24 February 2023 - 0 Comments

Ariana Tikao and Bob Bickerton are the members of Muriwai, and are releasing their first single Auroko through the Wellington artist-led label Oro Records on today. Auroko was initially an improvisation, exploring reo vocalising with Irish harp. The result focuses the listener in on their own breath and intuition, and with the addition of taonga puoro, it is both meditative and uplifting. Auroko is the southern dialect form of ‘aurongo’ meaning emotion.

The name Muriwai refers to a confluence of two rivers, and their music is a convergence of Māori and Celtic musical traditions through celtic harp, vocals, and taonga puoro. Long-time collaborators on other projects, the pair have now developed a show which journeys through time and place starting with a Kāi Tahu creation story relating to water, through to the arrival of people in Te Waipounamu, our impact on the environment, and imagined consequences of our actions. They had their debut performance at the Nelson School of Music in 2022, and are currently planning other performances at festivals and other events.

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