Moana & The Tribe
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand | INDIE
Music
Press
Live Reviews
The group that has left the biggest impression was Moana & the Tribe. Led by singer Moana Maniapoto, a charismatic artist with great sensuality in her interpretation, they offered without a doubt, the best concert of the (Australasian World Music Expo) showcases. That Maori group (indigenous of New Zealand) combines great energy and creativity combined in one spectacle.
- World One Music Magazine (Spain), 2008
Live Reviews
The group that has left the biggest impression was Moana & the Tribe. Led by singer Moana Maniapoto, a charismatic artist with great sensuality in her interpretation, they offered without a doubt, the best concert of the (Australasian World Music Expo) showcases. That Maori group (indigenous of New Zealand) combines great energy and creativity combined in one spectacle.
- World One Music Magazine (Spain), 2008
"The magic of Moana and the Tribe….more than 10.000 attended….up first were Moana & the Tribe, with an excellent and wild fusion of music, dance, singing, rhythms and haka-dancers. They sang melodic traditional songs from their country which were translated by one of the organizers. The musicians were excellent, the backing vocalists harmonious rounding out a very innovative band that had younger members of the audience surging nearer, fascinated."
- P.B, Ideal, Spain (2004)
"The magic of Moana and the Tribe….more than 10.000 attended….up first were Moana & the Tribe, with an excellent and wild fusion of music, dance, singing, rhythms and haka-dancers. They sang melodic traditional songs from their country which were translated by one of the organizers. The musicians were excellent, the backing vocalists harmonious rounding out a very innovative band that had younger members of the audience surging nearer, fascinated."
- P.B, Ideal, Spain (2004)
"The current crop of over-sanitized, easy-listening elevator music masquerading as Polynesian is fully exposed as all sugar and no substance when it’s stacked next to Moana & the Tribe. …the N.Z band staged a stirring and entertaining performance at Munich’s Lustspielhaus on Monday night, successfully fusing vocal harmonies, dance and video with infectious playing. If ever world music is to be convincing, then this is it – a multi-talented band creating a small cultural cosmos representing their continent with self-confidence, passion and espirit…"-
- G.R, Süddeutsche Zeitung München, 2004
"The current crop of over-sanitized, easy-listening elevator music masquerading as Polynesian is fully exposed as all sugar and no substance when it’s stacked next to Moana & the Tribe. …the N.Z band staged a stirring and entertaining performance at Munich’s Lustspielhaus on Monday night, successfully fusing vocal harmonies, dance and video with infectious playing. If ever world music is to be convincing, then this is it – a multi-talented band creating a small cultural cosmos representing their continent with self-confidence, passion and espirit…"-
- G.R, Süddeutsche Zeitung München, 2004
Astonishing…blown away…a must see” - Daily Forum, Vladivostok Russia, 2007
Astonishing…blown away…a must see” - Daily Forum, Vladivostok Russia, 2007
…despite the formidable male chants, it's the matriarchal members that rule on this album, with Moana's powerful vocals blending seamlessly with the earthy harmonies of her sister Katrina and Amiria Reriti. The gentle reggae styling of "Whaura" masks its strident lyrics, which challenge the romanticized image of the Pacific as a tropical paradise, ignoring the political strife and sovereignty issues that plague many of the region's fragile island states. It's not all politics though: there are poignant odes to ancestors, the new Zealand landscape, love songs enhanced by string ensemble and traditional taonga puoro instruments…. An impressive collection from one of Aotearoa's most insightful contemporary artists. Wha is simply wonderful” - - Songlines, Nov 2008
…despite the formidable male chants, it's the matriarchal members that rule on this album, with Moana's powerful vocals blending seamlessly with the earthy harmonies of her sister Katrina and Amiria Reriti. The gentle reggae styling of "Whaura" masks its strident lyrics, which challenge the romanticized image of the Pacific as a tropical paradise, ignoring the political strife and sovereignty issues that plague many of the region's fragile island states. It's not all politics though: there are poignant odes to ancestors, the new Zealand landscape, love songs enhanced by string ensemble and traditional taonga puoro instruments…. An impressive collection from one of Aotearoa's most insightful contemporary artists. Wha is simply wonderful” - - Songlines, Nov 2008
