Whirimako Black
Whirimako Black's distinctive sound, her lyrics in te reo Maori, her use of traditional Maori musical forms and collaboration with traditional taonga puoro instruments make her a unique and powerful voice for Maori music and culture.
Whirimako Black at PAO PAO PAO 2007
Quite simply one of New Zealand’s most loved musicians, Whirimako Black has built up a loyal jazz, blues and Maori fan base with her sublime reo Maori and English songs. She continues to be a prolific recording artist.
Whirimako (Ngai Tuhoe) has performed throughout Aotearoa, Europe and Australia over the past decade. She delivers an intimate acoustic set with a voice that has been described ‘as pure velvet’.
“Lush, intricate sensitive playing is the key here. The fusion of an authentic jazz sound with Whirimako’s unique and distinctive vocal style really does cause the kettle to boil...” - NZ Musician magazine
Artist Profile
Whirimako, of Ngai Tuhoe, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Ranginui, Kahungunu, Te Whakatohea, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Te Arawa, and Ngati Awa descent, has performed throughout the country over the past decade, studied towards a Certificate of Musicianship Theory from the Sydney School of Music in Australia and taught music composition at numerous workshops.
Her musical achievements include composing and singing the titles for the acclaimed TVNZ series, 'The New Zealand Wars', as well as composing with Hori Tait the initial title music for the Maori news programme, Te Karere. In 1991, she formed the female Maori band Tuahine Whakairo but left in 1993, to start a solo career.
"Throughout the last five years I have enjoyed composing music that has relevance for today, plus reviving and modernising traditional waiata (songs) which stems from my early involvement with the cultural arts of the Tuhoe tribe of Aotearoa. I aspire to see the fruition of my waiata being accessed on the international market, bringing a heightened awareness to the status of Maori, and the Maori language worldwide, to fulfill the dreams of my ancestors."
Her debut album, 'Hinepukohurangi: Shrouded in the Mist', despite being independently released, won Best Maori Language Album at the 2001 NZ Music Awards and is now approaching gold sales status.
"Hinepukohurangi is a mesmerising blend of natural tones and subtle moods. Whirimako is originally from the region in New Zealand where the people are referred to as Children of the Mist. This description perhaps summarizes the nature of Whirimako's music and voice. A required addition to any serious world music record collection!"
A second album, 'Hohou Te Rongo: Cultivate Peace', which Whirimako recorded and released herself in 2003, has sold well over 5000 units. Whirimako says the inspiration for this album came from her daughter, Mihi Ki Te Kapua.
"My whanau (family) are my puna - my source," she explains. "Each whanau member has a quality and values that fits in with me. In each area, they come through and tautoko (support) me. We all love music and I value all their opinions."
And the track which Whirimako wrote and performed on '1 Giant Leap', called 'The Way You Dream,' was subsequently licensed for worldwide use in the movie 'The Bulletproof Monk' and has since appeared on several compilation albums. Listeners everywhere have been won over by her extraordinary voice: "The finished eponymous album ("1 Giant Leap") has moments of transcendent glory, such as Maori icon Whirimako Black..."
Now, on her third album 'Tangihaku', Whirimako Black is presented in an intimate recording with acoustic guitarist Joel Haines (brother of NZ jazz star Nathan Haines) and her long-time collaborator Justin Kereama on taonga puoro (traditional instruments). Produced by Victor Stent and Chris Macro, the album comprises a collection of poems written by both her mother Anituatua Black and sister Rangitunoa Black, set to music composed by Whirimako and her sister, and subsequently arranged for these sessions by Joel Haines.
The album's concept involves taking the listener on an inspirational 'musical journey' into the Ureweras. The instrumentation and arrangement is consciously spare and ambient, allowing the exquisite sound of Whirimako's rich and evocative vocals to flow around every note - and that's what makes this album such a highly satisfying acoustic experience.
'Tangihaku' sets a new benchmark in recording contemporary Maori music. The outstanding vocals and guitar work are faithfully captured - close-up and intimate, to create an absorbingly 'real' listening experience ... an ambient atmosphere, where sophisticated yet exquisitely simple melodies wrap themselves effortlessly around each of the poems ... each is unique, extraordinary and truly memorable!
Text and image courtesy of Whirimako Black and Mai Music.