Music Industry News

One of Aotearoa’s most acclaimed musicians, Anna Coddington announces her funk-filled new album, Te Whakamiha a bilingual body of work in te reo Māori and English. The album’s release on June 28 coincides with the Matariki holiday, which celebrates the new year according to the maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar).

The album announcement arrives alongside the new single, ‘Mōhou Rā’. The track brings forward a guitar-forward sound, while maintaining the playful nature of the release, bringing a similar style to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief. Soaring vocals and a catchy chorus combine with another track that is dripping in style and vibes that are featured throughout Te Whakamiha.

The album moves effortlessly from te reo Māori to English, bringing a sound that Coddington has herself described loosely as “Māori funk”. Across eight tracks, the album encompasses Prince-inspired funk, neo-soul, R&B and disco vibes, presenting te reo Māori in a unique style and sound. Playful throughout with memorable hooks and singalong choruses in both te reo and English, Te Whakamiha is a release with its own vibe and style, yet distinctly belongs to Coddington.

The album’s title Te Whakamiha comes from a rough translation of the name of Coddington’s longtime band – The Appreciations. The name also shows an expression of gratitude to Coddington’s dual journeys in music and in te reo Māori. After spending years studying te reo Māori, 2021 saw Coddington release MANA-WĀ-HINE, an award-winning release featuring tracks from the album BEAMS translated into te reo Māori.

Te Whakamiha is Coddington’s first entirely new project created in te reo Māori, with sprinklings of English throughout.

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