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KOANGA/SPRING 2013 | www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 1 YMS & NAT TAMATI RIM D.PAUL THE KUMPNEE & NRG RISING DESIGNER COLLECTIONS Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show FINALISTS REVEALED 2013 Waiata Maori Music Awards KAHURANGI Albums mark 30th anniversary SOCIAL MEDIA Marketing music online TOURING Katchafire's big O.E. ISSUE 5, 2013 The Beat Sensation Performing at this year’s National Waiata Maori Music Awards WWW.WAIATAMAORIAWARDS.CO.NZ

Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

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Page 1: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 1

YMS &NAT TAMATI

RIM D.PAULTHE KUMPNEE & NRG RISING

DESIGNERCOLLECTIONS

Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show

FINALISTSREVEALED2013 Waiata Maori Music Awards

KAHURANGI Albums mark 30th anniversary

SOCIAL MEDIAMarketing music online

TOURINGKatchafire'sbig O.E.

ISSUE 5, 2013

The Beat SensationPerforming at this year’s National

Waiata Maori Music Awards

WWW.WAIATAMAORIAWARDS.CO.NZ

Page 2: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 2

W W W . N Z O N A I R . G O V T . N Z / M U S I C

N Z M U S I C F O R B R O A D C A S TO N R A D I O / O N T V / O N L I N E

N Z O N A I R L O V E S

R I A H A L LA N D

S I X 6 0W I N N E R S O F T H E N Z O N A I R B E S T M U S I C V I D E O

& N Z O N A I R R A D I O A I R P L A Y A W A R D A T T H E W A I A T A M A O R I A W A R D S I N 2 0 1 2

T U M E K E O N G A K A I W A I A T A !

NZOA - WAIATA FP AD - 12_6_13_NZOA - WAIATA FP AD - 12_6_13 05/08/2013 11:51 Page 1

Page 3: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 3

Editor:Tama Huata [email protected]

Editorial:Lawrence Gullery Tania McCauleyAmy Shanks

Design:Lawrence Gullery

Photography:Paul TaylorGlenn TaylorLawrence Gullery

Printing:Format Print

Publisher:Waiata Maori Music Awards Trust, 706 Albert St, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. PO Box 1368, Hastings, New Zealand.

Circulation:Waiata is published biannually, 3000 copies printed each edition. Available direct by subscription and free through selected sites. For more information email Lawrence Gullery on: [email protected]

All contents and design remain property of the Waiata Maori Music Awards Trust. All rights reserved.

Online version:http://issuu.com/waiatamagazineFacebook: @ Waiata Maori Music AwardasOfficial website:www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz

Issue 5, September, 2013

Show timeA programme over of the 2013 Waiata Maori Music Awards.

Nominated AwardsThree nominated award recipients are revealed..

Cover Story The singer performing loops with soul and rhythm.

AnniversaryKahurangi Maori Dance Theatre launches new album.

Rim D.PaulPerforming with Rotorua Maori Choir.

OpinionPerformer Ronnie Lavender reviews the Aus scene..

Young Men SocietyNathan Tamati and the young men of YMS.

Social MediaSinger Anna Coddington, online music marketing.

Designer CollectionsDesigners prepare for Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show.

Nga MihiFrom the executive director, Tama Huata.

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SPECIAL FEATURES

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Album reviews Tania McCauley reviews eight album selections.

Katchafire Making it work overseas, on tour.

NRG RisingReturning home for video inspiration.

Last WordNZ On Air's Brendan Smyth, how and where we access music.

Finalists6-9 Introducing the finalists for this year's Waiata Maori Music Awards.

Nga Pou16-17 A musical element is added to a project uniting marae in Hastings district.

Singer Tiki Taane was a guest performer at the 2012 National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

W W W . N Z O N A I R . G O V T . N Z / M U S I C

N Z M U S I C F O R B R O A D C A S TO N R A D I O / O N T V / O N L I N E

N Z O N A I R L O V E S

R I A H A L LA N D

S I X 6 0W I N N E R S O F T H E N Z O N A I R B E S T M U S I C V I D E O

& N Z O N A I R R A D I O A I R P L A Y A W A R D A T T H E W A I A T A M A O R I A W A R D S I N 2 0 1 2

T U M E K E O N G A K A I W A I A T A !

NZOA - WAIATA FP AD - 12_6_13_NZOA - WAIATA FP AD - 12_6_13 05/08/2013 11:51 Page 1

rarangi upokocontents

Page 4: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

nga mihitama huata

MAORI MUSIC EXPOHawke’s Bay

Opera House Plaza, Hastings.

Thursday, September 12 9am-2.30pm

Friday September 13 9am-1pm

Free events:

National Maori Hand Games kapa haka live bands music industry panels putangitangi

workshops and artists presentations

Call Michelle McIlroy

for more information,

027 919 5363 or [email protected]

THIS YEAR’S National Waiata Maori Music Awards promises to have a number of spectacular features for those involved

and guests coming from around the country to be part of the two-day event.This will be the sixth Waiata Maori Music Awards held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings and will be special because it will also mark the 30th anniversary of Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre, an international performing arts company also based in Hawke’s Bay. The group has performed the opening number at previous Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremonies and people can expect something outstanding to recognise from the group to open this year’s show, marking its three-decade milestone.Kahurangi is also expected to launch one of two new albums recorded earlier this year, for its anniversary.In July, a group called Nga Marae o Heretaunga and the Hastings District Council revealed the Nga Pou O Heretaunga project in the city’s Civic Square. The collection of 18 pou, which each represent an ancestor of a Ngati Kahungunu marae, marks the beginning of the council’s redevelopment of civic square and

there are hopes it will include a component to recognise Maori music, in conjunction with the National Waiata Maori Music Awards. The aspiration is one day we could see a type of Maori Music Hall of Fame established at the Civic Centre.We feature Nga Pou o Heretaunga, and Kahurangi, in this the fifth issue of Waiata magazine. We also reveal the core group of finalists contesting the Open Section this year’s awards and the three recipients of the Nominated Awards section.Our cover story is on Mihirangi Fleming, the

performer who uses loops and layers music to create her own unique sound.Rim D.Paul returns to this year’s Waiata Maori Music Awards to perform with support from the Rotorua Maori Choir, a group he has inspired.Nat Tamati of the Young Men Society, based in Sydney, speaks about his expectations of appearing at the awards this year while another Maori working hard in Australia, Ronnie Lavender, of The Kumpnee, writes a column reviewing Maori talent working across the ditch.Singer Anna Coddington looks at how to get the best out of social media options for artists and we take a look at the designers lining up for this year’s Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show. We also have reports from Katchafire, which will also be a major draw card at this year’s awards ceremony and NRG Rising speaks to Waiata about work on their new music videos.We also review eight album selections and Dech from Smash Proof, a former Waiata Maori Music Award winner, talks about the group’s long-awaited second album due for release this year. We hope you will join us this year to again remember and recognise our iconic artists and celebrate those performers forging a career in music, promoting Waiata Maori to the rest of the world.

Nga mihi ki a koe

Tama Huata

Executive director

SPECIAL FEATURES mark sixth awards

THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF KAHURANGI MAORI DANCE THEATRE AND THE NGA POU O HERETAUNGA PROJECT WILL ADD SOMETHING SPECIAL TO THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS.

‘The aspiration is that one day we will see a Maori Music Hall of Fame'

Hastings man Thompson Hokianga was one of the carvers working on Nga Pou O Heretaunga.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 4

Page 5: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

YMS, MIHIRANGI in loop for 2013

KATCHAFIRE, YOUNG MEN SOCIETY & MIHIRANGI MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT

THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS.

Katchafire

MAORI MUSIC EXPO:

Music industry leaders share their advice in public discussion panels, workshops of musical instruments

and kapa haka performances. Held in the Hawke’s Bay Opera House

Plaza from 9.30am to 3pm on Thursday, September 12, to Friday,

September 13.

TE KOANGA MAORI FASHION SHOW:

See some of the best Maori designers have to offer at Te Koanga, which celebrates the new spring season,

representing new beginnings. Held in the Assembly Room of the Hawke’s

Bay Opera House, from 7pm on Thursday, September 12.

MAORI MUSIC CELEBRITY BREAKFAST:

Meet and hear presentations from some of the guest artists and finalists from this year’s awards. Held in the Shakespeare Room at the Hawke’s

Bay Opera House, from 8am, on Friday, September 13.

WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS CEREMONY:

Who will be among this year’s winners? Find out at the awards

ceremony hosted by MC Te Hamua Nikora. The ceremony is recorded for delayed broadcast on television and broadcast live via the iwi radio network. Held in the Hawke’s Bay Opera House theatre, from 7pm,

Friday, September 13.

The annual National Waiata Maori Music Awards is a two-day event held across three venues inside the historic

Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings, New Zealand.About the awards

A SPECTACULAR programme awaits those coming to experience this year’s two-day

National Waiata Maori Music Awards. The event will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings from Thursday, September 12, to Friday, September 13, 2013.

This year’s offering starts with the Maori Music Expo which will be held in the opera house plaza, from 9am to about 3pm on both days of the event. There will be a range of kapa haka performances from Hawke’s Bay schools, performances from guest artists who will also appear in the main event, the Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony on September 13.

A group of panellists and music industry experts will be available to

speak to anyone looking for advice on moving ahead in a career in music.

Well-known New Zealand Maori fashion designers Jeanine Clarkin and Shona Tawhiao, both currently based in Auckland, will be among those presenting collections at the Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show, on the evening of September 12. Other designers include Wellington’s Louise Stichbury and Hawke’s Bay’s Aroha and Friends who will return to Te Koanga after showing for the first time in 2012.

The Maori Music Celebrity Breakfast will include presenters from the three Iconic Artists who have been selected for the Nominated Awards section of this year’s Waiata Maori Music Awards. The three include the Waipatu Maori Culture Catholic

Club, which is the recipient of the Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music Award; author Ngamoni Huata, the recipient of the Keeper of Traditions Award and 1970s pop/rock band Golden Harvest,the recipient of the Music Industry Award.

The event will culminate in the Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony and guest performers this year include singer Maisey Rika, Toni Huata and Katchafire, which is fresh from an international tour and will be making its first appearance at the awards ceremony.

In 2012 the awards ceremony hosted the “King of Dubs” Tiki Taane and in 2013 it will be the “Queen of Loops” Mihirangi who will be among the guest performers. Maori opera/pop trio, AIO, will also make

its debut performance at the Waiata Maori Music Awards in 2013.There will be plenty of interest from younger music fans when Young Men Society, from Sydney, also steps onto the stage at the awards ceremony for the first time, headed by Nathan Tamati.Showband great, singer Rim D.Paul, will be performing with the Rotorua Maori Choir, following his work reviving the Aotearoa National Maori Choir in 2013 and the release of his new Te Reo Maori album.Emerging artist, brother and sister duo, KEES, from Hamilton, will also perform as a guest artist. A number of up and coming performers, as well as a selection from the group of finalists, will also be on stage this year. Broadcaster Te Hamua Nikora returns to MC the awards in 2013.

programme 2013

Young Men Society

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 5

Page 6: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

finalists2013

WAIATA MAORI MUSICAwards Finalists, 2013A TOTAL OF 16 FINALISTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED ACROSS NINE CATEGORIES IN THE OPEN SECTION OF THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS. THERE ARE A FURTHER THREE RECIPIENTS IN THE NOMINATED SECTION OF THE AWARDS. WAIATA MAGAZINE PROFILE THE FINALISTS OVER THE NEXT FOUR PAGES AND THE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY AT THE HAWKE'S BAY OPERA HOUSE IN HASTINGS, ON FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 13.

OPEN SECTION:

Best Mäori Traditional Album, Te Reo Mäori.

