A Platform for Ethnically and Culturally Inspired Music
About "Kia Mau (Ki Tō Reo Māori)"
25 years ago, NZ artists Mina & Southside of Bombay released ‘Kia Mau’. It is the first and only Māori music track in history to win both Mana Reo and Mana Māori awards at the New Zealand Music Awards, back in 1995.
Now in 2020, Māori music producer Maaka Phat has remade ‘Kia Mau’ featuring his immediate family and extended family. Maaka Phat says he hopes this song encourages a new generation of kids to speak Maori.
“He waiata akiaki tēnei mō te hunga e ako ana i tō tātou reo Māori. Ahakoa ngā piki me ngā heke i roto i te reo, hāere tonu. Me ngākaunui koe ki te kōrero i te reo pō te ao ao te po. Mō te aha? Mō ngā whakatupuranga e heke mai ana, kia kore ai tō tātou reo e mimiti.”
Kia Mau (Ki Tō Reo Māori) takes us on a musical journey utilising the ‘POI’ or little ball on the end of string, as the main back beat. Maaka Phat says it can be surprising. “I feature the poi by emphasising the sounds you don’t normally hear. The swish of the poi as it floats and oscillates. After a little studio wizardry I’ve been able to produce a sound not usually heard with poi. That’s the swish you can hear at the front of the track.
The inspiring vocals and rap feature his partner Mina Ripia and niece Te Punawai Hotu on lead vocals, His son Uta Te Whanga rapping and his nephew Teone Hotu chanting. What makes this special for Maaka Phat is the collaboration with his family.
Now in 2020, Māori music producer Maaka Phat has remade ‘Kia Mau’ featuring his immediate family and extended family. Maaka Phat says he hopes this song encourages a new generation of kids to speak Maori.
“He waiata akiaki tēnei mō te hunga e ako ana i tō tātou reo Māori. Ahakoa ngā piki me ngā heke i roto i te reo, hāere tonu. Me ngākaunui koe ki te kōrero i te reo pō te ao ao te po. Mō te aha? Mō ngā whakatupuranga e heke mai ana, kia kore ai tō tātou reo e mimiti.”
Kia Mau (Ki Tō Reo Māori) takes us on a musical journey utilising the ‘POI’ or little ball on the end of string, as the main back beat. Maaka Phat says it can be surprising. “I feature the poi by emphasising the sounds you don’t normally hear. The swish of the poi as it floats and oscillates. After a little studio wizardry I’ve been able to produce a sound not usually heard with poi. That’s the swish you can hear at the front of the track.
The inspiring vocals and rap feature his partner Mina Ripia and niece Te Punawai Hotu on lead vocals, His son Uta Te Whanga rapping and his nephew Teone Hotu chanting. What makes this special for Maaka Phat is the collaboration with his family.
