Ben Lemi

aka Dawn Diver, Courtesy Caller, Lorax


A skilled multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, band leader, producer and recording engineer, Ben Lemi has spent the last two decades adding musical colour and vibrant detail to countless acts from New Zealand’s avant-garde jazz, folk, country, soul, reggae, indie rock, RnB and hip-hop communities.

In more recent years, he has often been heard playing with Vera Ellen, TrinityRoots, French For Rabbits, and Bret McKenzie while fronting his own Dawn Diver group and working at Massey University’s School of Music and Creative Media Production in Wellington.

Estère performing at San Fran in Wellington, 2021, with Ben Lemi on synth and bass, and Cory Champion on drums.
Photo credit: Chabs and Milky
Dawn Diver is: Louisa Williamson, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, Will Sklenars, Deanne Krieg, Ben Lemi, Rose Blake and Lily Shaw. 2021.
Photo credit: Lily Paris West
Trinity Roots at the 13th Floor (2015)
The Adults in 2018.
Dawn Diver - Vampire's Predicament live at San Fran, Wellington (2022)
Ben Lemi playing drums for Bret McKenzie's live KEXP show in 2022.
Hikoikoi performing Vibraphone at Redbull Studios (2011)
Age Pryor, Nigel Collins, Bret McKenzie, Justin "Firefly" Clarke and Ben Lemi as the Congress of Animals for the Strange Caravan Tour in 2018.
Photo credit: Lee Gingold
Ben Lemi
Photo credit: Lily Paris West
Dawn Diver - Heavy Handed live at Performance Arcade festival in Wellington, 2019.
French For Rabbits, 2020. Clockwise from left: Penelope Esplin, John Fitzgerald, Ben Lemi, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, Brooke Singer.
Photo credit: Lily Paris West
Ben Lemi in 2021.
Photo credit: Paascalino Schaller 
French for Rabbits live at the Vogelmorn Bowling Club, Wellington (2022)
A.U.R.A live at the Wine Cellar in Auckland, 2019.
Ben Lemi with Hikoikoi.
Johanna and the Mystery Band perform in the Seven Sisters concert at Te Papa for Matariki (2012)
Hannah Howes and Ben Lemi in Prague, 2011.
Johanna and the Mystery performing at Baobab Cafe in 2012.
Congress of Animals performing Burning Sun live at the Captain Cook Hotel with Ben Lemi on drums (2018)
Vera Ellen at the James Hay Theatre in Christchurch, 2024.
Trinity Roots in 2018.
Photo credit: Vanessa Rushton Photography
Newtown Rocksteady on the Bluebridge ferry, 2012.
Ariana Tikao and Ben Lemi performing at Te Papa in 2012.
Ben Lemi, Paul Wood and Michael Duffy as Hikoikoi, 2011.
Ben Lemi with Jane Goodall in 2019. Trinity Roots shared the stage with Jane Goodall, who spoke to a full house at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington as part of her Rewind The Future seminars.
Roy G and the Bivinators performing at Parihaka Peace Festival in 2009. Ben Lemi on bass.
Trinity Roots live at Te Korakora - Matariki Festival 2022, Tāmaki Makaurau | Auckland Council
Urban Tramper performing in Brussels, 2010.
TrinityRoots - Citizen live at the Tuning Fork for RNZ (2015)
Congress of Animals - Shine performed for RNZ (2018)
Emily Browning and Ben Lemi playing with The Adults in 2018 at Meow in Wellington.
Newtown Rocksteady live on the Bluebridge Ferry (2012)
Myele Manzanza, Peter Hill, Hannah Howes, Ben Lemi and Maz Hermon in 2009.
French For Rabbits on tour, 2022. Left to right: Ben Lemi, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, Brooke Singer, Penelope Esplin, John Fitzgerald.
Newtown Rocksteady - Something to Say official music video (2013)
Ben, Warren and Rio at Blue Barn
Photo credit: Photo by Pat Shepherd
TrinityRoots recording at Blue Barn
Photo credit: Photo by Pat Shepherd
Matariki Festival 2012: Seven Sisters
Roy G and the Bivinators live with Ben Lemi on bass (2008)
Bret McKenzie live on KEXP with Ben Lemi on drums (2022)
