Listen To TE KAAHU's Debut Album 'TE KAAHU O RANGI'

Having the entirety of our editorial team hit by Covid means we're still catching up with some of last Friday's flood of local releases, including the beautiful debut album of uplifting waiata from Theia's (Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Tiipaa) reo Māori project TE KAAHU. Recorded with Jol Mulholland at The Lab, TE KAAHU O RANGI means both “Rangi’s hawk” and “hawk of the heavens," named in tribute to Theia's tūpuna wāhine (female ancestors) and notably her grandmother, as she explained in an illuminating new track by track feature for the record over at The Spinoff. Featuring nine songs delivering "messages of love, peace, healing, and hope," Theia will perform the album in its entirety at a special launch event at Tāmaki's The Tuning Fork on Friday 24th June — Aotearoa’s inaugural Matariki public holiday...

"I’m honoured to perform my album for the first time, which is also the first year Matariki is observed as a national celebration. Matariki represents rebirth, gathering together and remembering our dearly departed; these are also the themes explored in TE KAAHU O RANGI.

These are songs my grandmothers and aunties would’ve cried to, danced to, and loved... I am so grateful that I can now present this album as a taonga tuku iho - a treasure to be cherished and played for years to come. The generosity of those who helped me achieve this won’t be forgotten.” - Theia

'TE KAAHU O RANGI' is out now on major streaming services.