14 July 2023 - 0 Comments

“I am releasing my EP, Hiria, for Matariki as a gift to my Mum, She always wanted me to sing and here I am singing three waiata for her, celebrating her journey to the stars this Matariki – seeing in a New Year with a new Rebs”

As a pivotal member of the hugely successful band, Valkyrie, and as one of the best guitarists in the game, Rebel Reid is a widely respected musician in Aotearoa’s music community. Now Rebel is embarking on one of her most poignant journeys to date - the release of a solo EP in dedication to her beloved late mum.

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The EP, titled Hiria is out today and contains three exquisite bilingual waiata, including the heartbreaking single Dancing In The Stars.

Watch the video for Dancing In The Stars HERE

Today’s release coincides with Matariki for a very good reason, explains Rebel.

“I was really struggling with my grief so I decided to shut off all the devices and TV and go back to what I love doing most - other than music - reading! I picked up my book ‘Navigating The Stars’ by the wizard Witi Ihimaera and as soon as I laid my mind and thoughts to his words, I felt comfort and peace.”

“It wasn’t until I finished reading that I realised delving more and more into te ao Māori is like medicine to me. It was at that moment where I had the epiphany about celebrating mum during Matariki. I knew that the only way to really immortalise mum was to write her a song. As I was sitting in my bed and looking at the stars, I wrote Dancing In The Stars. As soon as that came out of me, I finally started my healing journey.”

Rebel has worked with an A-list cast of talent on the EP, including co-writers Ruth Smith and Kaaterama Pou and producers Josh Strand and Maude Morris. Also bringing tracks to life are musicians Josh Dolan, Jesse Pakipaki and Grahame Narbey.

“I asked one of my dearest friends Kaaterama to help me on this journey. As soon as I heard the songs in our Reo it was like a switch inside me turned on. Lights on and finally someone’s home. I also worked with another matanga reo, Ruth Smith. Her role as my guide and support for the recording of the waiata was thelast piece of the puzzle for my reo journey in Hiria. I couldn’t imagine this album without our beautiful language coursing through its veins.”

Sonically, the EP takes its inspiration from artists Rebel admires, such as Norah Jones and John Mayer, with a sound steeped in old school smokey blues, country, folk, pop and rock all mixed together. “If you can imagine an old bar somewhere on the Mississippi River with light bouncing off the reflection of the river and these Māori singing in this style, because this style shaped the person I am today. I was bathed in this kind of music from my mum,” says Rebel.

The songs on Hiria are accompanied by three beautiful animations – watch HERE. To mark the auspicious occasion Rebel will perform a very special one-off show at - ‘A Night With Rebel Reid’ at Raynham Park on K Road, Auckland tonight. Tickets are available HERE

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