- country:New Zealand
- region:Polynesia
- style(s):Ethnic, Reggae
- label:Tangata
- artist posted by:Tangata Records
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Hareruia ‘RUIA’ Aperahama is a Mäori composer and recording artist hailing from New Zealand.
Ruia’s brand of music is a reggae/world crossover sung in a Mäori/English bilingual mix (Ruia is a native speaker of the Mäori language). Ruia is adept on a variety of musical instruments - saxophone, keyboard and guitar – as well as a superb and passionate vocalist.
A gifted singer/songwriter comfortable in traditional or contemporary musical environments, Ruia is one of the few composers to emerge from New Zealand with such multi-dimensional musical gifts. This musical flexibility provides a distinct advantage when it comes to writing unique tunes based on traditional chants or catchy choruses and melodies using today’s pop boundaries.
Ruia grew up in the small rural settlement of Ratana Pa, (home of Maori Prophet of the 1920's era TW Ratana 'Te Mangai' founder of the Ratana Church and Movement). Ruia's participation the church brass band and choir as well as various contemporary bands and involvement in kapa haka (traditional dance groups) during his formative years have given him a unique ability to cross musical boundaries with ease.
Ruia has written, recorded and released songs as lead vocalist and composer with groups such as Southside of Bombay, penning the top five hit ‘What’s the Time Mr Wolf’ which achieved gold sales status, and highlighted in the infamous Once Were Warriors feature film. Ruia has also composed and performed for Moana and the Moahunters on 'Tahi' and 'Rua', and ‘Toru’ albums.
Ruia is the leading instigator of the ‘Prophecy’ music project, showcased at WOMADelaide, WOMAD Aotearoa, 2000 Olympic Festival of the Dreaming in Sydney, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival and represented in Europe in 2003 at the Cultural Olympiad in Greece.
Ruia and twin brother Ranea released the album ‘Whare Mäori’ in late 2000, which was nominated as a finalist in the New Zealand Music Industry’s Tui Awards.
A second album, ‘Waiata of Bob Marley ‘Volume 1’, released in 2001, again had the Aperahama brothers sharing vocal duties, covering a selection of Bob Marley’s songs sung completely in Maori. This won them the coveted Tui award for Best Maori Language album. Ruia also recorded a follow up Volume 2 in that series released in 2002.
Production has nearly finished on his next album, which is due to be released in late 2003. Ruia will do an extensive tour of New Zealand and aims to head overseas in 2004.
Ruia has been given honorary status of the Toi Iho cultural quality assurance mark by Government Arts Agency Creative New Zealand/Te Waka Toi.
Ruia is also actively involved in other creative endeavours ranging from translations for animated television series, lending his drawing and writing talents for a Maori language youth magazine, and more recently fronting a music TV series.