Ben Lemi in 2018.
Photo credit: Brooke Singer
Bret McKenzie and his supporting band in New York at Webster Hall launching his album Songs Without Jokes, 2022.
Ben Lemi with A.U.R.A (Albert River) live on RNZ Music 101 in 2019.
Photo credit: Ben Lemi
TrinityRoots expanded (2021). From left: Rio Hemopo, Tom Anderson, Warren Maxwell, Eilish Wilson, Kevin Whooley, Hollie Fullbrook, Deanne Krieg, Louisa Williamson, Leo Coghini, Lisa Tomlins, Kaito Walley
Hikoikoi and Mara TK in 2009.
Vera Ellen, Reb Fountain and Voom at the Powerstation in 2024.
Congress of Animals.
Hikoikoi live at Luminate festival in Nelson (2010)
Aura - Tended to Lie performed live on RNZ Music 101 with Ben Lemi on rhythm guitar (2019)
Trinity Roots performing at James Cabaret in Wellington, 2014.
Glass Vaults - Mindreader live for RNZ (2017)
Glass Vaults with Cory Champion on drums, and Ben Lemi on percussion, for their show at Meow in Wellington, 2020.
Trinity Roots.
Will Sklenars, Deanne Krieg, Ben Lemi, Rose Blake, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa for Dawn Diver, 2020.
Photo credit: Capital Magazine, Anna Briggs (photographer)
Dawn Diver is: Ben Lemi, Will Sklenars, Rose Blake, Louisa Williamson, Deanne Krieg, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, Lily Shaw. 2021.
Photo credit: Lily Paris West
Roy G and the Bivinators in 2009 with Ben Lemi on bass.
Ben Lemi and Rodney Fisher from Goodshirt in 2023.
Dawn Diver live video for Shades of Innocence shot at the Cook Islands Society Hall, Wellington (2018)
Dawn Diver for their RNZ live session in 2019.
Photo credit: Yadana Saw
Trinity Roots in 2018.
Photo credit: Vanessa Rushton
French For Rabbits with John Campbell.
Estère with support from Ben Lemi playing at Rough Peel record store in Wellington, 2020.
Newtown Rocksteady live at Meow (2016)
French for Rabbits in 2015 with their Spirits LP and CD.
Dawn Diver - Warming to You live at San Fran, Wellington (2021)
Johanna and the Mystery performing at Te Papa in 2012.
Members of The Strange Caravan Tour: Justin Firefly, Nigel Collins, Ben Lemi, Age Pryor and Bret McKenzie. 2018.
Trinity Roots with Irish Friends - Elephant Movement (2015)
Hikoikoi: Paul Wickham, Jessie Moss, Maz Hermon, James Coyle, Ben Lemi, Mara TK, 2009.
Trinity Roots in 2018.
Photo credit: Vanessa Rushton
The Adults performing at the Powerstation in Auckland, 2018.
Ben Lemi in 2021.
Photo credit: Paascalino Schaller
Ben Lemi at Surgery Studios in 2009 recording with Hannah Howes.
Motu: Oileáin. A collaboration between Trinity Roots and Irish friends, 2015.
Newtown Rocksteady at the Mussel Inn (Onekaka, Golden Bay), 2015.
Trinity Roots performing at the Oxford Arts Factory in Sydney, 2015.
Photo credit: Edwin Sutphen Photography
The Adults playing in Melbourne, 2018.
Hikoikoi.
French For Rabbits, 2016. From left to right: Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa, Penelope Esplin, Brooke Singer, Ben Lemi, John Fitzgerald
Photo credit: Ebony Lamb
Trinity Roots: Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Ben Wood (Ben Lemi)
Photo credit: Photo by Pat Shepherd
Vera Ellen live on Radio One 91FM with Ben Lemi on guitar and drums (2023)
Johanna and the Mystery with Ben Lemi on drums at Chicks Hotel in Dunedin, 2012.
Ben Lemi with Hikoikoi
Ben Wood (Ben Lemi) in TrinityRoots
Photo credit: Photo by Pat Shepherd
Taite Music Prize 2024 winner Vera Ellen with Ben Lemi who produced her album Ideal Home Noise.
Photo credit: RNZ: Samuel Robinson.
Dawn Diver.
Hannah Howes singing her single Muse By Your Side with Ben Lemi on drums and synth (2010)
Ben Lemi in Prague, 2013.
Estère, Goin' Live With Chabs And Milky from San Fran, Wellington (2021). Ben Lemi on synth and bass, and Cory Champion on drums.
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