1. Maisey Rika (Whitiora)2. Toni Huata (Hopukia)3. Rim D Paul (Waiata, Wairua, Waiora)4. Ngatapa Black (I Muri Ahiahi) Best Mäori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album

1. Pieter T (Completion)2. Tupoutahi Winitana (Hono Tatai)3. Mihirangi (Somebody Shake The Tree)4. Catherine Tunks (Rawahi)

Best Mäori Urban Roots Album

1. Soljah (Aotearoa)2. K/Line (K2Ts)3. Awa (Heartbeat) Best Mäori Pop Album

1. Maisey Rika (Whitiora)2. Toni Huata (Hopukia)3. Ariana Tikao (From Dust to Light)4. Ahorangi Winitana (Ahorangi)

Best Mäori Male Solo Artist

1. Pieter T2. Rim D.Paul3. Tupoutahi Winitana4. Awanui Reeder

Best Mäori Female Solo Artist

1. Maisey Rika2. Toni Huata3. Ariana Tikao4. Ahorangi Winitana

Best Song by a Mäori Artist

1. Maisey Rika (Tangaroa Whakamautai)2. Sons of Zion (Tell Her)3. Ahorangi Winitana (Ao Rangirua)4. Tupoutahi Winitana (Hono Tatai)

Best Music Video by a Mäori Artist

1. Aotearoa Reggae All Stars/Mark Arona (Sensitive to a Smile)2. Tomorrow People/Mark Arona (Soljah Feeling Remix)3. Maisey Rika/Shae Stirling (Tangaroa)

Best Mäori Songwriter

1. Maisey Rika (Tangaroa Whakamautai, Pumau Tonu, Whitiora)2. Sons of Zion (Tell Her, Good Love, Superman)3. Ahorangi Winitana (Ao Rangiora, Mau Noa, Wai o tea ta)4. Tupoutahi Winitana (Hono Tatai, Nau Mai, Nga Tamariki)

Emerging Artist Award

For the artist or group elected for the Emerging Artist Award will qualify as a guest artist to perform at the Waiata Maori Music Awards 2013. This year's recipient is Hamilton duo, KEES.

NOMINATED SECTION:

The Nominated Awards recognise those who have made a significant contribution to the industry. These categories are not judged but are awarded to highlight the work of past and present performers, singers and song writers working in the Maori music sector. See pages 10-13.

1. Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music (Tohu - Mauriora O Te Ao Püoru Mäori)

Recipient: The Waipatu Maori Catholic Culture Club

2. Keeper of Traditions Award (Tohu - Kaitiaki Tikanga Püoru)

Recipient: Ngamoni Huata

2. Music Industry Award (Tohu - Ahumahi Püoru)

Recipient: Golden Harvest

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 6

Page 7: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

AOTEAROA ALL STARS & MARK ARONA.

Best Music Video by a Mäori Artist

Aotearoa Reggae All Stars, is a collaboration of some of New Zealand’s best reggae artists. They joined earlier this year to remake a Herbs’ classic waiata, Sensitive to a Smile, to help fight child abuse, with all proceeds from the sale of the single going to Mana Ririki. The organization was set up in 2008 to tackle child abuse. The stellar line-up of stars who include Sons of Zion, Tomorrow People, Three Houses Down, House of Shem, Ria Hall, Majic Paora, Che Fu, Katchafire, 1814, Chad Chambers, NRG Rising and Tasty Brown. Mana Ririki hopes Aotearoa Reggae All Stars will take the organisation into a new sphere of communications – popular music. And they will touch many Maori whanau with a message of hope. The project is the brainchild of Rio Panapa (Sons of Zion) and Avina Kelekolio (Tomorrow People), who wanted to highlight the issues around child abuse and bring their fellow reggae artists together to raise awareness.

CAT TUNKS

Best Mäori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album

Cat Tunks is of Te Whanau a Apanui/Whakatohea and Irish descent and is songwriter, band leader and vocalist with the Auckland soul/funk jazz group Cat Tunks & BlackSandDiva. Based in the melting pot of Auckland city, this influence can lay claim to a sound that fuses intoxicating guitar in twined with fat beats and whiskey smooth vocals, with offerings of sophisticated jazz piano stylings to ice the cake. The second release after first album Chameleon (2009), Rāwāhi is a collection of songs inspired by life on the wild NZ coast, a fusion of jazz, funk and soul with Taonga Puoro (Riki Bennett) fusing her Maori roots and reflecting a connection with the land, sea evident in a personal interpretation in her lyrics. This is undoubtedly a modern take on what we have known as a traditional kind of collaboration, that works well.

K/LINE

Best Mäori Urban Roots Album

Smooth tones, fresh RnB and reggae beats, K/LINE says it is stepping up the level of new, New Zealand artists. A product of Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, this six-piece crew attract crowds with its exciting, lively, pulse generating performances and show the real meaning of mixing new school with old. Known for their original music and pure talent, K/LINE will revive your interest in a new sound with flavour and show versatility as they mingle with the mood of a crowd. The band released its debut album this year called, K2TS, an abbreviation of the album’s title track Kiss to the Sky – the group’s first recorded song. The album features 10 songs and it is a long time coming for K/Line, which has done the hard yards on the gig scene, securing feature spots at crème events Rhythm and Vines and Bay Watch. The album has influences ranging from Bob Marley to Joe Satriani.

AWA

Best Mäori Urban Roots Album

Best Mäori Male Solo Artist

One of New Zealand’s most accomplished singer/songwriters. AWA is a streetwise Maori musician with a voice that is draped in vulnerability and conviction. His musical prowess has contributed to 13 top 10 singles, two gold and two platinum selling albums and he is also the only artist to win both the APRA silver scroll and APRA Maioha silver scroll award. Native Intel was AWA’s debut EP that reached Top 40 in the album charts. AWA also won three Waiata Maori Music Awards for Native Intel, Best Maori Songwriter, Best Song and Best Maori male artist. AWA rocketed into the New Zealand Top 10 album charts with Heartbeat. Jam packed with hits like the duet with Hawaiian pop sensation Anuhea Perfect Day, Home and Back in my life featuring reggae stars House of Shem.

ARIANA TIKAO

Best Mäori Pop Album Best Mäori Female Solo Artist

Ariana, Kai Tahu/Ngati Kahungunu, is a unique performer and composer of heartfelt music in both Te Reo Māori and English. She draws on folk and pop styles with a strong emphasis on Māori chant. Based in Wellington, her music is inspired and influenced by her Māori ancestry and the dramatic landscape of Te Waipounamu, the South Island. In November 2012, Ariana released her third solo album From Dust to Light inspired in part by the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch. It is an acoustic album, recorded at Wellington’s The Surgery studio with Lee Prebble, and co-produced by Ariana, Ben Lemi Wood and Lee Prebble (created with Creative NZ funding). Her two previous albums were Tuia meaning stitched (2008) and Whaea (2002). Ariana has produced beautiful and moving music that contributes to the growing corpus of contemporary Maori music.

AHORANGI WINITANA

Best Mäori Pop Album; Best Mäori Female Solo Artist; Best Song by a Mäori Artist; Best Mäori Songwriter.

Ahorangi Winitana is from the southern shores of Lake Taupo near Turangi. In 2009 she created an album including composing 10 songs in Maori. She was a finalist in the Silver Scroll awards for her song Matariki. After her amazing achievement Ahorangi released her first single Pounamu featuring rapper Young Sid, the music video has over 15,000 views on YouTube. Pounamu was also a finalist in the 2012 Silver Scroll

Awards and the 2012 Maori Music Awards. Ahorangi also has a great following from being a television presenter on TV3's Pukana. Her music genres are RnB, Hip Hop and Pop along with elements such as Dubstep, house music, folk and krump. Ahorangi’s first mainstream single Perfect 2 is now playing on radio. She will be filming her second music video.

OPEN SECTION FINALISTS:

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Page 8: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

finalists2013

MAISEY RIKA

Best Mäori Traditional Album, Te Reo Mäori; Best Mäori Pop Album; Best Mäori Female Solo Artist; Best Song by a Mäori Artist; Best Music Video by a Mäori Artist (Shae Stirling); Best Mäori Songwriter.

Maori singer/songwriter Maisey Rika, has one of New Zealand’s most impressive lead vocal style, fused with her honest and thought provoking messages. Some have described her sound similar to Tracey Chapman or Sade, with a splash of India Arie. Her fusion of English and Maori lyrics is capturing the hearts of soul seekers both in New Zealand and abroad. Maisey and her brother, guitarist J.J, have worked to create an original melodic experience backed with strong eclectic messages. Maisey has won multiple awards and toured internationally. Her strong heritage, eclectic songs, and her honey-stung vocals are quickly travelling the world.

MIHIRANGI

Best Mäori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album

The latest work from Mihirangi is a 13-track album titled Somebody Shake The Tree, which some believe is exactly what Mihirangi does as an artist. It is a beat-driven tapestry of pure vocal and lyrical percussion, bass and beat loops with the addition of live drums, guitar, keys and tāonga puoro. Mihirangi has been described as a dynamic musician whose live concerts are in freestyle form, as in, made up on the spot. She captured some of her favourite improvisations and loops from these experiences in the studio and now has released these on her second album. It was produced, engineered and mixed by Mihirangi and DJ Katch and mastered by Chris Chetland at Kog. The international performer has been dubbed the Queen of Loops, because of the way she creates her own band sound live in front of her audience.

PIETER T

Best Mäori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album; Best Mäori Male Solo Artist.

Completion is the second album from Pieter T and it perfectly rides the balance of new and old school, classic R&B hooks with the essential electronic sound of today’s music. With a host of talented music producers, KOG Studio’s analogue mixes and of course, Pieter T’s signature voice, Completion is a 14-song album, created to please even the purist of urban listeners to the ears of the upcoming generation. Completion features Frankie Adams (Ula Levi from Shorthland Street) on the video for the album’s release single Right Here (Your Love). It had over 100,000 Youtube views in it’s the first four days of its release and the single entered at #4 on the NZ single release chart. Pieter T describes his new album as a complete “mash up of RnB, Hip-hop, reggae, pop and everything in between.” His single, My Baby, which was earlier released but recorded for the second album, achieved Gold status this year.

RIM D.PAUL

Best Mäori Traditional Album (Te Reo Mäori), Best Mäori Male Solo Artist.

Rim D.Paul has a lifetime of experience in music, performing with some of the most outstanding musicians and entertainers in New Zealand and Australia. He has recorded an album, his first in Te Reo Maori, that epitomizes the quality and experience of his many musical attributes and accomplishments as a musician, composer, arranger and vocalist extraordinaire. Rim singing career started with his father’s band, Tai Paul and the Pohutu Boys, when he was 17. Now at 71, the Te Reo Maori album, Waiata-Wairua-Waiora, translating into song, spirit and well-being, changes tact from the rock ‘n’ roll, showband days, and includes National Maori Choir backing him on five of the 10 tracks. Rim was the recipient of a Music Industry Award at the 2008 National Waiata Maori Music Awards, recognizing his many years working in the industry.

SOLJAH

Best Mäori Urban Roots Album

Soljah is a five-piece band operating out of Kaipara and Auckland. The group includes five heavyweight musicians who are creating waves across Aotearoa with their mesmerising live performances and ground stomping sound. Their sound has been described as having heavy distorted riffs with rhythms that knock you off your feet, bouncy drum and bass to put you back on your feet and tight vocal harmonies that drip with catchy melodies. Soljah released their first EP – Moving Up through Warner Music in 2010 which then following in a nation wide tour gaining great interest they have since gone on to play great festivals such as Selective Soundz, Raggamuffin, Raggamuffin Road Trip, Exodus and many other side shows along the way. This year is going to be a great time for Soljah with the next couple of months releasing the highly anticipated album, Soljah Aotearoa, with a music video to be released for the tittle song Aotearoa. Soljah are also looking at releasing the album in Hawaii and Australia.

NGATAPA BLACK

Best Mäori Traditional Album, Te Reo Mäori

Singer-songwriter Ngatapa Black, also known as Miss Black, is the daughter of Whirimako Black and now a musician on the rise. Ngatapa, Tuhoe, Tuwharetoa, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, is a speaker of Māori and a bilingual singer-songwriter who has been composing, recording and performing music for more than a decade. She is also well-known for her work as a producer, programme maker, voice-over artist and presenter at Māori Television. Ngatapa takes her stylistic cues from Erykah Badu, India Arie and Jill Scott to bring a deep sense of soul to her sound. She was raised in a musical family and can easily step from Maori to English, from jazz to rock, without missing a beat. She credits female singers such as Betty-Anne Monga, Ladi 6, Brooke Fraser and her mother, Whirimako as her inspiration when it comes to writing and singing songs with meaning. Ngatapa has released two albums and the first was Black Light (2010) and the second, titled I Muri Ahiahi, is in a blues-jazz-soul style, with all songs in Te Reo Maori.

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Page 9: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

TOMORROW PEOPLE & MARK ARONA

Best Music Video by a Mäori Artist (Soljah Feeling Remix, featuring House of Shem).

Based in Wellington, Tomorrow People have introduced their unique brand of sunshine reggae to the rest of the world. The seven-piece unit consists of musicians from all ethnicities who found common ground in their love for reggae music. The band’s songs tell stories of good vibrations, celebration, love, peace and a take-home musical vibe. The musicians are influenced by such artists as Third World, UB40, Eddie Grant, Toots & The Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Gregory Isaacs and Bob Marley to name a few. Tomorrow People attended the National Waiata Maori Music Awards in 2012 where the band won the Best Roots, Reggae Album for their debut album, One.

