Dick & Hnatr

DICK & HNATR

In 2001, after 10 years leading the band Gurejele and following the break up of the group, Dick Buama recorded his first solo album which was an immediate success, and that was the beginning of a new era for him and his wife.
The following year, 2002, saw them performing all over the Pacific, Tahiti, Fiji and Vanuatu, and around their country where they headlined the festival Coke Music Choc in front of 14 000 fans.
The same year, Hnatr released her first solo album as well, an event in News Caledonia where women are very few on the music scene (this has changed since)
In 2005 the couple released the album, Eau Claire”, for the first time under the name DICK & HNATR .

Dick Buama also released his second solo album “Malamala”in 2007 and won the “Kaneka album” award of the year in 2008.
The catchy tunes and great live performances are their trademark, as well as the lyrics, in French, Nengone or Drehu languages, based on the Kanak culture and customs and the way to save or adapt them to the modern world. Dick & Hnatr, as well as Gurejele,always had strong messages in their songs.
All this can be caught on the CD and DVD “Live au New Morning “recorded in Paris during their first tour of France in July/August 2008.
A new step in their career was in January 2010 when they performed at the Festival au desert, in Mali.
This has been a real adventure for artists from the Pacific to go there and play in the desert in front of a crowd discovering for the first time this music from that part of the world. Again the success was immediate and the smiles on the touaregs people and the foreigners attending the Festival said it all !
A video clip and a documentary have been shot during this journey.
Some shows in France again, including a sold out show in Paris at Studio l’Ermitage, followed this african trip.

2011 has started with the recording of an album which is arranged by Camel Zekri, well respected producer and musician in the World Music community. This album, “Angaishola” will be released in June and is attracting interest through distributors in France, and will be supported by a tour in France and Morocco in June 2011 (see dates below) and another one in France in October/November 2011

GUREJELE
The story of GUREJELE and DICK & HNATR mixes together as Dick BUAMA, was the leader and songwriter of GUREJELE until he decided to go solo with his wife Hnatr,
The story started in the early 90’s when GUREJELE, from the island of Maré, in New Caledonia, released its first album« Wabeb Bulu ». The success was huge, nobody could resist to their very catchy tunes sang in the beautiful “Nengone “ language.
From that day, the group became an icon of the “Kaneka “music in New Caledonia and in the Pacific until 2001, (and 3 albums later), when the group celebrated its 10th anniversary and split up.
The popularity of GUREJELE during this time took them to perform a lot in their homeland as well as overseas in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and French Polynesia.
Now they are part of the history of “Kaneka “and their album « l’intégrale » is still a must for anyone who wants to discover that music.