National Waiata Maori Musci Awards - Song Launch

New song to mark finale of Maori Music Awards

A song written by a former Hawke's Bay pupil featuring the voices of 30 Maori singers will be released onto the music charts when it is performed live for the first time at the 4th annual National Waiata Maori Music Awards in Hastings tomorrow night.

The song called Release Your Light is the work of artists and former award winners Maisey Rika, Taisha Tari, Young Sid, Ruia Aperahama and it will be performed as the closing number of the awards ceremony.

The four artists ran a music workshop for Hastings pupils in May and were given a task by the music awards executive director Tama Huata to write, record and perform a song together which could be launched at the awards this year.

"I gave them a theme to write to, it's about unity, about strength, to move as one and to encourage achievement through the (Maori) language," Mr Huata said.

"The idea of the song was to inspire the rangatahi of today to be the leaders of tomorrow, to always aim for the pinnacle of success, and I'm happy with what they've (the artists) have come back with."

Maisey Rika, who attended St Joseph's Maori Girls' College, took a lead role in writing the song which was recorded in Auckland last month.

Taisha Tari, who grew up in Napier, was instrumental in the development and production of the song.

"Then we had 30-plus singers and musicians who have all added to the recording. They've recorded an English version and a Maori version ... we will release the English version this week at the awards as we're aiming for that mainstream audience," Mr Huata said.

The awards is a two-day event at the Hawke's bay Opera House beginning today with the Maori Music Expo and then in the evening celebrity models Ruby Higgins and Angela Cudd feature in the Te Koanga Fashion Show.

Tomorrow the expo continues and then in the evening the stars of Maori music will walk the red carpet on their way into the opera house theatre for the 2011 awards ceremony.

Those performing at the awards show include Moana Maniapoto, Anika Moa, Ria Hall and Ardijah. Frankie Stevens and Taisha Tari will also perform a duet before Release Your Light debuts to end the show.