WOMAD

Whirimako Black

From New Zealand

Whirimako Black’s distinctive sound, her lyrics in te reo Mäori, her use of traditional Mäori musical forms and collaboration with traditional taonga puoro instruments make her a unique and powerful voice for Mäori music and culture.Whirimako, of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Ranginui, Kahungunu, Te Whakatohea, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Te Arawa, and Ngati Awa descent, has performed throughout the country over the past 15 years, studied towards a Certificate of Musicianship Theory from the Sydney School of Music in Australia and taught music composition at numerous workshops.Her musical achievements include composing and singing the titles for the acclaimed TVNZ series, The New Zealand Wars, as well as composing with Hori Tait the initial title music for the Mäori news programme, Te Karere.In 1991, she formed the female Mäori band Tuahine Whakairo but left in 1993, to start a solo career."I have enjoyed composing music that has relevance for today, plus reviving and modernising traditional waiata (songs) which stems from my early involvement with the cultural arts of the Tuhoe tribe of Aotearoa. I aspire to see the fruition of my waiata being accessed on the international market, bringing a heightened awareness to the status of Mäori, and the Mäori language worldwide, to fulfil the dreams of my ancestors."Her debut album, Hinepukohurangi: Shrouded in the Mist, despite being independently released, won Best Mäori Language Album at the 2001 New Zealand Music Awards. She followed it Hohou Te Rongo: Cultivate Peace in 2003.Her inspiration for this album came from her daughter, Mihi Ki Te Kapua. “My whanau (family) are my puna - my source,” she explains. “Each whanau member has a quality and values that fits in with me. In each area, they come through and tautoko (support) me. We all love music and I value all their opinions.”Whirimako has since released three additional albums and guested on other album projects. She received the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Mäori music in the 2006 New Year Honours list.“Black's two previous te reo album - Tangihanu (2004) and Te Kura Huna (2005) - were compellingly beautiful and weaved between soul balladry and slightly esoteric jazz, but never lost sight of the spirituality which drove them.“Black sympathetically takes listeners to the heart of a song, brings that soft but strong and supple voice into focus on the familiar melodies and, in the company of fine Auckland jazz musicians, brings a fresh perspective to songs which sound written by and for her. Another gem. “ – Graham Reid, NZ Herald September 2006