Waiata Wairua is an album that wouldn’t feel out of place performed in a late night jazz hall in some alternate history where the successes of the Maori battalion lead to a proliferation of Te Reo worldwide. The sort of interest that saw your dad singing in French in the 60's, when Mireille Mathieu was knocking about.

While more than just one person, the Ra Charmian project showcases Toia-booth as a talent and voice beyond her years, and even generation. There’s no doubt Hayden Booth accompaniment and arrangement is in on point, and there’s nothing to critique in the performance of the array of diverse, experienced, and talented musicians that bring the songs to life.

But it’s Ra in the sparkly dress, on the spot lit stage, in an archaic ballroom, observed over whiskey glasses and cigars.

Perhaps it’s the live ambience. Or the scattered applause punctuating the tracks. Despite being homegrown reggae, the anthem of backyards and sunshine, there’s something about Waiata Wairua that gives it a classy, big band, pre-bikini era vibe. It’s music that can be enjoyed by the koro in his faded armchair and the mokopuna out in the backyard.

All in all, Waiata Wairua is a relaxing collection of waiata. Soulful, if not spiritual. Funky and jazzy in places. A curated mix of originals and classics, but such is the composition that it’s hard to discern which tracks are written by the dynamic duo that is Ra Charmian, and which are reverent renditions of household names like Bob Dylan, Dave Dobbyn, and Louis Armstrong.

The standouts though are the Te Reo version of Slice of Heaven (Hine Ruhi), and Papatuanuku He Ataahua Koe - and equally the English counterpart What a Wonderful World. The latter was a household name for generations of Kiwis, being the 1990’s TV One channel advert, so it’s interesting to hear it performed with such a Kiwi spin. Nostalgic even.

I feel like I’ve mentioned a lot that the album utilises Te Reo. It’s hard not to, since it’s part of what makes the album stand out for me. It’s a shame that the usage of the language is rare and unique enough amongst the varied albums I’ve reviewed that I have to mention it. That really shouldn’t be the case in this day and age.

There was this advert of TV a long time ago. Early 2000's maybe. No one knows what it was advertising, but the gist was a couple meeting up in a foreign bar, speaking to each other in Maori, with the crux being the bartenders, I don’t recall if they were New Yorkers or not, recognising the language. What a wonderful world that would be... It kind of makes Waiata Wairua a sad and beautiful thing at the same time. Knowing we're not quite there yet but hoping one day we might be.

You can find Ra Charmian on Spotify.

• 1
  Outside In
• 2
  Head Like A Hole
• 3
  Horror Story
• 4
  Fraser Ross
• 5
  Fur Patrol
• 6
  Michelle Rounds
• 7
  L.A.B.
• 8
  The Boondocks
• 9
  Us As Robots
• 10
  Springloader

• 
  Fly My Pretties @ Great Hall, Massey University, Wellington - 19/10/2024
• 
  Jon Toogood @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 19/10/2024
• 
  Jazmine Mary @ Totara St, Mount Maunganui - 19/10/2024
• 
  Mel Parsons @ Moons, Dunedin - 18/10/2024

• 1
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 2
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 3
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 4
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 5
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 6
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 7
  I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
  Gracie Abrams
• 8
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan
• 9
  SAILOR SONG
  Gigi Perez
• 10
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier

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