Listen To MOKOTRON's New Album 'WAEREA'

Flagbearer for a transformative new era of indigenous bass culture in Aotearoa, MOKOTRON (Ngāti Hine) concludes a catalytic run of releases in 2024 with new album WAEREA. The Tāmaki Makaurau-based producer weaves together bone-rattling low end, frenetic breaks, haunting taonga pūoro tones, dub-reggae riddims and growling vocals entirely in te reo Māori (along with throat singing drones) to express an urgent seven track statement of Māori resistance and self-determination — crafted with care to resonate through club speakers and festivals nationwide and beyond.

Accompanied by a trio of stunning animated collaborations with director Simon Ward and visual artists James Paratii Lainchbury, Stevei Houkāmau, and Kereama Taepa in the lead up to the record, today's release of WAEREA feels perfectly timed — following the historic hīkoi against The Treaty Principles bill, and MOKOTRON's high profile Boiler Room Aotearoa performance last month. Out via Sunreturn in a strictly limited vinyl LP edition that you can order HERE, learn more about the kaupapa of WAEREA, don't miss MOKOTRON at the all-star 95bFM Christmas Party plus Port Noise 2025 in Ōtautahi, and hit play below...

"To be honest, I’ve always had a vision of how this project should sound. Karakia, tauparapara, bars - like whaikōrero flows, puoro, 97 Techstep darkstyle strings and bass, angular breaks, subterranean bass drops, 134 – 140BPM, DnB on Lean - DnBLean. I finally got the MOKOTRON sound on the tune KŌKIRI, the album opener. So for me, the MOKOTRON kaupapa is finally about to start.

I think first and foremost the goal was to produce an album. I’d already made four EPs (2020 Battlezone, 2021’s TATAU O TE PŌ, 2022’s TAWHITO and EMBRACE THE BASS). Albums aren’t the typical format for electronic music, but weirdly in a way that makes them even more important, they play an important role in formalising a genre and bringing in attention from outside of the underground. I felt like an album was the kind of milestone and statement that was needed.

The project feels multidimensional now, taking in the album artwork, videos, and collaborations with artists in spaces outside of music. I think I got quite stuck in a very small circle of supporters in the underground in Tāmaki but making music videos, performing around the country, working with George FM & Boiler Room, and solidifying support across the Student Radio Network has meant the project is reaching out to a much wider audience in the creative and political spheres, and starting to navigate out of the underground.

This is a major life goal, I’m happy to be on the cusp of achieving it. 2024 was the year that Māori electronic music came to the fore – is this the start of something or the end?"

UnderTheRadar proudly presents
The 95bFM Christmas Party
Featuring... Anthonie Tonnon, Caru, Créme Jéan, Cupid, Dick Move, Flamingo Pier, MOKOTRON, Monoga.my b2b Teddyyy, Phys Ed, Roy Irwin, DJs Carlotta & Scarlett (Love Language), Dubhead, Pennie Black, The Professor
Friday 20th December - Whammy / Double Whammy / Public Bar, Auckland
Tickets on sale HERE via UTR — with the option to purchase a Super Supporter ticket, to show your support for the good ship b!

Port Noise 2025
First lineup... David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights, Jim Nothing, O/PUS, Mr Meaty Boy, MOKOTRON, Pachyman, Simon Joyner & The Eucalypts, Vanessa Worm + more to be announced
Saturday 1st March - various venues, Ōhinehou / Lyttelton
General allocation tickets on sale HERE via UTR

'WAEREA' is out today via Sunreturn on major streaming platforms, vinyl LP orders available HERE.