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Riqi Harawira - Single Review: Kia ora

15 Jan 2019 // A review by Corinne Rutherford

Riqi Harawira has been performing solo for many years now, following his time as guitarist for The Dead Flowers, and it is clear he has crafted his music to perfection. Kia ora features on his second album Mauri, which is due to be released mid-January 2019 through Waatea Music.

Kia ora is a bilingual Maori and English mix which truly highlights Riqi's music style of Maori fusion with a blend of Te Reo, English Reggae and high energy Rock. There are many very talented Maori musical artists in our pool of Kiwi musicians and Riqi is no exception.

Kia ora has been considerately thought out to appeal to a wider audience, with positive bilingual lyrics accompanied by some slick high energy guitar playing which gives it an overall Rock sound. Kia ora is welcoming and educational and has a lovely vibe about it. It's a fresh, catchy and upbeat track with a groovy edge.

Kia ora has prompted me to investigate Riqi's music further. Judging from reviews on his performances, he is a unique, engaging and very talented performer. Blending Maori culture with some pretty impressive guitar playing, while also spreading a very important message of hope, Riqi will be touring the North Island during January and February 2019 to celebrate the release of Mauri.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Riqi Harawira

Riqi Harawira (Te Aupouri, Ngapuhi) has shared stages with some of the world’s biggest acts, Guns n Roses and Pearl Jam to name a few. The former lead guitarist and co-songwriter for popular 90’s grunge band Dead Flowers. He has collaborated with numerous Kiwi artists across his career such as Kings, Stellar*, DLT, Che Fu and Dam Native. Riqi Harawira is a Maori fusion artist and a guitar virtuoso who is passionate about telling stories about Aotearoa through his original music.

Riqi is a lover of guitar and passionate about playing it. A multi-instrumentalist, Riqi frequently melds te reo Maori and English with rock and grunge music, dabbling with covers of Jimi Hendrix, Tama Renata, Joe Satriani and performing the NZ national anthem and the Last Post with the healing voice of his guitar he calls Mareikura (named after a Ngati Kahungunu princess).

Immersed in music from a young age, his father, Rangi Hadfield (Rangi Harawira) was an international Maori entertainer who performed in over 65 countries and who taught Riqi the guitar.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Riqi Harawira

Releases

Mauri
Year: 2019
Type: Album
Sound of the Long White Cloud
Year: 2016
Type: Album

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