WAI - making waves in JUNE


Turangawaewae marae - Ngaruawahia for the Maori Queen's Coronation Celebrations in May,
and then London's Hyde Park for BBC Music Live 2002 - a free nationwide musical party
planned to coincide with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in June.

After a quick three week tour of the UK , it's on to Switzerland but before leaving Godzone, a
farewell bash in Wellington late last month ensured WAI (Mina Ripia , Tere Harrison,
Gaynor Rikihana, Iain Gordon and Maaka Mc gregor) had the blessing and support of many a
loyal, local supporter and fan. It will also serve to maintain the momentum and build the
crescendo for the June 3rd gig in London.

The BBC Music Live 2002 event is billed as a spectacular free music festival in London's Hyde
Park featuring five stages and celebrating the music and cultures of five continents. Aotearoa
representatives WAI, will perform alongside artists from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australasia
and Europe. The line up includes Che Fu, Trilok Gurtu, La Bottine Souriante, Tim Freedman, Oh
Susanna, Courtney Pine and Susheela Raman. BBC London 94.9 will broadcast from the event
and a BBC London television program will be eventually screened worldwide.

WAI is also scheduled to perform in Bristol where the BBC Music Live 2002 event continues at
Canons Marsh amphitheater. The day before, WAI takes the stage in the Fierce Festival - the
Northern Hemisphere's biggest celebration of the Southern Hemisphere' at Brockwell Park in
South London. Here, WAI will be included in a lineup with Midnight Oil, Regurgitator, Spiderbait,
Magic Dirt and Boo! By late June, WAI is scheduled to appear at the Neuchatel Festival in
Switzerland, with more gigs planned for Germany and Holland.
This five piece cyber electronica roots group have developed a groundbreaking sound from
mono tonal harmonies, poi and patu over phat grooves from traditionally based roots. All lyrics
are in te reo Maori and it's a flavour that proved popular when WAI performed last year in
Rotterdam at the world music expo , London at N.Z. House for the launch of Maori music .com
in the UK and then in Sydney at the Pacific Wave Festival.

Despite an extremely hectic schedule over the past 12 months, WAI's production company
MINAAKA ltd managed to produce albums by Brannigan Kaa 'Taputapu' and Ruia and Ranea
'Waiata of Bob Marley'. Both albums were finalists in the New Zealand Music Awards 2002,
which saw 'Waiata of Bob Marley' winning 'Mana Reo Album of the Year'. In 2001, that honour
was accorded to WAI for their debut album '100%'.

Earlier this year, WAI was named finalists in two categories in the BBC radio 3 world music
awards 2002, for the Asia Pacific Album of the year & Innovator of the Year. Although
unsuccessful, WAI says they were "just thankful and honored to be considered in the same ilk
as recording artists Manu Chao (France), Nitin Sawhney(UK) Baba mal (Africa) and Orlando 'Cachaito' López (Cuba) to name just a few".

Ian Anderson, editor of the world music magazine fRoots wrote
''You know you're in for something original, and like all really new out-there music it gets better,
revealing something extra fresh every play, every day. WAI - means water in Maori - have a
mission to create new 21st century music out of ancient Maori roots, traditions and language. All
seriously impressive: beautiful and scary all at once.
The Sunday Telegraph (UK) said "'WAI, with a compelling 21st century take on traditional
chants, are starting to make waves in Europe.' Of the Album of the month award,
MOJO (UK) had this to say, 'Any of these could have been Album of the Month. WAI's '100%' is
hard dance rhythms with traditional body slapping sounds. And just wait till you hear Mina Ripia's
voice.'
Jazzwise (UK) were even more complimentary, "Powerful, trail blazing stuff. Aided by such live
action noises as body slaps, punches, foot stamping and hand clapping, traditional vocal
patterns and harmonies play up the percussive nature of the Maori Language and the music's
traditional starkness. Brazen use of new technology livened up the mix; here the call and
response haka (a welcoming chant and war dance) is electrified with grooves phat enough to
spark a dance floor stampede. Elsewhere, snatchers of drum 'n' bass, hip hop, reggae and
techno bring the ancient whizzing towards the future, in this multi-faced debut designed to
please the ancestors and inspire those who follow. Though their gorgeously sung sentiments -
educational, unity, anti-smoking might err on the side of worthy, WAI's sound is anything but.
Local comments included,

Rip it Up (NZ) added "Unlike anything I've heard before. WAI's '100%' is a determined effort to
create a unique Maori and Pacific Rim sound in NZ - something that has been lacking for years.'
And from the NZ Listener 'No one has come up with anything as natural and tough as WAI.
WAI may be drawing on the music of their ancestors, but they are making sounds to rock the
21st. Century.'

Minaaka ltd has also produced the debut album from sisters Tuahine 'Ma Te Reo' and the
upcoming solo album from Apanui 'E Tau Nei' both distributed by Jayrem records.

• article submitted by: Maaka McGregor, Minaaka Limited