Hope in the Wind: Te Vaka and "Havili"

South Pacific and New Zealand group Te Vaka brings us our random tune for the day, Havili. Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Havili is from their 2011 album of the same name. The lyrics are about a blowing breeze of hope that refreshes our lives.

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: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Vaka; http://www.tevaka.com/

Maori Electronica: WAI and "He Kanikani Mahau"

Our random song for today 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.

Source: http://www.kapa-productions.com/wai/; https://www.waimusic.co.nz/

It's Cool: Lord Echo and "Just Do You"

New Zealand native Lord Echo, who also goes by the name of Mike Fabulous (real name Mike August), brings us today's random tune called Just Do You. Exposed to music by his mom early in life, August learned to play ukulele and guitar at age 10, and currently his main instruments are guitar and bass with dabblings in percussion, keys and drums. He had a short stint studying music composition at Victoria University in Wellington before getting interested in reggae and performing with The Black Seeds. After 15 years with them, he moved on to do his own solo work. You can find Just Do You, a song that manages to be both funky and chill, on Lord Echo's 2017 album Harmonies. The song features Mara TK, another New Zealand musician, on vocals.

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: https://nzmusician.co.nz/features/lord-echo-melodies-harmonies-curiosities/

Where Do I Belong?: Te Vaka and "Tu I Fea"

South Pacific group Te Vaka brings us our random tune for today. With members from the South Pacific islands and New Zealand, Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. This song, Tu I Fea, is from their 2011 album Havili. The song is one of longing for somewhere to belong.

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.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Vaka and http://www.tevaka.com/

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/

Bang the Drum: Te Vaka and "Vevela"

Today's random tune is a percussion instrumental by South Pacific group Te Vaka. With members from the South Pacific islands and New Zealand, Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. This song, Vevela, is from their 2011 album Havili.

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.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Vaka and http://www.tevaka.com/

Home Just Beyond the Horizon: Te Vaka with "Te Vaka"

The random tune for today is Te Vaka by the band Te Vaka. From the South Pacific and New Zealand, Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Te Vaka was originally recorded in 1997 on their album Original Contemporary Pacific Music, and re-recorded on their 2008 album Te Vaka.

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.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Te_Vaka and http://www.tevaka.com/

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.

Rowing Toward Land: Te Vaka and "Te Vaka"

The random tune for today is Te Vaka by the band Te Vaka. From the South Pacific and New Zealand, Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Te Vaka was originally recorded in 1997 on their album Original Contemporary Pacific Music, and re-recorded on thei 2008 album Te Vaka.

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%.

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.

Over and Under: Te Vaka and "Luga ma Lalo"

South Pacific and New Zealand group Te Vaka brings us our random tune for the day, Luga ma Lalo. Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Luga ma Lalo is from their 2011 album, Havili.

They Have a Dream: Te Vaka and "Moemiti"

South Pacific and New Zealand group Te Vaka brings us our random tune for the day, Moemiti. Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Moemiti is from their 2011 album, Havili. The song urges us to "Seize and Hold on tight to your dreams, never let them go..."

Winds of Change: Te Vaka and "Havili"

South Pacific and New Zealand group Te Vaka brings us our random tune for the day, Havili. Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. Havili is from their 2011 album of the same name. The lyrics are about a blowing breeze of hope that refreshes our lives.

Cockeyed Optimists: Te Vaka and "Lovely World"

Today's random tune is from South Pacific/New Zealand group Te Vaka. In case you're wondering about the post title, it's from the musical South Pacific. Te Vaka performs contemporary Oceanic music in a style they call South Pacific fusion. Founded in New Zealand in 1995 by Opetaia Foa'i, they have won a number of awards and have been labeled the most successful contemporary band playing Pacific music by the BBC. They use traditional instruments such as the pate and pa'u (drums) and most of their songs are written in the Tokelauan language, though some songs are in Samoan and Tuvaluan. This song, Lovely World, can be found on their 2011 album Havili.