SONS OF ZION

Best Song by a Mäori Artist & Best Mäori Songwriter

Originally grounded in Rotorua, Whangarei and Botany Auckland, this group of young musicians came together in South Auckland to form Sons of Zion. The band’s self-titled debut album was released in 2009. A new fusion of rock, dub, RnB with the foundation of reggae became the catalyst for the groups ongoing popularity, as well as a strong live performance. With the release this year of Good love, and Tell her, Sons of Zion have continued to fulfil their commitment to the fans and followers, that they are here for the long haul. Although a very young group, with the average age being 25, the focus and commitment to music is as clear as when things began in a small garage in Botany Downs. Sons of Zion performed the closing number at the 2010 National Waiata Maori Music Awards. With television appearances and magazine features already, Sons Of Zion are committed to making reggae music that you can't help but skank to.

TÜPOUTAHI WINITANA

Best Mäori Urban RAP/Hip Hop/RnB Album; Best Mäori Male Solo Artist; Best Song by a Mäori Artist & Best Mäori Songwriter

Tüpoutahi Winitana is 24 years old and of Tuhoe and Tuwharetoa descent, and he attended Te Kura o Ahorangi, Pukawa in Turangi. In 2013 he has been busy composing, singing and producing a Maori language album called, Tu Mai. He also launched the album, Hono Tatai, this year which is a 10-track Maori language album featuring his four brothers. He had also worked and recorded four other Maori language albums since 2002. He has been a television presenter since he was nine years of age, appearing on various shows from 2001 to 2006. Winitana comes from a musically talented family which is fluent in Te Reo Maori and has strong connections with Maori culture and tikanga.

Emerging Artist Award, 2013, KEES

Kaleb and Eden Hapuku, Hamilton, are the brother and sister duo who have come together to form KEES, which has been named the Emerging Artist to appear at this year's Waiata Maori Music Awards. The siblings, of Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Hine and Kai Tahu descent have been playing music since attending primary school and have been performing in various community and private gigs for the past five years. In 2012 Eden placed second in the Waikato Regional Smokefree Rock Quest Finals. The duo sing and play a number of genres but particularly jazz. Eden is a first year tertiary music student at Waikato University and Kaleb is attending high school with plans of continuing to study performing arts and music at university.

TONI HUATA

Best Mäori Traditional Album, Te Reo Mäori, Best Mäori Pop Album, Best Mäori Female Solo Artist.

From London jazz clubs to European arts festivals to New Zealand’s Te Papa Tongarewa, Toni Huata’s style and strength as a performer allows her to stand confidently. The Māori songstress, actor, performer and director whose talent allows her to perform at various international music and dance festivals both nationally and around the world including support to The Neville Brothers. Toni has performed internationally and she is constantly in demand, audiences are captivated as Toni adds to the allurement of our exotic shores making Maori language “sexy’”. From Hastings in Hawke’s Bay, Toni has four solo albums where she was nominated for six music awards in 2010. Toni’s fourth solo album Hopukia made #3 on the NZ Music and Indie Charts upon its release and is collaboration with award winning Producer Paddy Free and renowned composer, percussionist Gareth Farr.

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THE WAIPATU CATHOLIC Maori Culture Club, in Heretaunga, Hawke’s Bay, was established in 1949 under the guidance of kaumatua Joe Kiera,

Joe and Thelman Manaena, Sophie Panapa, Polly Whatarau and Topi Apatu.The club propelled the careers of soon-to-be famous musicians such as Sir Howard Morrison, Abe Phillips, Mike Eru and The Clive Trio. They joined the club “Awapuni” under the leadership of Polly Whatarau and it later became part of the Waipatu club.Hawke’s Bay’s Makere Phillips and Jim Panapa are two of the long-serving members and they will appear at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings, to accept the Lifetime Contribution to Maori Music Award (Tohu - Mauriora O Te Ao Puoru Maori) on September 13.The nominated award is for an individual or group which has dedicated a large part of their life, time and career to the promotion and development of Maori music in contemporary or traditional styles. Phillips and Panapa say there are other Catholic clubs but they believed the Waipatu group is one of the longest serving. Its main focus is the Hui Aranga, an annual gathering of Maori Roman Catholic followers held at Easter on different marae and venues each year for cultural, sporting and religious activities. It also participated at Hui Toopu in Whakatane,

Ruatoria, Tolaga Bay and Heretaunga. The club carries the Catholic name but has members who belong to other religions and although it is based in Hastings it now has members from all over New Zealand as well as some from Australia. Some of the club’s 200 members have been involved since they were children and are now tutors, showing the strength and dedication of the group.“I suppose it’s the whanau connections which has kept us going for so long,” Phillips says.

“We look forward to seeing members from the other groups each year and it’s also about the spiritual and cultural connection we have with each other. Whanaungatanga, that would be the most important for me.”Panapa says the club has grown “good citizens” through its dedication to kapa haka and Te Reo Maori.“We have had a very good record of keeping

people on the straight track during the 63 years we’ve been going. We say from the kuha to the coffin, from the time you are born to the time you die, you will always be a member.”Club members who moved on to high-profile careers included Joe Williams who is now the Chief Maori Land Court Judge; Joseph Te Rito, a Doctorate of Philosophy Te Reo Maori, police officer John Tangaere and Maori Land Court chief registrar Julie Tangaere. Many have helped the club over the years including The Bruton Sisters, Fr Woodcock, Mary Bell, Kate Parahi, Alan Peihopa, Frank Robinson, Rim D Paul as well as Carol Della Barca and her sister Linda.Others have led the club such as Pauroa and Jane Mareikura Puna and Tuihana Cunningham, Rocky Moutere, Thelma Collier, Rev Sam Paenga and to this day Stuart (Jim) Panapa, Makere Phillips, John and Keita Mathews Tiopira.The club has taken part in many powhiri, helped to open marae, performed at civic events for national and international visitors over the years.Panapa says it will be an honour for the club to accept the Lifetime Contribution Award. “It will be a recognition of our 62 years as a culture club. I am the oldest member now and hope it will still be going in another 62 years.”The Waipatu club is governed by the Kaunihera Matua o Te Hahi Katorika which insures the kaupapa of Hui Aranga is kept alive for the future of its mokopuna and rangatahi.

nominated awardslifetime contribution

SIX DECADES of Maori culture

A CULTURE CLUB DEDICATED TO KAPA HAKA, ITS FAITH & WHANAUNGATANGA

WILL BE RECOGNISED AT THE NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS.

‘It's the whanau connections

which has kept us going'

The Waipatu Maori Catholic Maori Culture Club, at

Waipatu Marae, Hastings, in the 1980s.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 10

Page 11: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

nominated awards keeper of traditions

THE CULTURAL Anthropologist

AN EXPERT IN MAORI PERFORMING ARTS AND A SPECIALIST WHEN IT

COMES TO THE POI, NGAMONI HUATA IS RECOGNISED FOR HER

MANY YEARS OF WORK TOWARDS THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE.

A WOMAN WHO has devoted a lifetime to the development of kapa haka for her people and inspired many

through her work, will be honoured at this year’s National Waiata Mäori Music Awards in Hawke’s Bay.Ngāmoni Huata is of Te Arawa and Mataatua descent. She and her late husband, Hemi Pītiti Te Ōkanga Kahu Tāpere Huata tutored many Kapa Haka groups in their time. She is one of New Zealand’s leading authors on Poi. Her book, The Rhythm and Life of Poi (published, 2000) was the first book on poi ever published and was the first piece of formal literature on poi written by a Māori and a Māori woman. Ngāmoni grew up in a small village at Te Whakarewarewa, Rotorua. Her soundings and the guidance of her old people provided plenty of life experiences within the parameters of tradition. Performing Arts and Traditional crafts were part and parcel of her upbringing. As a young child, she would observe her elders carve and weave. Following the demand of tourism, Ngāmoni and other family members would make poi which were sometimes sold to the many visitors that explored the thermal wonderland.Ngāmoni graduated into various performing arts groups which include Ohau Māori Youth Group, Te Rau Aroha (Under the tutelage of her father in law Canon Wi Te Tau Huata), Te Whare Wananga o Waikato (under the tutelage and guidance of Tīmoti Karetu), The New Zealand Māori Company, He Toa Takitini, Tūhoe ki Waikato and Tūhourangi/Ngāti Wahiao where she is the Principle Tutor and matriarch for her the roopū.Composition of Maori songs is not unfamiliar to Ngāmoni and she has participated in the composition of many waiata and keenly takes a lead role in wānanga and many hui for the iwi. She has put to use her life skills and those

skills augmented from her many mentors in life. Ngāmoni has experience both on and off the stage as composer, performer, tutor and judge, a commitment which now spans for more than 35 years. Ngāmoni is valued for her knowledge as a weaver and keeper of history for her people at Te Whakarewarewa. Not long after her book was published, Ngāmoni had a moko completed, which was designed by her son, Tūhoe. It symbolises her life in Māori Performing Arts and Cultural entrenchments.

Outside of the performing arts world, Ngāmoni works as a mentor to people, providing valuable guidance to those in various Hauora programs. Her positive influence has been hugely appreciated by her clients and their families.The whanau of Ngāmoni believe she can best be described as an anthropologist. The dictionary definition of anthropology is: “the science that deals with the origins, physical and cultural development, biological characteristics, and social customs and beliefs of humankind”. Cultural anthropology is: “the social, and cultural development of humans and this includes language, art, dance, music, etc.” Ngāmoni Huata will be the recipient of the Keeper of Traditions Award, in the Nominated Awards section of this year’s Waiata Maori Music Awards.

Top of page: Ngamoni Huata; above: Ngamoni with siblings Pareiha, Maku and Tuhoe; left: The Rhythm and Life of Poi, a book written by Ngamoni released in 2000.

'Her positive influence has been hugely appreciated'

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Brothersin musical arms

A BAND OF BROTHERS WHO RELEASED A STRINGS OF SINGLES IN THE 1970s, AND OPENED FOR PERFORMERS SUCH AS BOB MARLEY AND BAY CITY ROLLERS, IS THE RECIPIENT OF A MUSIC INDUSTRY AWARD, AT THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS.

IT WAS IN 1971 when the Kaukau family from Turangi entered the Lakeland Radio talent quest in nearby Taupo, winning the

competition and a grand total of $10 in prize money.The family included mum, Margaret, and dad, Eru, with sons Kevin, Mervyn, Eru junior and little sister Fiona. The children were all about a year apart in age.The oldest was Kevin and he had come home on holiday from St Stephen’s College during that year and taught his younger brothers how to play Yellow River, a recent chart hit from UK group, Christie.Their natural talent with the guitar led on to the competition in Rotorua, where the family performed to edge out favourites, The Selwyn College Singers from Auckland.Buoyed by the success, the family formed a group influenced by music diverse as Jimi Hendrix and the Maori Volcanics.Kevin was lead guitarist, Gavin the main songwriter and on rhythm guitar, Mervyn on drums and Eru on bass.

After the Lakeland Radio success, the group changed their name to The Tiki Five, remembers Gavin Kaukau.

“… and we brought our sister Fiona in as a go-go dancer, she had been taking dancing lessons and we didn’t want to leave her out so she adapted a dance to the tune Tahiti nui.

“Dad was our manager while Mum made all of our costumes, and on special occasions would sing with us “.

Margaret Kaukau remembers: “I just make sure that they get everywhere on time and that they are neat and tidy when they appear on stage ".

The Tiki Five was the only band in Turangi at the time and it played every Saturday at the Turangi Community Hall. There was a 50 -cent cover charge and the band also played at 21st birthdays and rugby club dances.

After a long apprenticeship in the Bay of Plenty area and a new name, The Brothers, the group moved to Auckland and gigged as semi professionals until auditioning for promoter, Benny Levin, during March 1975.

Levin recognised their potential and set in motion major changes, firstly, advising the band to turn professional. This would allow them to rehearse for at least 20 hours a week and add to their impressive 400-song repertoire.

Music and vocals lessons were arranged to move the band to the next level for Kevin, Gavin and Eru.

Shelby Grant taught the boys how to read charts and compose, while Merv received drum lessons from Frank Gibson Junior, who at the time rated Merv as one of his best students.

The group also had lessons with opera singer Lynne Cantlon who taught the finer points of singing and breathing. Well-known bass player and producer Billy Karaitiana and guitarist Tui Timoti provided additional tuition while Margaret Kaukau designed and made four sets of new costumes.

