen Realness perfect 10’s. So, Perfect 10’s category, you have to have won a GP (grand prize) in Body, in Realness and in Face. So, it would be the perfect 10’s category. And if I were to walk it, let’s say I’ve won all three… which… I have not.

Latamai
She lied on the track guys.

Takatapunani
If I were to walk it, I would do a jean short, like a denim booty short, a tight white baby tee, and a cute heel. That’s like the perfect modelling casting outfit, you know what I mean? Because you are showing that you got body, you’ve got realness AND you’ve got face.

Latamai
And you got taste.

Takatapunani
Exquisite taste. “Take her back to your place, before you (explicit Perfect Ten lyrics) say your grace”.

Latamai
Amen.

Takatapunani
Actually fun fact I wrote ‘Perfect Ten’ after watching the Perfect 10s category at the Sissy Ball in Australia and the “adorned in the Gucci, that’s that gorgeous” lyric comes from a femme queen from the House of Gorgeous Gucci. I was watching her walk… and I was like… this makes me want to write a song! So that’s one of the femme queens that inspired it but there’s so many that inspired the track.

Latamai
I love that. You’ve described the song as ‘a vibrant entrance’, so what doors are you kicking open with this track?

Takatapunani
The doors to the new apartment that I’ll buy when I get a bag. I’m just trying to kick the doors into the industry down or into music period, the scene here in Aotearoa. I feel like there’s a lack of the music I like being made by artists in Aotearoa. So that’s sort of what I’m trying. I’m kicking open these doors full of trans artists which are also being kicked open at the same time by people like Monogamy and Blush, and events like Nympho World and Filth. Those DJs are fab, I’m helping to continue kick in those doors as well. But people like Brown Boy Magik and Fanau Spa have kicked those doors open for me as well. Just continuing their work and kicking the doors further.

Latamai
And you’ve worked with artists like Big Fat Raro and Coco Solid. What was it like being in the studio with them? Any juicy behind the scenes moments?

Takatapunani
I’m so gagged that they’re two of my collaborators. The fact I get to work with either of them, it’s like working with legends. It’s a blessing that one day I just magically met my aunty on the bus… then found out she’s Coco Solid… now I get to work with her on my music. Me and Big Fat Raro, we have this very unique thing where we just manage to get into the studio and come up with a beat in like 15 minutes. Every studio session we have, we always come out with a new song. There’s something so special about working with Tokerau because it’s so creative, a real anomaly. The behind the scenes moments of arranging the song, mixing it and listening to it on different speakers and headphones, just little stuff… it’s so fun.

My favorite behind the scenes moment from making ‘Perfect Ten’ was probably when Coco – and you Latamai – came up and recorded the background vocals and the ad libs. You can sort of tell if you listen very closely that it’s them, but they really shaped the track as well. Now all I hear when I walk through is “Who’s She?”. The thought of working with anyone else outside of all the artists at Coconut Clouds Studio (lists Spdrtwnbby, Lijah, Manila among others) I’m just like… no, I don’t want it yet.

Latamai
I think there’s a shared understanding with the people I see using Coconut Clouds (the music studio at Wheke Fortress Gallery). This community that’s been cultivated is special.

Takatapunani
Yeah, the community that Kuini Qontrol has cultivated is absolutely amazing. Super niche, super duper, duper niche. And I love it. I love it. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I’m so grateful that I’m a part of it.

Latamai
Your sound “blends ballroom, Baltimore club, hyper pop and Indie sleaze”. Girl, it’s giving genreless diva! What were you listening to while making this track Perfect Ten?

Takatapunani
I actually think that’s around the time that ‘Headphones On’ by Addison Ray came out. So I was listening to that. And a lot of Azealia Banks, I was listening to ‘1991’ that was one of the biggest inspirations. A lot of work by The Dare and Blaqstarr and Rye Rye, who do that Baltimore club sound. I was also obviously listening to Charli xcx. I’ve been listening to a lot of female MCs while recording my tracks. FKA twigs as well – I was listening to Eusexua, incredible album. Striptease has been a direct inspiration for my music. Obviously, I was listening to a lot of Ayesha Erotica and Slayyyter at the same time, a very clear inspo. I remember finding out about them in 2019 when I was at Intermediate School, being like, “who’s this?”

