Music News - Dillastrate's beautiful new waiata + video ‘Taku Ngākau’ - out now
24 November 2023 - 0 Comments
Otautahi legends Dillastrate have today released another exceptional soul jam, Taku Ngākau.
Following on from their brilliant waiata Ko Tātou Te Ahi (Hot 20 NZ Singles, RadioScope Te Reo Māori & Alt, Waiata Anthems, Te Māngai Pāho), which Rolling Stone AUS/NZ featured as A Song You Need To Know, Taku Ngākau is another release that showcases what incredible artists Dillastrate’s Henare ‘H’ Kaa (lead vocals/drums) and Tim Driver (keys/bass synth/loops/vocals) are.
Connecting with Dillastrate’s roots as deep lovers of soul music, the track captures a feel-good Motown flavour, filtered through a modern production approach. The uplifting waiata has delicate vocals and a “bubbling crockpot of vintage keyboard patches and earthy, compact drum tones, tied together by the warm embrace of yielding synth pads.”
The inspirational spark for Taku Ngākau came when Henare watched his daughter scale around the table as she was learning to walk. Seeing the effort and determination it took her to get all the way around, made him think of the different journeys we all take as we grow throughout our lifetime - and how those achievements can inspire others who are watching - just like it did for Henare watching his daughter. This moment inspired the lyrics ‘journey ‘round the table, road to somewhere new, holding up the bright blue sky, taku ngākau e’.
Made with support from Te Māngai Pāho, the waiata also took inspiration from the band’s kaupapa and mission to support and uplift te ao Māori. “It’s particularly focused on the importance of whānau,” explains Henare, “caring about and for those that form your inner circles (whanaungatanga), and extending this out to your wider social environment (whakawhanaungatanga).”
Recorded and produced by Connor Jaine (Mako Road, No Cigar) at his Ashburton (Canterbury) studio (which Dillastrate describe as the most comfortable recording studio they’ve ever recorded in, based on it being a ‘converted lounge’ with a virtual playground of instruments and recording equipment), Taku Ngākau was mastered by Benny Tones at Organik Muzik Workz in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Also out today is another visual treat produced by Dillastrate’s go-to team - Laura Gebbie (director of photography) and James Darroch (Flying Squirrel Films, cinematographer). Tim also co-edited it with Laura (who is also his wife, making the production extra special for Dillastrate). It was produced at Orange Studios in Ōtautahi, with gear provided by Lightchasers Rentals.
The story of the video is grounded in the te ao Māori concept captured by whakataukī ‘ka mua, ka muri’, which roughly translates into English as ‘walking backwards into the future’ - signalling the importance of honouring whakapapa (connection to past generations, history, traditions, ancestors) by looking to the past, to help inform the future. Visually, we see Henare ‘walking backwards into the future’ by reciting the song backwards while the video was filmed, then played forwards in editing. Throughout the course of the video, Henare is seen interacting with various objects that are then passed to friends and whānau.
“To achieve the ‘walking backwards’ effect on the video,” explains Tim, “we had to shoot H walking forwards on a floor treadmill, while simultaneously having objects placed in his path from above. This required H to do a lot of walking and dodging of objects for the shoot, so he was suitably exhausted by the end. Absolute dedication to the craft right there!”
A live Dillastrate performance is a finely-tuned and explosive experience that can transform entire venue crowds from stationery to dancing-their-asses-off in a matter of seconds - so it’s very exciting that the duo will be performing NYE’23 @ The Coroglen Tavern, Sunday 31 December. Other artists joining the line-up include Tiki Taane, Racing, The Black Seeds, CHAII, Flamingo Pier, Sarah Morcom and more! Head HERE for all info + tickets.
Born from the late great Aaron Tokona’s AHoriBuzz, Dillastrate have been making waves since the release of their 2017 EP, Black Diamond. Taku Ngākau (Te Māngai Pāho) and previous release Ko Tātou Te Ahi (Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart, RadioScope Te Reo Māori & Alt Charts, Te Māngai Pāho) are both fantastic additions in their quest to uplift te ao Māori, joining bilingual hit Party In My Head (Tāwara Ana), and waiata Taku Aroha (RadioScope Te Reo Māori Chart, NZOA, Te Māngai Pāho). It is also joining other recent releases - pop hit I’m Crazy (Hot 20 NZ Singles, NZ on Air New Tracks), and single Way To Flow (NZOA New Tracks). As well as recording artists, their experience as live musicians include extensive festival, headline and support tours - seeing the duo playing repeatedly to crowds of over 20,000. A live Dillastrate performance is a finely-tuned and explosive experience that can transform entire venue crowds from stationery to dancing their asses off in a matter of seconds. They’ve featured on national TV, commercial, iwi and alternative radio, boast a strong digital presence, and have placed in both the Official NZ Top 20 Singles and RadioScope Charts multiple times. With much more on its way, Dillastrate are always ones to watch!
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