Levin threw the band into the deep in 1975, entering the National Battle of the Bands competition after six months of intense

rehearsing and tuition.The band finished fourth with Auckland rock band, Think, winning the competition. With only 12 hours notice after Battle of the Bands, Levin placed the group on the bill for the Helen Reddy concert at Auckland’s Town Hall, after one of the support acts pulled out at the last minute.The Helen Reddy show was a success for the band although a name change was on the horizon. There was already a UK band called Brother and closer to home a Waikato outfit also worked under that moniker.

So to avoid confusion, and before work on the band’s first single, Benny organised a competition with the Sunday News for readers to pick a new name for the group.After two weeks Peter Bryant of Papatoetoe emerged as the winner with his entry, Golden Harvest.“We loved the name,” Gavin Kaukau says.“It sounded warm and optimistic.”Runner up names included Black Pepper, Black Widow, Destiny and Heatwave, with the runner up winners each receiving a copy of the new Bunny Walters single.The band released its first single on Benny’s Impact record label a month later. The A side was an updated, funky version of the Beatles, Come Together, while the B side was a remake of, I Feel Good, a song previously recorded

‘Dad was our manager while Mum made all of our costumes’

nominated awardsmusic industry

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 12

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Brothers

The Kaukau brothers: Top left, Kevin; top middle, Eru; top right, Gavin; bottom left, Mervyn and left, Golden Harvest including lead singer, Karl Gordon (centre).

by Benny’s Reels in 1966. Both sides of the single record received a fair share of radio time in conjunction with an appearance on the television music show, Ready To Roll. To finish off a successful 1975, the band appeared as guest stars on the Wolfman Jack Show, followed by a support for Isibisa, Auckland Town Hall Show. It was the third time in as many months the band had played support for an international act.During the band’s career, Golden Harvest would play support for international acts as diverse as the Bay City Rollers (1976), The Electric Light Orchestra (1978). The band’s fondest memory was support act for Bob Marley and the Wailers (1979) at the Western Springs Concert.Up until now Gavin Kaukau had handled most of the lead vocals but a severe case of tonsillitis caused panic, with a heavy workload on the horizon, including work to start on the band’s

next single, Benny made a hard call.“We need a lead singer.” It would allow the band to concentrate on its playing and add a pop element to the group while complementing Kevin’s crown-pleasing showmanship guitar antics, which was rapidly becoming a major talking point around the country.“There was an ad for auditions on Ready To Roll,” Karl Gordon remembers.“And after passing the second audition, the job was mine. The guys pretty much accepted me as part of their family and for the next three years we were family.”Karl made his vocal record debut on the band’s next single, I Need Your Love, a song written by Gavin Kaukau recorded at Stebbings. By the time the band’s second single, Benny’s Impact Record label, after 10 years, lost momentum.Eldred Stebbing Key label would then exclusively handle the recording side of the band while Benny would handle the touring schedule.I Need Your Love, was written by Gavin Kaukau as a three-part love trilogy to his then girlfriend and now wife Karen Kaukau nee Mata. The group’s next two singles, Give A Little Love and Love Is Everything complete this love trilogy.At the time Gavin explained that Karen was all he thought about while the group was on the road hope the message gets through to her.I Need Your Love was one of Gavin’s first compositions and took the $500 first prize as

the RIANZ single of the year award for 1978, while reaching number seven on the official New Zealand charts.After Benny’s Impact Record label closed, the band’s self-titled album "Golden Harvest" was released on the Stebbings Key record label in 1978, by producer Rob Aickin with singer/producer Ian Morris engineering.The band split up in the early 1980s. Each member moved on to work on solo music projects. They rejoined for a reunion concert in 1987 performing with the three-piece group, Mantra, performing a Jimi Hendrix tribute concert at the Galaxy nightclub in Mt Eden, Auckland. The concert sold out.In 2013, Golden Harvet’s Kevin Coco (formerly Kaukau) featured in the New Zealand film Mt Zion, performing a strong-biting solo, just like he did back in his days with the band. The Golden Harvest music and hit single, I Need Your Love, also features on the soundtrack for the movie. The band’s opening performance for Bob Marley also features in the film.One of the band's rarer tracks, Hollywood Dreams, appears on the album, Waiata 2, released in 2013.n Information and photos for this story supplied by Gavin & Karen Kaukau, Hustle Management as well as, Audio Culture, elsewhere.co.nz and Grant Gillanders.

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cover storymihirangi

‘Most of my international audiences prefer Te Reo Maori and I think it's because it lulls them to the heart of Aotearoa’

Page 15: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 15

MORE ALBUMS, more touring are on the cards for the “Queen of Loops”, Mihirangi Fleming, who also plans to turn her spectacular

concert into a theatre show.

The popular figure on the 2012 inaugural season of New Zealand’s Got Talent, says making a return to television is also on her list of things to do over the coming years.

“I presented a music show Noise TV on and off for 10 years in Australia so I’d like to get back into that. I’d like to go to all the schools across the motu and connect with all our tamariki and rangatahi, do a marae tour, write a book, build a recording studio, play with/for and tour with my peers and get my music heard.”

And she will have a chance to share her work when she appears as a guest performer at this year's National Waiata Maori Music Awards at the Hawke's Bay Opera House in Hastings, September 13.

Mihirangi grew up in rural New Zealand around her family marae in Mangapeehi, an experience which gave her a “grounded perspective” on the world. She calls herself an “artist-activist” and is proud of her indigenous lineage of Ngati Rakeiora, Ngati Waikorara,Ngati Rahiri and Ngati Raukawa descent. Mihirangi weaves her roots into her performance with the power of a woman out to make a difference: musically, socially and culturally.

Her appearance on New Zealand’s Got Talent was “an amazing experience”.

"I was sitting on my couch and someone kept texting me to go and audition. I sat thinking hell no, I’m a professional. And then I thought how arrogant that was and made myself go, thinking I’d get a good lesson in humility.”

She made a commitment to the competition and it provided plenty of lessons about “letting go of any outcomes” and instead concentrating on the authenticity of her music, especially when she was being judged by professionals.

“It was daunting but I loved it. It was one of those times where it was a huge test to stay true to myself, believe in what I was doing and trust that I had the skills and talent to be there.”

A number of television opportunities have flowed from her appearance on the television reality show, however previously she had performed for Hollywood A-listers, such as The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, The Dixie Chicks, Pierce Brosnan and Martin Sheen.

“In these sorts of opportunities it’s usually because of word of mouth that makes them happen. It can take one conversation to create a huge career shift, the right place and the right time and you just have to always be ready for it.”

Her unique blend of music includes singing in Maori and English, from earth-shaking bass lines to intricately layered harmonies, rhythmic "ska" chops, sensuous jazzy riffs and beat boxing. It’s all done with the power of her voice.

Mihirangi also plays percussion, keyboards, guitar, & Taonga Puoro, traditional Maori instruments.

She doesn’t have one favourite taonga puoro, they are all her favourites and tell their own stories, have their own personalities.

"At the moment I’m a bit attached to my Porutu, it’s a Brian Flintoff taonga that was gifted to me by Richard Nunns when I had arrived home. The carvings on it are about our Ngati Rakeiora Tipuna from Tongaporutu which just so happens to be my whakapapa and papa kainga.

“Just recently I met with one of our Kuia from Mokau, Aunty Tuti who grew up learning from my great grandma Mihirangi (Mamaeroa) and her Sister Mihiata (Waikowhai).

"She was looking for someone to play a Porutu for a documentary she is creating about Tongaporutu and I just so happen to not only have one, but the actual one Aunty Tuti had blessed many years ago for Matua Richard at Tongaporutu.

“I love that about Taonga Puoro, when you listen to the wairua you really hear its voice and it takes

you on a journey.”

Mihirangi says people have enjoyed the way she incorporates Te Reo Maori into her music, especially international audiences.

“At first it really surprised me, then it kind of blew me away, the response has been overwhelming. Most of my international audience prefer Te Reo Maori and I think its because it lulls them to the heart of Aotearoa.

“Melodic, tonal and lyrical delivery of a language has a way of conjuring up the landscape, the feel, the dynamics and the personality of it’s people so there’s always that element of taking them on a journey to your homeland.”

Understanding and managing the business end of a career in entertainment is challenging but coming to terms with those challenges is a must in order to lead a successful career.

"Music business isn’t easy, and if you don’t row your own waka you won’t be going anywhere. And if you have others rowing it for you and you don’t know your destination or how to navigate, you end up riding an unknown wave."

Mihirangi says artists can't afford to be lazy when it comes to taking care of business. Although she had worked in the industry since she was young, she still had to "learn the hard way".

"I completed a three year Music Business Management course, I went to industry workshops and I try to update my business skills as much as possible.

“Work hard, get results, be open to change, have no attachments to the outcomes so you’re always moving forward. Create goals and learn the skills you need to get there and just do it. Oh and learn the fine art of delegation.”

Performing at the Waiata Maori Music Awards this year will be a memorable experience.

"I think as an artist you always have career highlights, those gigs that help you gauge your achievements, this is definitely one of my dreams come true, especially playing to my own people."

A SELF-PROCLAIMED ARTIST-ACTIVIST RELISHES THE CHANCE TO INCORPORATE TAONGA PUORO AND TE REO MAORI INTO A UNIQUE BLEND BEATS, LOOPS AND LYRICS. BY LAWRENCE GULLERY.

of loopsQueen

Page 16: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

featurenga pou o heretaunga

A HISTORIC PROJECT which produced 18 pou, representing ancestors of Ngati Kahungunu, will be given a musical component when Kahurangi Maori Dance

Theatre celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.A dawn ceremony introduced the collection of pou, which stand at the entrance to the Hastings Civic Square in Hawke’s Bay, to the world on July 26, 2013. The pou each represents an ancestor from 18 marae and hapu around the Heretaunga district, in Ngati Kahungunu. Each marae selected a carver to work on their pou and the former National Library building in Hastings was renamed, Tuaka, and turned into a workshop where carvers toiled for six months on the figures.The project was headed by Nga Marae O Heretaunga in partnership with the Hastings District Council. Nga Marae O Heretaunga project co-ordinator Tama Huata says the project is one of a kind in New Zealand. He says every pou will have a narrative, history and whakapapa of the ancestor it represents, as selected by each marae. Those stories will be set up on QR codes for people to view on their mobile phones as they walk around the carved figures in Civic Square.“There will also be [video] clips of the whole process, from getting the timber through to the work by the carvers.“This has been very enlightening for all of the marae because it’s something about themselves, their stories and it’s them telling the stories. “It’s really the start of their future where they can go on to look at things like Whanau Ora, health, education, economic development.”Mr Huata is also executive director of the National Waiata Maori Music Awards which will be held at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings, September 12-13.The two-day awards event will incorporate celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of international performing arts group, Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre, which is also based in Hastings.The dance theatre celebrate its 30th anniversary in October, 2013. It has recorded two albums for its 30th birthday and Mr Huata, who is a founding member of the group, says it’s hoped the work will be launched at the awards in September.“We have re-recorded an old track for the pou and we hope it will inspire the rest of the iwi to get behind the project at the civic square, and lead on to other initiatives hapu and marae can work

on together.”

The song, Aku Tipuna, was also the name of an album recorded and released by Kahurangi. It was further developed into a musical production in song, dance and narration inspired by photographic portraits of Ngati Kahungunu subjects taken by Samuel Carnell between 1870 and 1906.

The portraits were discovered in 1998 at the National Library Gallery and were transformed into an exhibition which opened in Hawke’s Bay in 2000. Research by Ngati Kahungunu included biographies and whakapapa of 33 of the 270 subjects in the Carnell collections.

More than 400 people came to the dawn ceremony for the pou in Hastings, including

George Me’las Taylor who is a director of Aboriginal Tourism of British Columbia, Canada.

Mr Taylor also has a background in the performing arts and continues to lead the Le-La-La Dancers Society he formed in 1987. He was honoured to be asked to perform at the dawn ceremony in Hastings.

“Where I come from, we have totem poles which are similar to pou. And the highest honour for indigenous people is being represented on a totem pole.

“They represent our life form, who we are and our history which goes back 10,000 years within our beautiful country of Canada.”

It was his third time to New Zealand and he hopes to establish an exchange programme

A COLLECTION OF POU, WHICH STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO THE ANCESTORS OF HERETAUNGA IN KAHUNGUNU, WILL AIM TO ENCOURAGE UNITY AMONG THE MARAE, WHANAU, HAPU AND THE HAWKE'S BAY COMMUNITY.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 16

connection

Page 17: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

between the two countries to further share Maori and First Nation countries.

It could involve exchanging performing arts groups, or even carvers to work on pou or totem pole projects.

