With Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) kicking off on September 11th, Waiata Anthems has dropped a brand new Te Reo music playlist and accompanying behind-the-scenes documentaries.
The playlist features nearly 150 tracks some of which are original and others which are Te Reo translations of English tunes, such as The Black Seed’s anthem ‘So True’.
There are also short documentaries on eight artists involved in the movement - The Black Seeds, Muroki and RIIKI REID, Dillastrate, IA, YAHYAH, MAJIC PĀORA, Georgia Lines, and Len Blake - “detail the journey and creative process” the artists go through.
Available on YouTube, they “add an intimate layer, inviting viewers into a world of inspiration, reflection, and connection, promising a viewing experience that will resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.”
Earlier this week, George Breakfast talked to one of the artists. The legend Georgia Lines popped into the studio to talk about translating her song ‘Made For Loving’ into Te Reo (‘Te Aroha Mōu’).
“It’s been such a special song to work on and to translate because I feel like I’ve kind of arrived at this point of having all these questions of ‘this is more than okay to do this’,” she said, mentioning that she’s felt a bit weird releasing a Te Reo song - even learning the language - as a pakeha.
“I’m from New Zealand, I’m from Aotearoa. This is my place and this is the language the people speak”.
Waiata Anthems founder Dame Hinewehi Mohi is so happy to see the content the movement is creating.
“I am humbled that the Waiata Anthems movement is able to support, produce, and promote so many artists in the creation and production of waiata reo Māori,” she said. “The release of documentaries for Mahuru Māori in September provides an exclusive glimpse into the inspiration behind their waiata.
“I am forever inspired by these artists' unwavering passion and dedication to breathe life and love into their waiata.”
Give the playlist a bump and the docos a watch - it’s all good tucker.