Latamai
Intermediate School for you was like 10 seconds ago!

Takatapunani
2019 and 2020 it was like five years ago now! I watch all these artists develop and grow… and I’m becoming an artist that hopes to develop and grow, which is kind of cool.

Latamai
Period. Did you have any inkling that you wanted to get into music while at high school, or has it been more of a spontaneous action?

Takatapunani
I’ve always wanted to be a star, make music. There’s something in me that’s always been like, I have that bug. I took music in year nine and we had a terrible teacher who taught us about country music. The only really country album I listened to all the way through is Cowboy Carter so thank you Beyonce. Her bodies of work are very inspiring to me and also most of her music got me through some shit.

Latamai
Well, ‘Perfect Ten’ is an ode to Aotearoa’s femme queens. What does being a Femme Queen in Tāmaki Makaurau mean to you right now?

Takatapunani
I am not gonna bullshit. It’s a fucking hard time to be a Femme Queen with groups like Man Up and Destiny’s Church, Legacy and Family First constantly attacking our existence. It’s important that to me that while I protect myself – and you know, I’m very lucky to pass – I am also out and proud and loud about how I am a Femme Queen because it’s a part of me. I am a woman, but I’m also a Femme Queen. And it’s important to me that I am a Femme Queen of Tāmaki Makaurau right now, because Tāmaki is quite a religious city. If you think about it, there’s quite a lot of church driven communities here that dominate, and there seems to be especially amongst my generation of high schoolers a resurgence in the harmful rhetorics about trans people and about queer people in general. I think it’s important that I stand out as a Whakawāhine and as a Femme Queen.

Latamai
I think it’s also sort of an area thing too. And so, you’re not only being a Femme Queen from Auckland, Tāmaki Makarau, but from South Auckland too.

Takatapunani
Ballroom in Aotearoa started in South Auckland. So me being a Femme Queen is paying homage to that legacy here. There is a particular legacy behind me. A legacy of Femme Queens, of Māori Femme Queens and it’s the history of ballroom in Aotearoa that I’m honouring with my music. And with my existence.

Latamai
We’ve already openly addressed that you are still in high school and are already releasing bangers. What’s it even like navigating school halls and ballroom floors at the same time?

Takatapunani
It seems quite fluid to me, because Ballroom here started in the backfields. That started on the rugby fields, no shade. It started behind the gym doing dips on the concrete. In Aotearoa it started with the Kelston Kweens and the De La Salle Divas looking at YouTube videos of the girls in America where it all started. So, navigating ballroom and school has been quite easy I guess… because I can co-exist in both spaces. I can exist in both spaces as a teenager. I’m free to be a teenager in high school and ballroom where I can walk my category and just have fun. I’m able to still say “oh, I gotta go home early tonight girls. I got homework. I have an assessment due.” That’s literally it. Being in my last year of high school, putting music out AND keeping a presence in the ballroom community… a lot of people think it would be hard to juggle. But I am existing as myself in all three spaces. I don’t know how to explain it but to be able to coexist in ballroom, school and in music, it came naturally to me.

Latamai
Yeah and I will say, it is hard to do for some of the girls.

Takatapunani
It is hard for some of the girls to live for themselves authentically. I’m so lucky that I’ve been able to have such a supportive environment. Obviously, I’ve dealt with shit. Everyone deals with shit. That doesn’t disregard the fact that, you know school can fucking suck and being out in public can fucking suck. I have gone through my fair share of shit. But I’m so glad that I have a family that supports me and that loves me. I’m so glad that I get to exist within my chosen family as well. That’s one of the blessings of being in Ballroom and being a Femme Queen, I get to exist in both my biological and chosen families. To be able to have my Kuini Qontrol family as well is really so amazing to me. House of Coven. I’m so blessed and lucky to have all these people supporting me. I love y’all. Don’t make me cry ugly cry on the interview!

Latamai
So, this track ‘Perfect Ten’ is a part of an upcoming mixtape called ‘Arrival’. Can you give us a little teaser of what’s coming?