“Our CEO of Aboriginal Tourism BC is very excited about me being here and I believe a long term connection has already started.”

Kaumatua Hakeke McGarvey, from Waimana, Tuhoe, gifted the totara for the pou project and was also at the dawn ceremony.

It was the first time Mr McGarvey had seen the timber transformed into the carved figures, since it left his home last year.

‘’ And I must say I am quite taken back by the karakia, whaikorero, whakapapa and genealogy at

shared at the ceremony, which dates right back in time and then bringing it all forward to the present.

‘’ I believe the totara might be 1000 years old. So 1000 years ago our ancestors were talking to these trees and now you and I are talking to the same trees.

‘’ That to me makes the pou a significant taonga that belongs not only to Kahungunu, Tuhoe, but also to the whole world.’’

Mr McGarvey said he liked the thought that the pou, representing the ancestors, would be available for the public to visit every day.

‘’ People can wander in here every day and talk to their ancestors and read their stories.’’

‘This has been very enlightening

for all of the marae, it's them

telling their stories’

Images from the pou dawn ceremony, Hastings Civic Square. Top left: Te Hapuku pou. Top right: Maori

Television interviews kaumatua Hakeke McGarvey. Bottom right: George Taylor, director of Aboriginal

Tourism, British Columbia, Canada. Below: More than 200 people gathered for the dawn ceremony revealing

the 19 pou at the Hastings Civic Square on July 28.

POU, MARAE & CARVER

Ko Kahukuranui te pou, Ko Omahu te marae. John George.

Ko Taraia te pou, Ko Taraia te marae. Frank Pitiera Wainohu.

Ko Hinetemoa te pou, Ko Houngarea te marae. Francisca Obers.

Ko Taraia 11 te pou, Ko Te Awhina te marae. Tamati Holmes.

Ko Te Ahi Kaa Whenua te pou, Ko Te Aranga te marae. Thompson Hokianga, Dion Hutana McGruther & Jamie Roberts.

Ko Mahuika te pou, Ko Runanga te marae. Tamati Holmes.

Ko Nukanoa te pou, Ko Korongata te marae. David Pere.

Ko Tahatu-o-te-rangi te pou, Ko Kohupatiki te marae. Dr Takirirangi Smith.

Ko Hawea te pou, Ko Waipatu te marae. Tuhoe Huata & Colin Tihi.

Ko Rangikamangungu (kaamaangungu) te pou, Ko Waiohiki te marae. Hugh Tareha.

Ko Rahunga-i-te-rangi me Maata Te Wharemataa te pou, Ko Mangaroa te marae. Thompson Hokianga & Dion Hutana McGruther.

Ko Mihiroa me Pukepuke-Tangiora te pou, Ko Mihiroa te marae. Tiopira Te Huia, Colin Tihi, Tuhoe Huata.

Ko Karaitiana Takamoana te pou, Ko Pakowhai te marae. Takirirangi Smith.

Ko Meihana Takihi te pou, Ko Te Matahiwi te marae. Jacob Scott.

Ko Tiakitai te pou, Ko Tiakitai te marae. Dr Takirirangi Smith.

Ko Harawira Mahikai te pou, Ko Waimarama te marae. Robert Barlow.

Ko Hapuku me Hupata Te Wheao te pou, Ko Te Hauke te marae. Taka Walker.

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ALBUMS MARK 30th anniversary

A MIXTURE OF OLD AND NEW IS COMBINED TO COMPLETE TWO NEW ALBUMS MARKING THREE DECADES

IN MAORI PERFORMING ARTS.

INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS company Kahurangi Maori Dance Theatre celebrates its 30th birthday this year with the

release of a new album at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards in Hawke's BayThe company was formed in Hastings, in 1983, by Tama Huata and a team who shared his vision to present Maori performing arts in a dynamic and contemporary manner.Since then, Kahurangi touring parties have travelled the world promoting cultural understanding, and inviting audiences to participate in their programmes.Kahurangi has also recorded and released many albums over the past three decades and earlier this year began production on two more, specifically to mark its 30th anniversary.Mr Huata says it’s planned for the first album, Te Taumata, to be release at the Waiata Maori Music Awards this year.“Te Taumata is an album you could say was ‘the

best of ’ Kahurangi for the past 30 years.“We had current members of Kahurangi and a few members from the past involved in recording this particular album.“And we have breathed new life into some of the older songs that we have done, we have refined them.”Mr Huata says a second album, Whakaaria Mai, will be completed and released later this year. The album looks to refine some of the classics of Maori music but featuring a number of solo singers.It will include Waiata Maori Music ambassador, Taisha Tari singing Whakaaria Mai as a tribute to the late Reverend Wiremu Wi Te Tau Huata.Singer Erena Tomoana, the great grand-daughter of well-known Kahungunu composer Paraire Tomoana, also features on the album.Paraire Tomoana composed the song, Pokarekare Ana and the war-time piece, E Pari Ra, which will also feature on the album.Mr Huata says the album arrangements were completed by Jarrod Huirama, who began work with Kahurangi in the late 1980s. He is the company’s sound engineer and also teaches guitar and music.Agnes Rangirangi arranged the vocals on the album and she has been with Kahurangi for more than 20 years, as its vocals technician.The album, Te Taumata, was recorded in Wellington earlier this year.

Kahurangi recruits outstanding young Maori performers and graduates of the Takitimu Performing Arts School, also in Hastings. It was the first tertiary institution in New Zealand to offer a degree course in traditional Maori performing arts.Takitimu Performing Arts School held its graduation in Hastings earlier this year where 22 students celebrated achieving qualifications including a Diploma in Maori Performing Arts, Certificate in Maori Performing Arts (one year), Taikura Kaumatua Certificate in Maori Performing Arts.The work of Kahurangi is distinctive, with each performance drawing its strength from full voice harmonies, dynamic choreography and passionate dance interpretation.Its performances are a mix of traditional and contemporary Maori dance with a fusion of Polynesia. It depicts Maori whakapapa and ancestry through the Polynesian Island to Aotearoa. Kahurangi continues to be in demand, from community groups to high-profile occasions performing for international guests to New Zealand.There are many performing arts groups operating nationally and internationally now but Kahurangi can lay claim to being the first Maori dance company. It paved the way for others to follow and continues to be the only one which is a full time and where Maori performing arts is its core field.

Kahurangi, performing at the 2012 National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

performing artskahurangi

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 18

‘We have breathed new life into some of the older songs’

Page 19: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

Artists of He Rangi Paihuarere.Tomorrow People.

THE ROTORUA MAORI Choir didn't hesitate to take the chance to perform with its conductor Rim D.Paul

after hearing news he'd be one of the guest artists appearing at this year's National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

The choir will perform with Rim to recognise the work and support he has put into the group as well celebrate Rim's first te reo album, Maori, Waiata Wairua Waiora.

“After all” says Rim, “half the songs on the album come from the songbook of the Aotearoa National Maori Choir”.

Following in the footsteps of the celebrated Aotearoa National Maori Choir (ANMC) the Rotorua Maori Choir is a newly formed addition to the Rotorua Arts landscape.

Under Rim’s expert tutelage the Rotorua Maori Choir, boasts over 30 regular members and already has two successful public performances under its belt.

Although open to all members of the community, the Rotorua Maori Choir has a specific purpose, similar to the ANMC, of revitalising the creative Maori art form of choral singing in 10 part harmony.

The repertoire celebrates important Maori songwriters, lyricists and events depicting the rhythms, colours, vitality and spirituality of Maori heritage including the legendary 28th Maori Battalion.

In March 2013, the Rotorua Maori Choir joined with other regions throughout the country to reform the Aotearoa National Maori Choir as guest performers for WOMAD in New Plymouth this year.

This performance acknowledged the triumphant return of the ANMC after a 10 year break.

The administration by Toi Maori Aotearoa (TMA) of the ANMC is the one difference that has brought the choir back into existence with a promising outlook for future performances nationally and internationally.

The problems that faced the choir in the past included the need to secure on-going funding and to sustain interest in its members.

With the assistance of TMA and a strategy to encourage young singers to be a part of this unique group of singers the future looks bright and assures New Zealand with a cultural identity recognised and witnessed by so many people during their previous performances.

All the musical arrangements of the choir are written by Rim and even some compositions in the repertoire are his, obviously acquisition of musical talent from his life-long experiences as a legend of Maori Showbands as well as a very successful solo career in Australia.

Rim has the distinction of writing Sir Howard Morrison’s first international musical arrangements performed at Singapura Hotel, Singapore in 1968 and his last arrangements for his 74th birthday performed on television by the Carl Doy band just prior to his passing in 2009.

In the meantime Rim has developed a music education programme called Te Ara Puoro which is currently being considered for implementation into schools ranging from Kohanga Reo through to secondary school.

The future of the programme is being designed to also provide accelerated tuition to up and coming Maori musical talent similar to the coaching provided by Australia’s The Voice.

guest performerrotorua maori choir

REVITALISING choral singingA REPERTOIRE WHICH CELEBRATES MAORI SONGWRITERS AND THE SPIRIT OF MAORI HERITAGE WILL BE SHARED BY A CHOIR, HEADED BY COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR, RIM D.PAUL.

For more informaton contact

Wayne Wootton, Hawke’s Bay Airport

Business Development Manager.

Phone (06) 834 0742

l [email protected]

l www.hbairportbusinesspark.co.nz

Rim D.Paul has released his first te reo Maori album and he will perform with the Rotorua Maori Choir at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards this year.

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 19

Page 20: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

IN AUSTRALIAMaking it big

MAORI PERFORMERS FEATURE HIGHLY IN THE MUSIC MARKET IN AUSTRALIA WRITES ARTIST RONNIE LAVENDER, NGATI AWA, WHO HEADS URBAN SOUL GROUP THE KUMPNEE, IN SYDNEY.

THERE IS widespread Maori musical talent here in Australia. In Sydney I’ve seen many Maori musicians come and go and it’s difficult to put a number on how many

there are working in the Australian music industry. But within my 10 years here, there have been easily 60, 70, or maybe up to 100. They have been extremely talented musicians of all genres but not everyone survives. A solid 15 to 20 artists and groups still remain working in the thick of the action.The Brisbane and Gold Coast area, with their large Maori communities, are huge for original music. I know at least a dozen well established artists, and more on the verge of breaking into the market. Artists like Stan Walker are huge in Australia and are signed to major labels. Indie artists, or artists signed to smaller labels are doing just as well. Jade Louise whose father Dean Harawira, the director of the Australian Polyfest in Australia, is an artist who is excelling in music as well as on the screen featuring on TV series the GC. She has built a large loyal following in the Gold Coast and

continues to perform well. With The Kumpnee, and a few other artists in Sydney, being signed to a label isn’t a priority. A few signed artists I’ve spoken to say the creative control element of their work is minimal or even lost, when you’re signed to a label. And it is the creative control element which is the driving factor of a motivated artist.

Australia is a rock-fuelled music scene, so I have found it a little more difficult to get exposure but I believe our product is equal if not better than any others on the market.

With reality shows like X-Factor, The Voice and AGT, Maori are able to showcase their talents to millions of viewers. You can almost guarantee a Maori to be at the business end of these competitions. There are also dozens of young Maori in Sydney showcasing their talents to a wider audience online via YouTube.

Rik Starr, Sydney, is founder and director of 4thaluv Entertainment. He is a music promoter keen on bringing New Zealand artists to Sydney some of which include House of Shem and Nesian Mystik.

Starr says he started the business “to create a pathway for our artists” to be able to come to Sydney and “know they were gonna be looked after”. Others who have had success bringing over Maori talent to Australia include Maori boy Jarrod Toki, owner of Brisbane-based Nesian Roots Entertainment and Rose Lewis, who runs Alazay Entertainment. Rose is a stalwart in the promotion business here in Sydney, bringing over many popular Kiwi reggae artists.

Most of the artists looking at crossing over the ditch want to promote their music to a wider audience, give fans a chance to see them live and keep busy on the music scene.

The Kumpnee looks for the same opportunities

when we visit New Zealand. It’s hard to beat that feeling of sitting in an airport ready to board a plane bound for a concert or show in another country with your best mates.

We are with Integrity PR, Auckland, which is arranging gigs, possible tours approaching the summer festivals circuit, organising interviews and distributing our music to radio and TV.

We have been working closely with platinum producer Chris Chetland and vocalist Huia Hamon from KOG studios, Auckland, who engineered our NZ On Air funded 2 BUX song and our recent release Shoot Baby.I also have a side project with band member Gino Hawkins, called MR Lavender, which has started to gather momentum, gaining a Number 2 release on Radio Tainui’s drive show. We are also in early discussion for collaborations with a few established Kiwi artists, more great opportunities.

