Music News - Aro Release Latest EP 'He Manu Ano': A Triumphant Tribute To Aotearoa’s Wildlife
27 August 2020 - 0 Comments
Following on from their lead single Kotare, musical duo Aro release their anticipated EP He Manu Ano, with each song inspired by a native New Zealand bird. The EP is available to stream and download on all platforms from 27 August.
He Manu Ano consists of five songs which display Aro’s signature playful and uplifting sound, using a plethora of instruments and taonga puoro, including guitars, saxophone, shakers, hand drums and tambourine. A multi-genre offering of storytelling pop, R&B and jazz, fusing vocals, whistles, clapping, and chants, with bird song and calls, each song also thematically explores the ideas of being vigilant and brave, looking out for each other, and getting through things with love, a sentiment which rings true, now more than ever.
Directly following on the same concept of their 2019 full length bilingual album Manu, the five track EP features new birds that were requested by listeners of the album and will be their first EP completely in te reo Maori. Entirely written and recorded by Aro themselves, each bird was thoroughly researched to bring their individual characteristics into waiata to tell their tales and capture their spirit. Kotare, the lead single, opens the EP with a joyful, guitar-driven, and energetic song that instantly brings the image of a kingfisher to mind. Bass and percussion lead the rhythmic energy of Pukeko, with familiar haka refrains in the lyrics, while the drums and percussive sounds of Kuaka inspire a similar feeling, bolstered by the extensive use of taonga puoro alluding to the important role of the godwit in Maori mythology. A medious and flowing dedication to the beautiful extinct songbird Huia showcases the duo’s glorious harmonies, which also feature strongly in the stunning slower paced Ruru to close out the EP, with repetitive horns and vocals that mimic the iconic call of Aotearoa’s beloved owl.
As the band have a strong focus on tamariki and encouraging young people to be proud of who they are and their unique identities, Aro will also be doing a virtual tour of schools across the country, focusing on low decile, regional, and Kura Kaupapa Maori schools. Their workshop and educational resource integrates storytelling, song writing, and performance, including stories of Aotearoa’s native manu and the importance of caring for our environment, while making te reo Maori and whakatauki accessible and interesting for young people.
Aro consists of husband and wife Charles (Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngati Te Ata, Te Ati Awa) and Emily Looker. The pair share a passion for the power of language and music to tell stories and remind us of our cultural identity. The duo were finalists for the Maioha Award at the Silver Scrolls (2019) and the APRA Best Children’s Song Award for their song Korimako (2020).
"This is lively and cheerful yet at the same time inspiring and engaging. I was completely captivated by the stories told through the birds"
– Corinne Rutherford, Muzic.net, Manu album review
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