'Waiata / Anthems' Collection Announced
In celebration of Māori Language Week / Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori 2019 this coming September, a new collection has been announced titled Waiata / Anthems, presenting a selection of Aotearoa musical icons performing their songs in Te Reo Māori, including Bic Runga, Tami Neilson, TEEKS and Hātea Kapa Haka. The artists worked in re-interpreting and recording their songs in Te Reo Māori with Sir Tīmoti Kāretu and songwriter Hinewehi Mohi, who performed the New Zealand National Anthem in te reo at an All Blacks Rugby World Cup quarter final in 1999, sparking a nationwide conversation around our indigenous language's everyday use.
Bic Runga enthused about the experience re-recording her classic 'Sway / Haere Mai Rā' as “something I've always wanted to try but I was at a loss to know where to start. Having Hinewehi Mohi guide me through this process so generously has been really wonderful. I had to record the vocal well over 50 times to get it even close to right, but to finally sing in my own native tongue has been a really moving experience. The Māori language sings so beautifully, it's warm and percussive, and to have Sway translated by none other than Sir Timoti Karetu has been a huge honour. I've always written love songs, and somehow always felt a part of the tradition of the Māori love song, but without my language. So this is a little homecoming for ‘Sway’ of sorts, it's been a really meaningful project to me.”
Check out a trio of teaser clips for the collection, featuring Bic Runga, Tami Neilson and TEEKS, and scope out the tracklist info below...
'Waiata / Anthems' tracklist:
Hātea Kapa Haka - Aotearoa / God Defend New Zealand
Six60 - Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don’t Forget Your Roots
Stan Walker - Tēnā Rā Koe / Thank You
Benee - Kua Kore He Kupu / Soaked
Drax Project - I Moeroa / Woke Up Late
Shapeshifter - Ngā Kano / In Colour
Kings - Kei Aro Atu Koe / Don’t Worry Bout’ It
Tiki Taane - Kei Tōku Ngākau Nei Koe / Always On My Mind
Sons of Zion - Pōtere Ana / Drift Away
Bic Runga - Haere Mai Rā / Sway
TEEKS - E Kore Rawa E Wehe / Never Be Apart
Tami Neilson - Roimata / Cry Myself To Sleep
'Waiata / Anthems' releases on Friday 6th September via Universal.
Māori Language Week runs from 9th to 15th September 2019.
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