Musicians draw on their Ngai Tahu roots for national tour

Voices of Our Ancestors: Ariana Tikao, Christine White and Mahina-Ina Kaui
AOTNZ Tour 2 – 25 November 2011

Poignant stories of the land expressed in song: Performed by Ariana Tikao, Christine White and Mahina-Ina Kaui, three Ngāi Tahu musicians celebrate their shared tribal ancestry with funky grooves, lush harmonies, haunting ballads and textured electronics: An infusion of ancient and modern.

This collaboration has been created especially for their nationwide tour with Arts On Tour NZ, which begins in Kaitaia and ends in Otautahi / Christchurch, taking in the east and west of both islands.

Ariana Tikao
A composer, singer and musician, Ariana draws on folk and pop styles with a strong emphasis on Maori chant. She has released two critically acclaimed solo albums, Whaea (2002) and Tuia (2008) and is a member of indigi-folk group Emeralds and Greenstone. Ariana received an achievement for her contribution to Maori music from Toi Maori in 2008. The following year, her Tuia music video, directed by Ngai Tahu artist Louise Potiki Bryant, won Best Music Video at the imagiNATIVE film+media festival in Toronto. Her show Ohaki (with Dr Richard Nunns) received standing ovations in Nelson and at the Christchurch Cathedral last year. She was a guest artist for the Ihimaera show at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2011.
www.myspace.com/arianatikao
Native Tongue Music www.nativetongue.co.nz/ariana-tikao

“....a magical and at time mystical trip…like being bundled up in a big feather cloak and transported to another world.” Scott Kara, Weekend Herald

Christine White
Born in Hamilton of Ngai Tahu and English descent, composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Christine has recorded three solo albums, a co-release Taniwha with Hinemoana Baker and a long list of composing credits for other artists, as well as corporate and government clients. While studying Sonic Art at Victoria University, Christine was first equal in the 2008 NZ School of Music Composer Competition. She writes regularly for Tim Bray Productions in Auckland, composing original songs for Tim’s children’s theatre, including Hairy Maclary and Bad Jelly the Witch.
http://www.myspace.com/christinewhite68
www.myspace.com/vvvvvtaniwhavvvvv
www.christine-white.blogspot.com/

Mahina-Ina Kaui
Born in Christchurch, and described as ‘divinely voiced’ by the NZ Listener, Mahina has toured several times with Pacific Curls, and is well known as the lead singer of the group Big Belly Woman, whose sound is described as ‘healing vibrations melded together by traditional and modern instruments’. Mahina sings, plays and teaches the playing of Taonga Puoro (traditional Maori instruments) to heal and connect people spiritually. An accomplished player of koauau and nguru (Maori flutes), she is currently using Taonga Puoro alongside craniopathy, and cranio and sacral therapy

ENDS

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