Takatapunani
I am in the process. I’ve finished recording some amazing songs…recording some more… which I am very excited about. There is potentially a feature or two… potentially a remix of a certain song. I don’t want to say too much, but they almost flip ‘Perfect Ten’ on it’s head, these other tracks. I think people expect projects to all sound like one song. They’re all like different worlds. And honestly, this mixtape is like taking off my skin and being like, “Here you go. Here’s another song. Here’s a piece of me.” This is a very important piece of me that I’m putting out there, and I’m very excited because I’m sort of non-chalant about the shit I do and the shit I go through. I’m just sort of like, oh, it’s whatever. But this mixtape really shows how I truly feel about things. It just might seem like qunty club but I put a lot of myself into this music. Along with Big Fat Raro, along with Coco Solid and more collaborators to come hopefully. Keep it on the D-low guys. It explores themes of love, acceptance, grief, anger, heartbreak. DL trade.

Latamai
I think it’s interesting, because we have to live our lives so quickly. Because fun fact, our life expectancy caps off at like, 35.

Takatapunani
For a trans woman, yeah. We live our lives so quickly, so in the past 18 now years… God, I’m 18. That’s fucking crazy. Over the past 18 years I’ve lived many lives, and now I’m in the one where I feel like every person that I have been, has led to me being me now, who I truly am. And I will just continue to grow and become the person that I truly am.

Latamai
Can’t wait to see all the different versions of you.

Takatapunani
Yeah, you’ll see a lot of different versions of me who’ve been through a lot of bullshit!

Latamai
So is Takatapunani as an entity an extension, of yourself? This could be misleading, but is your musical persona the product or the labour of coming into who you are?

Takatapunani
I think that Takatapunani was just sort of like my alter ego as a child. This persona has been a part of me for a long time.

Latamai
You rep House of Coven, how has your Ballroom house shaped your artistry and confidence?

Takatapunani
Following in the footsteps of a 10 year legacy left behind by some fucking insane artists.. I’m following in the legacy of Moe Laga, of Cypris Afakasi, of Kaos. I’m following a legacy that has been left for me to pick up on. I’m so grateful for it and my house has also shaped my artistry and confidence by just building me up and helping me explore my artistry outside of a ballroom context too. They help me explore my image, how I present myself… and not in a way that just says “you look ugly, you look chopped hoe.” Just helping me explore my artistry, helping me to explore my identity and build up who I am. Obviously taking care of me within Ballroom… that legacy, that second family, it’s an honour.

Latamai
Can you talk about the name Takatapunani? So, it’s giving reclamation, it’s giving power! But what does it mean to you?

Takatapunani
When I was in year 10, I was sitting there thinking about words and how the words Takatāpui and Punani were two of my favourite words. I combined them and just made it my spam account username, and eventually made that my main username. Then people started recognising me when I firsted started coming into Ballroom spaces saying, “Oh, you’re Takatapunani on Instagram eh?” or “Oh, I saw your Tiktok Takatapunani”. I feel like it’s just naming this part of myself that I’ve always had. Takatapunani is Asher. Asher is Takatapunani. They both exist in the same realm but… Takatapunani is me when I’m fierce.

Latamai
It’s like another version of saying qunty.

Takatapunani
It’s like “yas queen”, but if you’re actually in my cultures. It means so much to me. In so many different contexts. It’s been my social media persona for awhile, people know me from Tiktok for sure. That name has lived lives already.

Latamai
And do you think you’ve kind of got that sort of built-in fanbase from the following?

Takatapunani
If it wasn’t for my Tiktok I don’t think I would have the reception I’ve had with the music I’m making. I made a lot of social media friends through talking about government school lunches and how I’m gonna have heart disease at 30 because of the amount of V I drink. I don’t know, they can be seen as quite controversial because I can get political with it. But I’m like… fuck David Seymour I’m actually living in a politicised body. Everything I do is political. Everything I do can be viewed as controversial. But that doesn’t bother me. I’ve always been a “political and controversial person”.

Latamai
Where do you see the Aotearoa Ballroom scene heading and how do you want to shape that future?

Takatapunani
Oh, that’s a good question. I think it’s at a really beautiful space right now where you don’t know what the fuck is gonna happen next. Generally, you don’t know what’s gonna happen next with ballroom and I think that’s the most beautiful thing about it; you don’t know where it’s gonna go. But there is a new generation on the rise. People like my sisters, Whitney Givenchy, Katie Givenchy, Varyn Iman, Boquisha Coven-Aucoin, Salaria 007. There’s so many more that I keep forgetting, Lavee and Adaeja, and all of these beautiful people are coming through to the scene. I think that we are the future, and I think that we’re all starting to dominate, and there already is so many people dominating already. But I feel like we’re all building our future. I think I want to be a part of shaping the culture musically. I want to be able to create music that can get played at the ball. I want to be able to commentate a ball. I want to chant at a ball. Please, let me chant at a ball! I’m being so serious. I’ll do it for free, I’m kind of desperate. I’m kidding. I would really love to commentate one day.

