05 August 2024 - 0 Comments

Tāmaki Makaurau-based Māori rock group KIKO have today shared their electric new single + video Haurua - a defiant reflection on Māori identity and tino rangatiratanga in Aotearoa.

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An epic fusion of rock, reggae, blues, psychedelic and waiata reo Māori, KIKO are taking Aotearoa by storm while breaking down stereotypes of what Māori music sounds like - with today’s new anthem Haurua doing just that.

Made up of Rewi McLay (Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Hine), Lukas Wharekura (Ngāti Kahungunu), Kara Gordon (Ngāi Te Rangi), Phillip Peters (Whānau a Apanui and Rangitāne)and Windon Bradfield - KIKO’s new single Haurua explores the complexities of identity and growing up half-caste - with one foot in te ao Māori, and the other in the Western world. “It’s a thin line where two worlds meet,” says lead vocalist and guitarist Rewi. “Haurua is about the journey of pursuing one's identity and navigating those worlds.”

The band’s co-lyricist, and Rewi’s cousin, Hohepa Maclean (Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Hine) adds that Haurua expresses a common theme felt amongst many Māori who, through no fault of their own, have been disconnected with their identity and struggle to reconcile their place in Aotearoa. “It comes from a true experience of being outcast by both my mainstream world and my Māori world,” he says. “Though despite the colour of my skin, my whakapapa is still strong and undiluted. The call of this waiata is, don’t let people tell you who you are, and at the same time, explore and find your true deeper identity and not leave it skin deep.”

Made with the support of Te Mangai Paho, the striking new single was recorded at Rageous Records in Tāmaki Makaurau, and produced by Nathan Judd.

A powerful continuation of what has already been a whirlwind career for the group, KIKO are represented by Waatea Music, and have shared stages with some of Aotearoa’s finest - performing at events such as Waitangi Ki Waititi, Matariki ki Waitakere, and Psycred Alliance, alongside artists like Black Slate, Stan Walker, The Herbs, Che Fu, Ladi 6, and more. They’ve released two EP’s Ranginui Blues and Waharoa, alongside a range of singles and music videos - one of which, Ka Puta saw international success after being an official selection at SXSW 2022 Austin and Clipped Festival.

With a strong kaupapa of empowering indigenous people across the globe through music, KIKO has also released a captivating and gritty new music video to accompany today’s anthem. Directed by Francis Baker and Lukas Wharekura, the video follows KIKO, Swizl Jager and their canine companions as they band together to preserve tino rangatiratanga in a dystopian war zone.

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