“The mix of traditional Maori sounds, karanga and haka, classical and dub, among many others come together effortlessly. Te Apo, a militant haka-driven call to arms, is one of the best local songs of the year” -
- NZ Herald (NZ)
“The mix of traditional Maori sounds, karanga and haka, classical and dub, among many others come together effortlessly. Te Apo, a militant haka-driven call to arms, is one of the best local songs of the year” -
- NZ Herald (NZ)
“ their first album that is completely done in Maori, but at the same times it is one of the records which is really stretching musical boundaries…its really, really good –
- Radio NZ (New Zealand)
“ their first album that is completely done in Maori, but at the same times it is one of the records which is really stretching musical boundaries…its really, really good –
- Radio NZ (New Zealand)
Wha works best when the female singers, who include Moana’s sister Katarina, are offset by male voices. Album centrepiece ‘Te Apo’ uses a male haka in conjunction with the girls, a pounding rhythm section and street protest sound samples recorded in Hong Kong during the World Trade Organisation conference of 2006. The track is followed by ‘Te Arawa E’, which also uses live archive material, of the 28th Maori Battalion recorded during World War II. The track segues perfectly into ‘Pae O Riri’, which, with cellos, violas and violins, has the feel of a requiem. The upbeat reggae-driven ‘Matakuikui’, featuring Moana’s heavily-reverbed vocal track, provides a welcome contrast.
- Rhythms magazine (Australia)
Wha works best when the female singers, who include Moana’s sister Katarina, are offset by male voices. Album centrepiece ‘Te Apo’ uses a male haka in conjunction with the girls, a pounding rhythm section and street protest sound samples recorded in Hong Kong during the World Trade Organisation conference of 2006. The track is followed by ‘Te Arawa E’, which also uses live archive material, of the 28th Maori Battalion recorded during World War II. The track segues perfectly into ‘Pae O Riri’, which, with cellos, violas and violins, has the feel of a requiem. The upbeat reggae-driven ‘Matakuikui’, featuring Moana’s heavily-reverbed vocal track, provides a welcome contrast.
- Rhythms magazine (Australia)
Discography
BEST OF(CD Album ) Black Pearl/Ode (2013)
ACOUSTIC (CD Album), Rajon (2010)
WHA (CD Album), Black Pearl (2008)
LIVE & PROUD (DVD), Black Pearl (2004)
TORU LIVE (CD). Black Pearl (2003)
TORU (CD Album), Black Pearl (2002)
Moana's previous albums (as Moana & the Moahunters) include TAHI (CD Album) and RUA (CD Album)
Photos
Bio
Described as a charismatic and inspiring artist, Moana & the Tribe is led by singer/songwriter and New Zealand Art Laureate Moana Maniapoto, whose passion and politics informs her writing.
'She has successfully articulated a Maori perspective of colonisation in memorable songs (not the least in the powerful Treaty) and has effectively incorporated taonga puoro (traditional instruments) into music which refers to rock, soul, classical and reggae - but always sounds solely like Moana-music.' (Graham Reid, journalist).
Onstage, the unique Polynesian female vocal harmonies are matched by the primal anger of the haka (traditional Maori posture dance). Both are then set to grooves that capture the passion and energy of a groundbreaking artist who has created her own space within the NZ music scene.
'Moana continues to articulate the desires and aspirations of her people while also addressing head-on the wrongs of the past. Moana does this with a rare voice, which can be as seductive as it is assertive. The emotional depth and sad beauty of her songs, as much as their hypnotic melody and groove, confirms Moana’s status as one of New Zealand’s finest artists.'
Moana was the first non-American to win a major USA songwriting contest, beating 11000 others to win the Grand Jury Prize of the International Songwriting Competition in 2004 with her song "Moko".
Since their inception, Moana & the Tribe have performed across many countries with highlights including the famous Rainforest Festival (Malaysia), Venice Biennale (Italy), Etnosur (Spain), Tong Tong Festival (Netherlands), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Sunfest (Canada) and at the Shanghai World Expo. The band has also played in famous clubs like Babylon (Istanbul), First Club (Moscow) and Fabrik (Hamburg). In 2011 the band toured across Canada, Norway, Germany, Czech Republic as well as a 2nd tour of Taiwan. In 2013 Moana & the Tribe will tour Norway, Germany, Italy and also perform at the famous Sziget Festival in Budapest Hungary
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