Maori Musician Woos International Audiences
Maori language recording star Whirimako Black has been invited to perform on BBC radio in the United Kingdom in early
September after wooing audiences at a pre-Olympic Games concert in Athens.
The Tui Award-winning singer-songwriter performed with internationally acclaimed world music act 1 Giant Leap at the
European Music Day festival on June 21 as well as spending more than 10 hours the following day recording two new songs
in Maori for the band's second album.
Whirimako - who released her third album of contemporary Maori music, 'Tangihaku', locally with Mai Music at the end of
May - featured on two tracks on the debut 1 Giant Leap album which went on to become a runaway best-seller on the world
music scene.
Mai Music general manager Victor Stent says the organisers of the Athens concert were so impressed with Whirimako that
they offered her a special solo spot on the bill of the main concert.
One of her new songs will now be released on a UK compilation and she's been invited to the UK for media interviews and
the live performance on BBC radio. Victor says she's already received invitations from musicians from Greece and Ghana
to collaborate on future projects.
"In less than 48 hours, Whirimako travelled from local artist to world music star," Victor says. "The compliments from
those who heard her new album came from singers and musicians of every nationality, proving the power of great original
music to cross all barriers and languages.
"This has also been a triumph for te reo and tikanga Maori - Whirimako's extraordinary ability to communicate her values
and the beauty of her language in both the way she acquitted herself and in her moving vocal performance has left an
indelible impression on the people of Athens."
Victor says the principals of 1 Giant Leap - Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgman - have pledged their support to bring
Whirmako's new album 'Tangihaku' to the world. They will soon sell it from their own personal Spacious Music website
while they're already letting their fans know of its existence via the internet.
'Tangihaku' presents the Auckland-based musician in an intimate recording with young acoustic guitarist Joel Haines and
her long-time collaborator, Justin Kereama, on taonga puoro (traditional instruments).
The album is based on a collection of poems written by her mother, Anituatua Black, and sister, Rangitunoa Black, set to
music composed by Whirimako and her sister, and subsequently arranged for these sessions by Joel Haines.
Of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Ranginui, Kahungunu, Te Whakatohea, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Te Arawa, and Ngati Awa
descent, Whirimako won Best Maori Language Album at the 2001 NZ Music Awards for her debut album, 'Hinepukohurangi:
Shrouded in the Mist'.
'Tangihaku' is released by Mai Music - part of the Mai Media stable of companies owned by Ngati Whatua - and is
distributed in New Zealand by Out There Distribution.