There are origin stories, and then there’s Triggar Happy’s origin story. Regan Tucker grew up in Ōtorohanga, Waikato, spent years running six farms, built a life from scratch — and then lost everything. Rather than regroup and go back to what he knew, he walked away from the land entirely and bet it all on music. It’s the kind of decision that either works out brilliantly or doesn’t, and for Tucker, it’s been working out.
His two albums, Talk Is Cheap and Love Loyalty Respect, both hit number one on the Top 20 Aotearoa Album Charts. His single ‘Zombies’, out in February, picked up airplay on The Rock. He took home Impact Artist of the Year at the 2025 Independent Music Awards. The foundation is solid.
Today he releases ‘Cowboy Power Rock’ — the second single ahead of a deluxe album rolling out across 2026, due for completion in October. It’s exactly what the title suggests: a big, no-frills rock track with country edges and the kind of gritty energy that suits someone who came up the hard way. Think raw alt-rock with bluesy swagger and soul-tinged vocals — music that doesn’t overthink itself, which is arguably its greatest strength. As Tucker puts it: “Sometimes you’ve just gotta be a badass to get what you want out of life.” There’s nothing manufactured about the approach, and it shows.
If you’re a fan of Aotearoa rock with a bit of dirt under its fingernails, it’s worth a listen.
‘Cowboy Power Rock’ by Triggar Happy is out now on all streaming platforms.
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