Aotearoa Artists Inspire Faith Through Their New Song 'Ka Mānu'

August 16th 2019
Artists like Troy Kingi, Majic Paora, Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Seth Haapu, Ria Hall, Horomona Horo and Rob Ruha collaborated with some of the country’s finest musicians to produce their song ‘Ka mānu.’

“When people are facing great hardships, music is the best response. This is the role of the poet and of the artist: to bring inspiration to those doing it hard.” – Rob Ruha

 

Escalating tensions at Ihumātao, Maunakea and similar movements around Aotearoa prompted a swift response by prominent Māori artists to unify in voice and release a new waiata whakakotahi iwi.

 

An uplifting track, ‘Ka mānu’ mixes Sunshine Reggae with Te Reo Māori and Taonga Pūoro.

 

“Ka mānu is all about faith and likens faith to a boat out at sea. No matter how rough the conditions get, powerful faith ensures you stay afloat. It also offers clarity and fortitude in the times you really need it.” – Rob Ruha

 

Before heading into Parachute Studios with producer Nic Manders, the crew headed out to Ihumātao to be with the protectors and to offer prayers.

 

“Ihumātao is currently the part of the mountain of contention in this country we can see. The barge at Karakatūwhero in Te Araroa is another, Cook commemorations and the wharf development in Gisborne another and many others. The great thing is that all movements are passive and peaceful and inspirationally determined for resolution.” – Rob Ruha

 

Although the call to come together was short notice, the response was great with many artists and studios throwing their support behind the project.

 

“Everyone has given support overwhelmingly in the way of food, makeup, recording gear, images, vehicles, cameras, artwork and heaps of other stuff to show the protectors we are thinking of them and praying for a swift resolution.” – Cilla Ruha

 

A music video showing the crews time at Ihumātao and at Parachute Studios will also be simultaneously released to support the release of the track. This is produced by Abe Mora. Ngatapa Black also lent a hand in collating the images gifted from protectors.

 

‘Ka mānu’ is available on all major digital music platforms Friday 16th August 2019. 

 

“Ki te heipū he kino ki te iwi, ka whakautua ki te waiata. Inā te mahi a te kaiwaiata me te kaitito, he mahi mō te oranga o te iwi.” – Rob Ruha

 

Nā te whakakakeranga o ngā tukitukinga i Ihumātao, i Maunakea tae noa ki ngā kaupapa pērā huri noa i Aotearoa, ka toko ake te whakaaro i ngā kaiwaiata Māori kia whakakotahi i ngā reo ki te whakarewa waiata hou.

 

Ko Troy Kingi tērā, ko Majic Paora, rātau ko Bella Kalolo, Maisey Rika, Seth Haapu, Ria Hall, Horomona Horo, ko Rob Ruha me wētahi o ngā autaia whakatangitangi o te motu. Ko te waiata hou nei ko ‘Ka mānu’

 

He waiata whakakoakoa a ‘Ka mānu’, e hānumi ana i ngā takitaki Reggae, Te Reo Māori me ngā Taonga Pūoro.

 

“Ko te whakapono te kaupapa o te waiata. E whakarite ana te whakapono ki te waka ka mānu i runga i te au o te wai – ahakoa piua e te tai, e te āwhā rānei, e te hau, ka mānu tonu. Mā te whakapono ka ea ngā tūmanakohanga katoa.” – Rob Ruha

 

I peka atu te ope whakatangitangi me ngā kaiwaiata ki Ihumātao ki te mihi ki ngā kaitieki whenua me te tuku whakamoemiti i mua i te haerenga ki Parachute Studios me te tumu whakaputa a Nic Manders.

 

“Ko Ihumātao te tihi o te maunga o ngā raruraru pēnei e kaha kitea ana i tēnei wā nā reira e tika ana kia haere ki konā i te tuatahi. Ko te karikari i te Karakatūwhero i Te Araroa tērā, ko ngā kaupapa Kāpene Kuki tērā, ko te whakahoutanga o te wāpu i Tūranga tērā, aha rā, aha rā. Hoi, ko te hao a te katoa, kia rangimārie te kawenga o ngā tohe me ngā tatūtanga o ngā wawata.” – Rob Ruha

 

Ahakoa he karanga ohorere kia mahingia te waiata, i ngākau nui mai te tokomaha tāngata mai i ngā whare hopu pūoro, ki ngā whānau o te ope waiata tae noa ki te whānau i Ihumātao me Maunakea. 

 

“Kua tākoha mai tēnā me tēnā a rātau reo, pūkenga toi, kāmera, whare, kai, panipani, waka hoki kia eke tēnei kaupapa. Otirā ia, kia tino rāngona ngā iwi tohetohe i te aroha mō a rātau kaupapa whai mana. Me te hao anō o te ngākau, kia pā te aroha ki ngā mana e āhei nei te whakatau wawe i ngā take.” – Cilla Ruha

 

Hai kīnaki ake, ka rewaina ngātahi atu tētahi Kiriata Waiata me ngā mahi a te ope nei ki Ihumātao, ki Parachute studios. Nā Abe Mora te kiriata me ngā āwhina a Ngatapa Black ki te kohikohi i ngā whakaahua i Maunakea me Ihumātao.

 

 

Kei runga a ‘Ka mānu’ i ngā tūranga waiata ā-ipurangi katoa a te Paraire 16 Akuhata, 2019.

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