Latamai
Is that your ideal?

Takatapunani
I love my categories down. I love Face. I love Realness. I love Runway. Although I do get the chop and have been chopped, that will never stop me! Those three are my favorite categories of all time and I love walking them. I’m so excited to hopefully one day be able to get to walk Commentator vs Commentator. I want to be able to shape the future and be able to make a lasting name for myself and help bring ballroom into spaces, bring ballroom Aotearoa to the forefront of the international scene, and help our girls just make a name for themselves and give back to the community. That’s really what I want to do. I want to be able to help the younger girls in just a little ways. I am one of the younger girls, but I also want to help because even after me, there’s so many even-younger babies coming through to the scene! And I just want to be that big sister and one day eventually, help the kids. Being like, “Do you need a ride? Like, do you want a ticket to the ball? I got you, I’ll pay for it.” Just be like that. I want Ballroom to be more accessible to our youth because there’s such an interest in ballroom there and I want it to be more accessible. But I don’t think it’s necessarily just the balls that need to be accessible. I think we just need to have more community stuff that’s more accessible. Like what the House of Dawn did with the Kiki Lounge and what Peggy and Princess 007 are doing in town at the moment with the open jam spaces. I feel like just make it more and more accessible.

Latamai and Asher at Wheke Fortress

Latamai
If Perfect Ten had a smell, a drink and a fashion designer, what would they be?

Takatapunani
This is the easiest question I’ve ever had to answer in my life, this. I’m dead ass: if it was a smell, it smells like Rothmans Red cigarettes being lit just outside the door. If it was a drink, it would be Coke Zero. It would be Coke Zero if you’re a sober girl. Peach Hyoketsu RTDs if you’re a little drink dog.

Latamai
And who’s the designer girl?

Takatapunani
Alexander McQueen’s Armadillo boots are one of my favorite shoes of all time. And I don’t know how but I would love to own a pair one day. Or a black leather pleaser heel. I can’t think of other specific designers but if it were fashion houses, it would be Balenciaga or Diesel.

Latamai
The Perfect Ten visuals are *chefs kiss*. What’s it like working with Latamai Katoa on the artwork and campaign?

Takatapunani
Latamai is a fucking bitch to work with, don’t ever work with her. Kidding! Latamai is amazing, she just gets it. She sees my vision, she sees her vision, she morphs those two visions together to create the ultra vision. It turns out amazing every time! She gives me positive reinforcement and she always has an idea up her sleeve. You never know what it is. She is so sweet like, genuinely. I’m being so serious! She’s not one of those directors that just shouts at you. She’s like, “babe, can you do this please? It would look really qunt.” When we were getting stuff for the shoot, she was just like, “Well, I had this in mind, and, oh look! It’s right there! Do you know why? Because I’m fucking magic.” She’s like, my Mom-ager, my Kris Jenner. She is so amazing to work with, and I love her down. She buys me food, she takes care of me, and she helps execute my creative vision so perfectly. Working with her on this campaign has been so fun. Listen. If there’s any artists out here who are trying to snag her for your campaign, nice try. She’s mine. Okay, Latamai is mine!

Latamai
Now it feels so narcissistic to have asked that question!

Takatapunani
You’re amazing to work with. I would not want to work with anyone else. She’s a Capricorn, so she gets shit done! That’s one thing about Latamai – she can do the business, she can do the visual, she could do everything.

Latamai
And it’s really easy to work with an artist who knows what they want. I really respect that about you as Takatapunani.

Takatapunani
I come in with a vision board even if it’s like past the due date… and then she reads the hell out of it… and then changes it entirely. No, she sees my vision. She looks at my Pinterest board. She culls the stuff that is overused and overdone but she sees what I like and she appreciates what I like. Then she turns it into something that I love and that is unique, that is fresh, that is pussy on period.

