05 November 2018 - 0 Comments

One of Aotearoa’s brightest young talents, Kaaterama, today reveals He Iti - the first single from her debut EP, Shine Your Light.

Listen to He Iti on Spotify/ Google Play/ Apple/ iTunes

A surefire summer jam, Kaaterama chose the song to be the EP’s lead single because: “I hope it enlightens our people to look after our delicate and precious environment.”

Of Ngapuhi and Te Arawa descent, 18-year-old Kaaterama was born and grew up in Parakao Mangakahia in Northland, but moved to Rotorua for high school.

Raised in the Ratana Church, Kaaterama is releasing Shine Your Light this Thursday, November 8. The release coincides with Ratana’s Centennial celebrations at Ratana Pa, celebrating 100 years of maramatanga (vision of prophecy), at which Kaaterama is honoured to be performing.

A blend of pop and R’n’B, with an Aotearoa-influenced flavour of gospel, Shine Your Light is an uplifting and spiritual collection of songs, sung in te reo, showcasing a unique and remarkable new talent.

Kaaterama recorded the EP at Neil Finn’s famed Roundhead Studios in Auckland. It features the Te Reanga Morehu Choir and Jaedyn Randell, the young singer from Kirikiriroa, who was cast as the voice behind Disney's Moana in te reo.

Kaaterama says she wanted to inspire and to also to share her love and passion about the morehu movement. “I feel a strong connection to my church, Te Haahi Ratana, which I feel has given me the strength inspiration and courage throughout my musical journey so far”.

As a product of the Kohanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori movements in New Zealand, Kaaterama sings in Te Reo and explains the significance: “The importance of Te Reo in my music is not only to promote, but to encourage all Maori and non-Maori to embrace and learn our amazing language and tikanga.”

Before embarking on her solo journey, Kaaterama started turning heads with her distinctive and powerful voice in Maimoa Music, a Maori pop group, which has had more than 5 million views on their video Wairua feat. Willie Wairua. Watch here.

With Maimoa Music, the young Māori singer collaborated with Kiwi legend Dave Dobbyn on 2017’s release of the te reo version of his smash hit Welcome Home. Watch here.

She has also featured in the Maori TV series Voices of the Future and this year, was a mentor for young artists in the Maori Television series Uruwhetu - a Maori music youth development show.

Now, Kaaterama is set to make waves in her own right as a solo artist.

Stream or download He Iti on Spotify/ Google Play / Apple/ iTunes

Shine Your Light

EP released Thursday November 8.
Pre-order from iTunes / Apple/ Spotify

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