The best time to see Kiwi artists perform in Australia is on Waitangi Day/Weekend. The events are popular and range from hip-hop, to rock, RnB through to Kapa haka. Rose Lewis is the driving force behind many Waitangi Day concerts.

Sydney city and the surrounding suburbs are hot spots for Kiwi music. Popular spots include the Annandale Hotel, Lansdowne, Metro Theatre and factory theatres and the Coogee Hotel. Western Sydney has a huge kiwi and Polynesian population, where Maori music thrives.

There is a huge contingent of Maori and Kiwi cover bands making a good living playing through the RSL clubs and bowling clubs. Australian Idol finalist from a few years ago and a mate of mine, Madam Parker, is part of a successful covers band in Sydney, earning a living in music. The crowds they draw are amazing and the feedback they are receiving is awesome.

opinionronnie lavender

‘It is the creative control element which is the driving factor of a motivated artist’

The Kumpnee, a five-piece hip-hop/soul/funk band from New

Zealand, based in Sydney.

Maori artists/music industry leaders working in Australia,

from far left, Rose Lewis, Sydney, of Alazay Entertainment (with Ardijah's Betty-Anne Monga);

Rik Starr, Sydney, of 4thaluv Entertainment (centre at turntable); Ronnie Lavender, The Kumpnee and entertainer Jade Louise, Gold Coast.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 20

Page 21: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

THE PAST TWO years have been “a steep learning curve” for singer Nathan Tamati who first appeared on the music scene via Australia’s X-Factor as one third of the urban-

pop group, Young Men Society (YMS).

“The music industry is a tough one and I would say we’ve learnt what not to do first.

"We went into X-Factor very naïve and just wanted to enjoy the experience, get as far as we could. We never thought ahead to what might happen next."

Learning about business plans, contracts and how record labels operated was new to the young Sydney-based performers.

“We would have loved to have been better prepared, especially around the business side of music. It was difficult learning about the role of record labels, how they work, learning about royalties and contracts. We were blind about how it all worked and so we were learning from day one after X-Factor.”

While the group initially learnt “who not to trust” they also met many who were willing to offer good advice.

“Stan Walker was one person who has been a massive helping hand for us, he’s shown us a lot of support.

“Our family and friends have also stuck with us through the past couple of years, it’s been such a steep learning curve.”

Tamati was born in 1985 when his father and

former Kiwi rugby league star Kevin Tamati, from Hawke’s Bay, was playing in the English league club competition.He has spent most of his life growing up in England and moved to Australia when he was in his late teen years.He will return to New Zealand this year with YMS as a guest performer at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards, at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings on September 13.It will be the group’s second time performing in New Zealand. The first was last year when they supported 2012 Australian X-Factor winner Reece Mastin.“We have looked at a few videos of the Waiata Maori Music Awards to see what it is like. We have been to a few other similar shows but what I think will be the difference is the Maori culture involved.

“I have never experienced Maori culture, growing up in England, so this will be a special occasion and one I am looking forward to.

“I am hoping to meet lots of other Maori artists working in the music industry, to be able to perform for them and see how they bring the culture to life through music.”

YMS formed five years ago and includes Andi Tiamoura, who’s Indonesian, and Joshua Fonmoa, whose roots are in Rotoma, off Fiji.

The trio enjoyed performing around Australia and New Zealand during the past couple of years.

“We’ve performed in arenas, a whole lot of Australian clubs but I think our fondest memory so far has been our New Zealand tour with Reece.

“We didn’t know what our fan base would be like because X-Factor was then an Australian show. It was amazing, the reaction we got in New Zealand, I believe we were well received.”

YMS is working on an EP to release this year with long term plans for an album. Tamati agrees the sound of the YMS has “definitely changed” since early days with X-Factor.

“Our first single release, We Own The Night, was a dance-pop song but now I guess we have just grown up and our sound has changed.

“We hope we will get a positive reaction to our EP when it’s released this year. We’ve had a bit more time to reflect in our work, concentrate on our music so we hope people love it, it’s going to be a new sound for us.”

SYDNEY-BASED PERFORMERS YMS ARE GROWING UP,

RELEASING A NEW-SOUND EP AND LOOKING FORWARD TO

THEIR INAUGURAL PERFORMANCE AT THE NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI

MUSIC AWARDS. LAWRENCE GULLERY SPEAKS TO THE TRIO'S

NATHAN TAMATI.

guest performers young men society

‘I am hoping to meet lots of

other Maori artists working in the music industry’

YOUNG MEN with X-Factor

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 21

Page 22: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

featuresocial media

THE FIRST SOCIAL media site I set up was Myspace, which was specifically designed for music promotion. I signed up in 2005 or 2006.

But now I use Facebook because it’s still the most used social media site and it’s flexible in what you can post. I use Twitter a lot too and all my Facebook posts feed into Twitter. The difference for me, between the two, is that Facebook is like a website. So when people go on your page they see everything you’ve posted recently at once, photos, videos, links, status updates. Twitter is a constant stream you get dropped out of quickly so it becomes more effective when you are on there all the time. And the people who use it most successfully are the ones that say the craziest, most high-impact stuff. When it’s time to promote a new single, album or gig, I use anything and everything. It’s hard to get people to even know about what you’re doing let alone care about it, so it pays to be prolific on these sites. I get a lot of contact from fans through Facebook and Twitter. These seem to be the most interactive sites. I get a few emails through my website too. Myspace has died out, it’s a drag to use these days so most people leave it alone. Again the nature of Facebook and Twitter is different in terms of contact. Twitter seems to have less conventions because it’s so fleeting. People just say whatever knowing it will be visible for a couple of

minutes then it’s gone so they feel more free to tweet someone they don’t know in real life and say what they want. With Facebook, people tend to be more earnest. I like both. I get funny tweets on Twitter and really nice, sincere messages through Facebook. People will also private message on Facebook to say all kinds of things, such as, "your music helped me through a hard time" or "your

music has inspired me”. I guess I use this kind of

information to gauge whether people are enjoying my music and get an idea of

what kind of people are listening. It’s also helpful to see what

makes people react and how they are hearing about you. If people

bother to come on your page after a gig and leave a message to say they loved

it, you did well! If they say they discovered your music through hearing it on Home

& Away, that’s useful info too.Social media is all-important in

my opinion, when it comes to promoting music to the market. The whole industry has changed to a point where music consumption happens mostly online and any kind of social media is a way to drive people to those outlets where they can buy or hear music. I also use Soundcloud and Bandcamp. Soundcloud is to get people listening, so I’ll give away free downloads like remixes and I’ll stream singles for listening only. Bandcamp is where people can go to buy. You have to link everything so if someone follows you on Facebook or Twitter, they’ll see a link you posted to hear a song on Soundcloud, then they’ll see a link there to Bandcamp where they can buy that song. And you won’t catch everyone on one site, the person that finds you on Instagram because you posted a crazy photo of your cat wearing sunglasses, may not have found your music otherwise, but they saw the photo, then a link to your Facebook page and so on. Social media is also important as a way for outsiders to see how much interest there is in your music. If you email a popular blog asking them to post about your song or you’re trying to get a gig at a festival, they’re going to be interested in how many Facebook fans or Twitter or Soundcloud followers you have.I’d say social media it’s important for all musicians everywhere. Everyone in the world now is looking online to discover new music. But potentially it’s particularly helpful to us being all the way down in New Zealand because now someone on the other side of the world can hear our music without us even having to leave our bedroom studios. We don’t have to pay $3000 and fly over there to play for them. Though that would be fun to do.All promotion is important when it comes to marketing music and it’s also important you get it all of the different avenues to promote your music working together. So if the New

TWEET, BLOG, POSTto reach your marketSONGWRITER AND PROLIFIC SOCIAL MEDIA USER ANNA CODDINGTON WRITES ABOUT GENERATING THE BEST RESULTS FROM PROMOTING MUSIC VIA AN ONLINE NETWORK.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 22

Page 23: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

Zealand Herald publishes a story about you, not everyone will buy that paper and read it, so find the link, post it on your social media sites, and if a few people re-post, you get a few new fans.

I think Twitter is best used as a Smartphone app, rather than on a laptop. It is so instant it doesn’t really want to wait for you to go on your computer to check it. It works best if you’re on it all the time, so I’m sporadic with Twitter. When I have a phase of using it loads I get more followers. When I can’t be bothered those numbers go up more slowly. And it doesn’t have to be just music-related stuff.

People just use it as a way of communicating now, like texting. But the whole world can read your texts so be careful what you say.

A big one for mobile phone use is Instagram. People love Instagram. I love Instagram. There’s been research to show Facebook posts with pictures or videos get more reaction than just words. Instagram is an easy way to post pictures to Facebook and Twitter. For example, if I have a gig coming up I’ll take a photo of the flyer on Instagram and say something about it, and that will feed through in Facebook, and from there to Twitter and it’s more effective than just saying, “I’m playing a gig”, and within seconds you’ve reached your main followers.

I hope anyone and everyone read my social media posts. I hope they get a sense of who I am, enough to feel engaged with me as a person as well as a musician. I got excited when Dam Funk followed me on Instagram He’s not super famous in New Zealand but he’s a great producer from America. I follow and listen to loads of musicians via social media. Soundcloud is good for a constant stream of new music from people you’re following. I also follow quite a few blogs that post up new music and I find a lot of music that way.

n Anna Coddington was named the Best Maori Female Solo Artist at the 2011 National Waiata Maori Music Awards.

‘Social media is all-important when it comes to promoting music’

TIP #3Boost Your Posts

TIP #4Picture This & Share

If a newspaper publishes an article on you, find the link and post it all over your social media sites. It will get

additional mileage if others decide to re-post the link. Not everyone is going to read the newspaper so make it available to others via social media.

Take pictures of your gig/concert posters and programmes, re-post them on your social media sites. Instagram is a good

option for taking photos, you can write a caption with the picture and feed it through your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Get The Most From Your Posts

TIP #2Valuable Feedback

Social media allows fans to post their thoughts almost instantly on your gigs, concerts and songs. It also gives

producers and promoters a chance to read how well your work is being received by the public.

TIP #1Promote Your Music

When it comes to promoting a new single, album or gig, Facebook and Twitter seem to be the most interactive

sites to take your music to the fans. Soundcloud and Bandcamp are also crucial in terms of providing free downloads and purchasing music.

KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 23

Page 24: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

te koangafashion show

A THREE-PIECE collection inspired by the “Wings and War” will be among the garments to appear on the runway at this year’s Te Koanga Maori Fashion Show,

being held as part of the National Waiata Maori Music Awards in Hawke’s Bay.

Te Koanga represents the new spring season, new beginnings, and the show aims to mix Maori music with Maori fashion, by intergrating performances from guest artists at the Maori Music Awards with the collections created by well-known and up and coming fashion designers.

The unique "Wings of War" collection will be one of the features at this year's show and it is the work of Maori fashion designer SHONA TAWHIAO, a Bay of Plenty artist who has trained in traditional Maori weaving techniques and methods.

“It’s a new three-piece collection with a few headpieces inspired by Wings and War. It’s already had a few looks but will be the first time seen in Aotearoa,” Tawhiao says.

Tawhiao regularly shows her work at New Zealand Fashion Week and has won many awards since she established her self-titled label, Tawhiao in 2007.

She showed at Te Koanga in 2012 and will be among a number of designers from last year looking to make a return in 2013.

JEANINE CLARKINOne of those returning is Jeanine Clarkin, Auckland, established her label in 1994 which specialises in funky urban street wear, bringing Maori art and clothing design to a new generation. She is welcomed in the theatre and dance arena as one of Aotearoa’s leading costume designers. She has exhibited internationally in Sydney, Samoa, Hawaii, London, Geneva, and extensively throughout Aotearoa.

When Clarkin is not designing she is curating exhibitions which have shown in Sydney Wellington, Paeroa, Auckland and Waiheke Island.

D'MONIC INTENTReturning to Te Koanga is D’Monic Intent, a

LEADING AS WELL AS UP AND COMING DESIGNERS HAVE BEGUN PREPARING THEIR COLLECTIONS FOR AN EVENT WHICH AIMS TO MIX MAORI MUSIC WITH MAORI FASHION.

THE PASSIONof Maori fashion

Images of the 2012 Te Koanga Fashion Show, highlighting

those designers returning for the 2013 Te Koanga show.

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family-based fashion label with talent also in the design and manufacture of fine jewellery, accessories and millinery. Their common interests lie in finding significance in all things dark and controversial and interpreting those ideas in a way that challenges how society perceives beauty, independence and strength.

