WAI 100%
WAI = WATER
Based in Wellington, WAI is a music collective that creates new Maori waiata (music) out of ancient Maori traditions and language inspired by their ancestors.
Organic grooves and beats made from traditional Maori poi percussion, body slaps and natural noises propel powerful soulful songs - all sung in te reo Maori. WAI make music sounding like no one else.
WAI (meaning 'water' in Maori) formed in 1999, led by Mina Ripia and Maaka McGregor with Gaynor Rikihana.
In the past two years the highly innovative group has performed in various countries including the USA, UK, Germany, Norway, Canada, The Channel Islands and Australia. Their two visits to China and return visits to Canada and Norway in the past year demonstrate WAI's determination to take their music and the Maori language far and wide.
WAI's 2006 tour to the UK and Belgium featured an expanded five piece line up performing their soulful acoustic shows using acoustic drums, poi and percussion as the root for the rhythm, with koauau, pumoana and purerehua alongside guitar and vocals. WAI also held poi workshops for children and adults.
WAI have often performed at Toi Maori's Pao! Pao! Pao! event and are a contributing artist on the highly successful 'Tuwhare' album of original compositions set to poetry by Maori poet Hone Tuwhare.
For further information, please contact: Christopher Read cpread@yahoo.com