Nature Knowledge: WAI and "Matauranga"

Our random song for today is called Matauranga, and is performed by New Zealand band WAI. WAI was started in 1999 by Mina Ripia and Maaka McGregor, and they released their debut album in 2000. They were immediately hailed in New Zealand and beyond as groundbreaking and bringing a new sound to music from the Pacific Rim. In 2007, the duo went on hiatus to focus respectively on having a family and to work on new songs for an album. They have since evolved into a five piece outfit that sings in Maori, and uses traditional Maori music as a base to create what they call Maori electronica roots world music which also is infused with jungle, funk, reggae, hip-hop and deep house. You can find Matauranga on their 2000 debut release, WAI 100%. The song's title refers to the Maori knowledge of flora and fauna in their environment.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Source: http://www.kapa-productions.com/wai/

Dance Lobby: WAI and "He Kanikani Mahau"

Today's random song is called He Kanikani Mahau, and is performed by New Zealand band WAI. WAI was started in 1999 by Mina Ripia and Maaka McGregor, and they released their debut album in 2000. They were immediately hailed in New Zealand and beyond as groundbreaking and bringing a new sound to music from the Pacific Rim. In 2007, the duo went on hiatus to focus respectively on having a family and to work on new songs for an album. They have since evolved into a five piece outfit that sings in Maori, and uses traditional Maori music as a base to create what they call Maori electronica roots world music which also is infused with jungle, funk, reggae, hip-hop and deep house. You can find He Kanikani Mahau on their 2000 debut release, WAI 100%.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Electric Maori: WAI and "Te Tokomauri Manawa"

WAI provides us with today's random song, called Te Tokomauri Manawa. WAI was started in 1999 by New Zealanders Mina Ripia and Maaka McGregor, and they released their debut album in 2000. They were immediately hailed in New Zealand and beyond as groundbreaking and bringing a new sound to music from the Pacific Rim. In 2007, the duo went on hiatus to focus respectively on having a family and to work on new songs for an album. They have since evolved into a five piece outfit that sings in Maori, and uses traditional Maori music as a base to create what they call Maori electronica roots world music which also is infused with jungle, funk, reggae, hip-hop and deep house. You can find Te Tokomauri Manawa on their 2000 debut release, WAI 100%.

Pretty Far from the City by the Bay: NRG Rising and "Journey"

How random is some Maori reggae from New Zealand? NRG Rising is a female-led reggae band based in Hamilton, New Zealand. It was founded by Benita Tahuri and her two daughters, Anahera-Pono and Honey, and her partner Bevin Hira. They describe themselves as "...the world’s first mother and daughters trio to front fresh, fun and conscious world music with a reggae feel and flavours of R&B." We happened upon them in Albuquerque at the Sandia Tram, where they made an impression because of their indigenous tattoos. Indigenous Maori from New Zealand are exploring connections with Native American tribes and so they were touring New Mexico to build those connections. This song, Journey, can be found on their 2011 CD From Darkness Into Light.

New Zealand-New Mexico: NRG Rising and "Hear the Rhythm"

We go to some Kiwi reggae today for our random song. NRG Rising is a female-led reggae band based in Hamilton, New Zealand. It was founded by Benita Tahuri and her two daughters, Anahera-Pono and Honey, and her partner Bevin Hira. They describe themselves as "...the world’s first mother and daughters trio to front fresh, fun and conscious world music with a reggae feel and flavours of R&B. We happened upon them in Albuquerque at the Sandia Tram, where they made an impression because of their indigenous tattoos - indigenous Maori from New Zealand are exploring connections with Native American tribes and so they were touring New Mexico to build those connections. This song, Hear the Rhythm, can be found on their 2011 CD From Darkness Into Light.