D'monic Intent directors are Samara Wooldridge, Maxine Wooldridge, Kris Leitch and Joe Walker. Founded in 2008, the label has grown to reflect not only design aesthetic but interest in high fashion.

The label aims to make Avant Garde the norm and focus on wants as designers rather than trying to please the masses.

LOUISE STICHBURYThe Stichbury label in Wellington was established by its director, Louise Stichbury, in 2008 and she also returns to Te Koanga in 2013.

Her garments are exclusively designed and hand made by Louise and the label's range features options for women’s, men’s, maternity and girls’ fashion.

“Its more art to me, I don’t like mass-producing but to continually be creating new designs and learning. I am very lucky to be doing what I love. It’s not work if you love it”.

Her collection at Te Koanga this year promises to

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 24

Page 25: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

have "colourful patterns, feminine yet sporty".

AROHA & FRIENDSHawke’s Bay label Aroha and Friends makes a return to Te Koanga after a successful appearance at the 2012 show. The business is based in Ahuriri, Napier, which has been redeveloped into a cosmopolitan business hub.

Aroha & Friends also operates as a freelance design studio and print department producing finely crafted work. Rakai Karaitiana is co-founder of Aroha & Friends whose work is influenced by early Maori folk art and native painted meeting-houses. Rakai started screen printing in-house and on location at festivals and events and has expanded into other printing practices including letterpress and yardage printing.

TORY TIOPIRAHawke's Bay Designer Tory Tiopira was among the Year 2, EIT Hawke’s Bay Fashion Apparel Certificate course students who showed at Te Koanga in 2012 and he returns in 2013 ready to show a new collection.

"My collection is called Uruk, translates backwards to Kuru which is my fathers family name from Ngati Tuwharetoa. Uruk opens with my Te Neehi and Mark 3 Piece Collection from my EIT graduation show last year, A Memorial to my late grandparents (my mother’s mum and father’s

dad), which also received Highly Commended at The Hokonui Fashion Awards in Gore this year." Tiopira has selected Te Koanga as the vehicle to show his first official collection.

ONYX HAIR & BEAUTYTeneka Pere took charge of ONYX Hair and Beauty in Hastings just over a year ago and her team returns to apply their magical touch to those appearing at the Te Koanga Fashion Show and the Waiata Maori Music Awards this year.

Pere says her team enjoyed being part of the 2012 show, where they styled some of the stars of Maori music, and she jumped at the opportunity for the business to be involved in Te Koanga for 2013. “Never at this early stage in business did I think we would be sitting and mingling with artists as big as 1814, Tiki Taane, Tomorrow People, the lovely Miss Majic (Paora) and US-based signer Jess Harlen, who had her hair done at ONYX for the awards.

“With four staff we pulled off over 30 hair-up designs in a few hours. Which for anyone is amazing work especially when we had never met or seen the models hair beforehand.

“This year ONYX Hair and Beauty have been asked to do the makeup as well as hair, which is very exciting for our team. Our beauty therapists can’t wait to showcase their talents.

“We are looking forward to meeting the musicians, artists and designers involved in this year’s Te Koanga Fashion Show.”

CASTING CALLMiss Aotearoa pageant director Angela Cudd returns to Te Koanga for the third consecutive year, training models for this year's fashion show. Miss Aotearoa was held in Hawke's Bay for the first time in 2012 when it was part of the Waiata Maori Music Awards and Te Koanga= fashion show. The pageant will be held every second year and the models Cudd is preparing for Te Koanga 2013 will be a mixture of last year's pageant contestants and potential contestants for next year's competition. It is expected they will also help present the awards at the Waiata Maori Music Awards ceremony on September 13.

GUEST PERFORMERSSingers/performers at Te Koanga this year includeThe Rezpect Dance Academy, The Morrell Whanau (Vocal Quartet), Talitha (Soloist) and Kees (Duo).

Some designers were yet to be confirmed at the time of publication. Te Koanga Fashion Show, Assembly Room of the Hawke’s Bay Opera House, from 7pm on Thursday, September 12.

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KOANGA/SPRING 2013 |www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz Pg 25

Page 26: Waiata magazine, Issue 5, 2013

Walk A Mile In My Shoes: Barefoot Divas(Vicki Gordon Music Productions)Put six talented singer-songwriters on a stage together and this is a good example of what you might get. Whirimako Black, Maisey Rika, Merenia, Ursula Yovich, Emma Donovan, and Ngaiire, between them representing Aotearoa, indigenous Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Serbian and Romany roots, made some musical magic when this album was recorded live at the Sydney Festival. Merenia’s contributions include a quite stunning operatic/Latino/jazzy mash up, Fortuna, followed by the moving This One Be Killa. Emma seems to be channelling some deep place on Lullaby, while the bittersweet Within These Walls and haunting Wahine Whakairo are good examples of what Whirimako is capable of. Ngaiire is nothing but strong on Two Minds, while you can almost feel the love and loss in Ursula’s Without You and Do I Belong. Maisey shows how far she can reach musically with her sad Reconnect, and catchy and anti-conformist Repeat Offender.This would be the perfect gift to inspire any budding female singer.

Seth Haapu.

Journey for the return home: June Hayes (Ode Records)June Hayes disappeared from the Auckland live music scene some time ago, personal tragedy sparking a need to heal herself, with the help of whanau in the Far North. That break inspired June, of Ngati Maniapoto, Ngapuhi and Ngati Pukenga descent, to start singing again, and has resulted in her first album of originals, made with the help of music veteran Billy Karaitiana and others. With such experience behind her, it’s believable when she sings about seizing the moment, which she does on more than a few of her songs. There is a hint of sadness to some of her lyrics, particularly the songs dedicated to her son and her father, called Do What You Wanna Do and Directions. But she also knows how to have fun, as in the lively ode to Irish adventures, Tomney’s Bar, and make you think, like in her environmentally aware Sustainable, the ethereal Taupo Shores, and the simple, powerful Tangaroa-Ancestral Pathways, featuring a poem written by her cousin, Dr Benjamin Pittman. June’s smoky jazz voice, clear diction and elegance shines through on all the tracks.

K2TS: K/Line (Rob Oliver Tribal Studios/York Street Studios)Boy bands don’t have a good rep, but dare I say it, these boys from Wairoa could be one with their sweet harmonies laid on top of distinctly Kiwi style reggae beats. I read somewhere the main themes are good times and young love – that writer wasn’t wrong. That’s what K2TS sure seems to be all about.K/Line Baby’s got some real oomph to it, and If I Can’t Have You’s lyrics of longing and In Love with the Night’s strong sound make them stand outs, while the album’s closing track, Jammin, is a huge nod of respect to the music that they play.But I think they’ve played it a bit safe, not only with their lyrics which can come across as a little bland, but with their music. They definitely know how to sing, and how to play, I just hope next time round they get a little more daring and push themselves so anyone who hears one of their songs will think wow, not just, that was nice.

Mihirangi: Somebody Shake The Tree (Ruru Records)Mihirangi has been described as the “Queen of Loops” and it’s not hard to see why. The Taranaki raised multi-instrumentalist has perfected her sound over many years touring locally and internationally, switching effortlessly between te reo and English. On this album she comes across as someone unafraid to experiment musically, pushing the boundaries of what her instruments, including taonga puoro, and her voice, can do – and strong within herself. With so much going on it would be easy for it to become a wash of discordant noise, but it never does. From the bassy Make That Soul, catchy She Hides Inside of You, subtle and soaring Eewoyia, to her touching cover of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, her own lyrics come across as heartfelt and thought provoking. She has a social conscience, but it doesn’t become boring. When she sings “don’t turn and look the other way…” you know she means it.Mihirangi has created a unique musical sound and this is the sort of album that grows on you with each listening.

SMASHPROOFreturns with #2PAINT FADE IS THE NAME OF THE NEW SINGLE BY SMASHPROOF WHICH PLANS TO RELEASE ITS LONG-AWAITED SECOND ALBUM IN SPRING 2013. ONE THIRD OF THE TRIO, DEACH, SPEAKS TO AMY SHANKS.

albumreviews

IT HAS BEEN four long years since chart-topping hip-hop trio Smashproof released their

debut album. But after taking time off to focus on solo music careers, Tyree, Deach and Sid Diamond are back with a new single, Paint Fade featuring guest vocals by Drew.

The track burst on to New Zealand television screens with a live performance on X-Factor and has since had plenty of air play on

national radio stations.‘‘A lot of people are really excited because they thought the band had split up, but that wasn’t the case,’’ Deach says. ‘‘We just all had our solo projects in the works.’’Known for their heartfelt, socially poignant lyrics, and memorable tunes, Smashproof ’s new single is in keeping with the

theme. The video, directed by Chris Graham, who won a Tui award for his work on Brother, has also been well received.‘‘It’s only been positive, it was a good way to come out with our

first single . . . I think some fans were a bit shocked that Drew did the chorus, but the song really suits his voice and his character.‘‘People are still in that

phase of ‘that’s the guy from C4’, but he’s much more than that, he’s a really great singer.

"We needed someone to reach that high register and Drew could do it, he’s also got live experience from singing at events like Christmas in the Park.’’

Paint Fade is a taster from the band’s new CD, which was recorded at a bach in Waihi and will be released later in the year.

| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 26

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Pieter T: Completion(Kog Studio)It’s quite an achievement to get two albums of your own original material out in three years and Pieter T has managed a decent follow-up to his 2010 debut Life, Love & Lessons.With a little help from mates – although not as much as on his first outing - like Sons of Zion, Sid and D Love, he’s come up with a few cracker songs, such as the catchy Right Here (Your Love) and It Would Be You, funky Miss December and Make Believe, racy Clothes Off and bittersweet Rumours.Though with such lush production sometimes it’s a little hard for his smooth voice to come through, and the slower tunes suffer a little bit for it and threaten to blend into one another. It’d be good to hear more of songs like the busy Nightmare, where he at least sounds like he’s trying to push the boundaries, or Tomorrow, where simple background guitar lets his voice shine through.I’d like to hear more.

Waiata 2 (Sony)Trying to equal the success of the first Waiata compilation can’t have been easy, but while many fans of the first would have to be, er, of a certain age, there’s a little less of the showband and balladeer stuff this time round. Just as on the first double CD, some homegrown musical gems – and it has to be said, many of them probably forgotten – have been unearthed here, from the cheerful to the funky, pure pop to pop rock. Anyone remember Inia Te Wiata’s The Wanderer, Rino Tirikatene’s Butterfly, Eddie Low’s lovely cover of Blue Smoke, The Quin Tikis’ Maori Medley and Abe Phillips’ Don’t Think You Remember Me? They’re here, along with tunes from John Rowles, Dalvanius Prime, Frankie Stevens and Prince Tui Teka. Quincy Conserve’s catchy Hallelujah, some mean guitar work on Butler’s Green River, Moana and the Moahunters’ big hit Black Pearl, Southside of Bombay’s What’s The Time Mr Wolf, Mark Williams’ comeback track Show No Mercy, Maree Sheehan’s Past to the Present and Emma Paki’s sweet voiced Greenstone also fit right in.

Moon and Back: Three Houses Down(DawnRaidMusic)Fans of this band are probably wondering when their third album is going to drop – at least they’ll have these six tracks to keep them happy in the meantime.The Otara group tend towards the “nice” category of Kiwi reggae, sometimes a little too nice for my liking. While Moon and Back is catchy and deserves its popularity as a single, Sway is lively and Sione’s Song has a cool Pasifika flavour to it, I wish the other three songs had a little more fire in them.

Sensitive To A Smile (single): Aotearoa Reggae All StarsAotearoa Reggae All Stars is a collaboration of some of New Zealand’s best reggae artists and they have come together to put a new shine on the Herbs' classic waiata Sensitive to a Smile.The song has been re-recorded as part of a project by Mana Ririki to help fight child abuse.Aotearoa Reggae All Stars includes Sons of Zion, Tomorrow People, Three Houses Down, House of Shem, Ria Hall, Majic Paora, Che Fu, Katchafire, 1814, Chad Chambers, NRG Rising and Tasty Brown. The project is the brainchild of Rio Panapa from Sons of Zion and Avina Kelekolio from Tomorrow People, who wanted to highlight the issues around child abuse and bring their fellow reggae artists together to raise awareness.The collaboration has taken the waiata to a new level with fresh harmonies weaved throughout the track, and a slightly softer approach to its original 1980s release.The unmistakable reggae grove binds the waiata together and the introduction of rap segment adds a new dimension.

Reviews by Tania McCauley To request an album review, email: [email protected]

‘‘We have been in the studio working really hard. . . . the body of it was recorded in Waihi and then we came back to Auckland to finish off.