Latamai
So, what’s the one thing that you want your listeners to feel when they hear ‘Perfect Ten’ for the first time?

Takatapunani
I want people to be gagged. I want people to be able to play it at the pre-drinks. I want people to be able to love it when they hear it in the club. When people listen to it for the first time, I want it to be like that ear worm that hooks them in and makes them beg for my new music! I just want people to resonate with it. If it doesn’t resonate with you, it doesn’t resonate with you. And if it does, then that’s amazing. But I know that from the reaction I’ve had, people are gagged, and they like it. That’s exactly what I wanted and I just hope that when the next track and the next tape comes out… I hope people get even more gagged. I’m so excited.

Latamai
Finally, when you look in the mirror, what makes you say “Yeah, I’m a Perfect Ten”?

Takatapunani
Well, I’m a Perfect 10 every day. Nah. I live and breathe ‘Perfect Ten’ as my positive affirmations song. Even when my skin isn’t clear and my body doesn’t feel like it’s tea, I know that I’m still a Perfect 10. I feel like it’s the little things. When I put on a little bit of mascara, I say, “Yeah, I’m a Perfect 10.” When I put on new jewellery, “yeah, I’m a Perfect 10.” It’s the essence when you’re feeling it. And for me, feeling it is like a new outfit. New jeans – I’m a Perfect 10. When I’m listening to my favorite song – I’m looking in the mirror, “You look hot. You’re a perfect 10.”

Latamai
And what would you say to the girls who don’t feel like Perfect 10’s?

Takatapunani
Well, the girls are always – specifically, the femme queens – they are always Perfect 10s. You’re a Perfect 10 in your own beautiful way. It’s honestly just about feeling it. I don’t feel ‘Perfect Ten’ every day. But it’s the positive reinforcement. You don’t have to be a Perfect 10 every day.

Latamai
But I guess that’s the thing about categories. They always come around.

Takatapunani
Yeah, they always come around and you will get your 10s. I’m not a Perfect 10 girl, I have depression, okay? I’m not always going to be her. I might lie in bed at night and be like, “Oh my god, I hate myself, I hate everything!” But then I can wake up the next day and I’ll be like, “Perfect.” You don’t always have to be a Perfect 10! Because you will be a Perfect 10 at some point.

Latamai
But I guess it comes back down to that classic thing of, you’re perfect because you’re imperfect.

Takatapunani
Yeah, you are perfect because you’re imperfect. The thing is, that’s the beauty of human nature. Everyone’s perfect because they’re imperfect and they’re still learning and growing. And everyone’s perfect because no one is.

Latamai
So in the eyes of the ‘Perfect Ten’, everyone always is?

Takatapunani
Well, all Femme Queens are perfect. I support Femme Queen rights and wrongs. I think, honestly, if you are a Femme Queen, if you can look at yourself in the mirror and believe that you’re a Perfect 10, if you can carry yourself with a certain essence… if you can tap into your Femme Queen essence and really feel it… then you are a Perfect 10. You don’t have to be giving realness. You don’t have to be giving realness every day. You don’t have to be out here doing the most. You just have to feel it. If you have your essence then you have your essence, no shade.

Latamai
Any final words to say about this single?

Takatapunani
Stream ‘Perfect Ten’. It’s uploaded onto all platforms, plus it’s currently out on SoundCloud and Bandcamp. Please buy the file. Stream it. Promo it out. Play it at the club. Play it at your pre-drinks. Tell your friends. Share it on your story. Tell your mom. Tell your Dad. Tell your grandparents. And if you’re a Femme Queen or you’re a ballroom DJ then message me, and I will send you the file for free. Only Femme Queen DJs and ballroom DJs in Aotearoa specifically – hit me up because I will get you the file for free. That’s my kaupapa. However, if you’re a butch queen, you’re paying double.

Latamai
That’s not true.

Takatapunani
Thank you Kuini Qontrol!

Latamai Katoa is a National Geographic Young Explorer and award-winning photographer using their art to promote empathy and representation for the LGBTQ+ community. A participant and mentor in National Geographic Photo Camps, their work has been showcased in exhibitions like Manioro 2024 and KING BITCH. Currently in residence at Wheke Fortress, Katoa is driven by ancestral legacy and the future of Pasifika youth, envisioning a world where diversity is seen as beautiful and all people feel they belong.