‘‘We are thinking of dropping it in September/October, but it’s hard to tell. It’s all about the timing, we want to make sure there are no other artists bringing out music, so the focus is on us.’’

The Smashproof trio formed in 2005, after signing with

Universal music, but the boys were connected long before being discovered by industry professionals.

‘‘We all grew up together, we did talent quests and all that jazz. I think a lot of people didn’t take us seriously because we were rappers. But then we got a deal with Universal who saw that we had potential. We started by releasing our first single Ride Til’ I Die and from there we just went up hill.’’

Five years later they catapulted to fame with the song, Brother featuring the unique voice of Gin Wigmore, which reached No 1 on the Top 40 Singles Chart in New Zealand and held the position for a 11 weeks, earning them double platinum certification and breaking a 23-year Kiwi record.

The track came from their debut offering The Weekend, also released in 2009, which climbed to No 3 on the Top 40 Albums Chart in New Zealand and is certified gold. Another single titled, Ordinary Life also reached gold certification and the follow-up, It’s Friday, was a top 20 hit.

The band won New Zealand Music (Tui) awards, including the coveted People’s Choice, Highest Selling Single and Best Video (Chris Graham).

Smash Proof also won the Maori Urban Album of the Year (The Truth) at the 2008 National Waiata Maori Music Awards

Tyree, Deach and Sid Diamond have released their own solo material as well as actively becoming involved in their South Auckland community, speaking out about issues such as poverty and domestic violence.

This story provided by Hawke's Bay Today newspaper.

‘It's only been positive, it

was a good way to come out with our first single’

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Tunes Of I, at the 2012 Waiata Maori Musuc Awards.

MAORI ROOTS-REGGAE LEADER KATCHAFIRE WILL BE AMONG THE GUEST PERFORMERS AT THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL WAIATA MAORI MUSIC AWARDS. THE BAND'S LOGAN BELL SPEAKS TO LAWRENCE GULLERY ABOUT THE VALUE OF WORLD-WIDE TOURING, WHICH HAS INSPIRED THE FOURTH KATCHAFIRE ALBUM, ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

touringkatchafire

SOCIAL MEDIA offers new ways for artists to share their work but Katchafire’s Logan Bell believes playing live is still the best way

to conquer the world with music.Katchafire’s commitment to touring during the first six months of this year includes major gigs in the UK, Europe and the US before coming home to perform in New Zealand for the latter of 2013. They've been promoting their most recently-released album, On The Road Again, which was recorded at Revolver Studios in Waiuku. The album is a finely tuned result of brothers with a constant vibe and awareness of their travels, physical and spiritual. The first five songs are "classic" Katchafire, then Groove Again is a step into slightly new territory with a sultry dance floor shuffle and dance hall vocal interlude. “On the Road Again has a far greater sense of collaboration on it. In the past, individuals have brought songs or ideas to the table and then the band flesh it out," Bell says."On this album we let our guard down and let the strongest ideas be the ones that survived. Like with Groove Again", we all wanted to make a song that would make people dance, I think it is

Tourleader

also influenced by the American West Coast and the bands we have seen or played with."

Bell says the band has had many memorable experiences touring overseas this year.

“Yes, it’s still the best way to conquer the world, through your live act. Performing at the Glastonbury Festival (UK) was off the chain this year, the magnitude is mind blowing. The Afro Latina Festival in Belgium was amazing too.”

Katchafire had also performed at the Mundial After Party, the Netherlands, The Garage, London and Exchange, Bristol.

"It was good to visit and perform in parts of the world we hadn't been to before. New friends and family, new experiences."

The eight-piece band was due to be on the road for seven to eight months this year, also taking a monitor stage manager and a front of house engineer.

It had also toured the US in 2010. Bell says the most difficult part of touring is being away from family.

“And missing your kids, birthdays and their first steps. You don’t get those moments back, so you are lucky Katchafire is so committed to doing Jah works.

“The plus side is this amazing life style we call Katchafire, doing what we love for a living.”

Feedback from international audiences shows how much the band’s music was striking a chord with international audiences.

“It is the same world-wide. Blonde dreaded blue

eyed Slovaks get down the same way they do in the US, or New Zealand or Guam.”

There is a lot of careful thought about how the band can incorporate Maori culture into its live performances.

"It’s hard to do it with traditional authenticity as this is omportant to us, the two styles are from different ends of the spectrum.

“But there are contemporary ways to sneak your culture into your music. Our harmonies are the main feature of our music, we also speak about issues important to our world and culture.”

In addition to their international and New Zealand tours, the roots-reggae band from Hamilton plans its debut performance at the National Waiata Maori Music Awards, at the Hawke’s Bay Opera House in Hastings on September 13.

The band's lineup includes Grenville Bell (guitar), Haani Totorewa (keyboards, vocals) Tere Ngarua (bass guitar), Logan Bell (guitar, lead vocals), Jordan Bell (drums), Jamey Ferguson (keyboards, sax, lead vocals) and Leon Davey (vocals, percussion).

All are looking forward to its debut appearance at the Waiata Maori Music Awards this year.

“It’s very important we represent our culture in the most positive way. We are super excited to be playing the National Waiata Maori Music Awards for the very first time.

“Our home base and original core fan base are Maori/Kiwi from Aotearoa and we will never forget.”

‘there are contemporary ways to sneak your culture into your music’

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TE OROKOHANGA IS THE NAME OF A SONG TRANSFORMED INTO A MUSIC VIDEO EXPLORING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MOKO KAUAE.

music videonrg rising

‘We are passionate about our culture, our reo and taonga tuku iho'

A SONG COLLECTING the stories of families who wear moko kauae has been transformed into a music video by "fresh

reggae" group, NRG Rising.The band is based out of Hamilton and is led by vocalist Benita Tahuri and her daughters Anahera and Honey. The whanau is originally from Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, and they returned home in 2013 to record a music video for their single, Te Orokohanga.“The song came about because of a number of things,” Tahuri says. “My two daughters and I wear moko kauae. So we are passionate about our culture, our reo, and taonga tuku iho, or those gifts from our ancestors, and handing to the next generation.” Tahuri says her mother and sister also wear moko kauae.“It is still unusual to see three generations of wahine all wear moko kauae, my daughter expresses it clearly when she says: ko taku moko ko au, ko au ko toku moko.”

Her sister is “a fantastic writer” and the two worked on the song, line by line, going through their research on moko kauae, to piece together the verses. “Then the girls and I used a song we had started writing a while back for the chorus and it all came together."The Internal Contestable Funding Scheme via Te Wananga o Aotearoa, provided an opportunity in 2012 to write a song for a compilation album as a part of a research project.“So we took that opportunity to record this song Te Orokohanga. This year I applied for research funding through the same scheme.“My project was approved and it allowed me to extend the song to create a music video.”The objective of the rangahau included showing moko kauae is alive and well in families, and how moko kauae influences the next generation. It would also show the importance of indigenous traditional practice and to acknowledge womens

FEMALE VOICEGiving mana to the

voice in storytelling and sharing. "This gives mana to female writers whose voice is often invisible in a literary world dominated by the discoveries, stories and view of men.”The project focuses on women who work for Te Wananga o Aotearoa and their families and how moko kauae enhances the beauty and inner wairua of whanau. The women in the video either work for Te Wananga o Aotearoa, family members of the women who work in Wananga and in some cases are also students in Te Wananga o Aotearoa. “I wanted to particularly reflect the inter generational transmission of moko kauae, and brought in women who also had an aunty, a mother, a daughter, or a nanny from another generation who are wearers of moko kauae.“There were not as many as I hoped so some of the women who are in the video are the first ones who have accepted moko kauae in their families.”The music video is filmed in two locations including Rangiahua Marae, Wairoa and in Hamilton.“We wanted to go home and film, to ground the video from our world view. Filming in Rangiahua represented my own Mana Whenua and whanau ties while Hamilton gives respect back to Tainui where I am living and working along with my family within Te Wananga o Aotearoa.”The music video was the band’s third. The first was a song in Te Reo Maori. Ahu Production's Jos Wheeler as director of photography, directed the latest music video and Anya Vitali was stylist and makeup artist.Tahuri says it takes passion and drive to create a music video, as well as financial support to fund the project.

“This kaupapa, moko kauae, is not a new thing for us or our family, I had my ngutu done in 1996 by Rangi Skipper, then continued the journey in 2004 when Paratene Johnston did my kauae after the death of my koroua, John Tahuri. I completed a rua whetu, matapihi ki te ao wairua, on my forehead when my mother had her moko kauae done."The band believes its videos “are very real” and represent genuine aspects of life and culture.“They are not acts, they are who we are and reflect our core values and beliefs as a family and then a band. "This particular video is another special one, we are collecting a piece of history for our family, future generations and for the families of the many other women in the video. “They will all have a snap shot of their nannies, and will look back to this as a fond memory."Tahuri says the professional, international quality music video will ensure the inner beauty and respect for moko kauae is upheld “with mana and pride”.NRG Rising has signed with Starlight Records and is working towards releasing its three new singles under the label.In 2012 the band toured the US, Gathering of Nations POW WOW, supported Katchafire at Reggae Sensations in Sydney and Newcastle in Australia. The band was finalist in the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, Best International World Album in Canada and was No. 9 in the 10 Best Indigenous Musical Moments of 2012 by RPM FM.Orokohanga music video released in September, 2013, see http://www.nrgrising.com.

NRG Rising (New Reggae Generation Rising) vocalists Anahera, Benita and Honey with Brother Truce, Bevin Hira, bass, and rhythm guitar.

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‘These days it's all about multiple impressions on multiple platforms’

NZ ON AIR is in the broadcasting business. That means radio and television, of course, but these days,

online counts as broadcast too.We are champions of local content in broadcasting and a big part of that is connecting New Zealand songs with audiences via the broadcast media, on radio, television and online.We do that through a mix of funding schemes and promotional strategies. For example, we fund recording projects and music videos for broadcast through our Making Tracks funding scheme. Making Tracks is two years old now and so far, we have funded 568 songs.The video for Stan Walker’s chart-topping single, Take It Easy, from the Mount Zion movie is a Making Tracks-funded project. Also, in the last 12 months, we have funded recordings and/or music videos by Ria Hall, Tama Waipara, Awa, Pieter T, Tomorrow People, Maisey Rika and Sons Of Zion.Funding singles and music videos is a big part of what we do – more than $2 million a year – but some of our most important work is promotional. Making sure that New Zealand music gets noticed in the cluttered, noisy music environment.Our main promotions tool is the Kiwi Hit Disc which is a monthly 28-track compilation of new releases by New Zealand artists that goes out to everyone working in the broadcast and

music media 11 times a year. We employ a radio plugger or promo person to work with radio stations to get the songs off the Kiwi Hit Disc and on to the playlist. And we sponsor new music features on all the big commercial radio networks and alternative format radio stations to introduce new songs by New Zealand artists to the audience.Radio is a big part of our work. It is still important in the music eco-system because radio is still the way most people get their daily music fix.But radio is not the only way to connect songs and audiences. The internet revolution has democratised the means of production, distribution and marketing music and every musician and music marketer worth their salt these days has digital and online tools in the toolbox.

When we did a review of the broadcast results from the first 190 Making Tracks-funded songs that had been released, we counted 86,000 spins on radio, 20,000 spins on music television and a whopping 10.1 million streams on YouTube alone. Online outlets like YouTube are increasingly where songs and audiences connect.These days, it’s all about multiple impressions on multiple platforms – whether that is radio like ZM or The Edge, Mai or Flava, music television like C4 and Juice, streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, Pandora or iHeartRadio or via exciting new music discovery websites like the NZ On Air-funded theaudience.co.nz where new artists can help build the audience for their work.For more information: www.nzonair.govt.nz/music.

kupu whakamutungalast word

CHAMPIONSof local music

PROMOTING KIWI ARTISTS MEANS WORKING ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS, WRITES NZ ON AIR'S NEW ZEALAND MUSIC MANAGER,

BRENDAN SMYTH.

From left: Stan Walker, Maisey Rika, Tama Waipara and Sons of Zion have made music videos through NZ On Air in the past 12 months.

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www.waiatamaoriawards.co.nz

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| KOANGA/SPRING 2013Pg 32

2013 Guest PerformersNATIONAL WAIATA MĀORI MUSIC AWARDS

KATCHAFIREMAISEY RIKA

Mihirangi b Toni HuataYoung Men Society Taisha b Rim D.Paul

Hawke's Bay Opera House, September 13, 2013A full list of guest performers will be released prior to the awards ceremony