STORY …

5 Cool Things to Share

1. The band's debut EP Hoea has surpassed well over a million plays on Spotify so far and the second EP Tumoana is out now. All originals.

2. The band has played at all the big folk festivals in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and several of the wonderful small regional ones, as well as playing in Boston, New York and Indonesia.

3. Three of the band's original compositions have been used in five international performances and videos.

4. WAI.TAI started in 2013 and has had a fluid membership with around 20 amazing musicians participating from all over the country and the world.

5. Three tracks from the first EP are being taught in schools: Hoea, Earth and Sky & Tihore Chant – and from the Tumoana EP, Tumoana and 499

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The musicians

​WAI.TAI is a collective of musicians who come together in different combinations under the musical direction of Robyn Kamira (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Tai Tokerau Whānui). The line-ups for each concert ensure the best mix of instruments, voices and styles come together for the occasion.

The range of iwi affiliations amongst the musicians include Ngati Whatua, Te Rarawa, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tamatera, Te Ati Awa, Ngai Tahu, Ngapuhi, Te Aupouri, and many more. Their international affiliations include US American, English, Rarotongan, Israeli and more.

Excellent musicians and spoken word artists have played on WAI.TAI stages and in the recordings. They include Redgie Valente (Double-bass, USA, Raglan), Nigel Gavin (maestro guitar, New York, Auckland), Charles Royal (guitar, bass, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tamatera), Marama Davidson (Spoken word, Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa), Kera Washington (African diaspora percussion, Boston), Te Auripo Kamira (vocals, small percussion, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri), Kirsten Taylor (vocals), Victoria Vigenser (vocals, dulcimer, bodhran), Eamon Nathan (percussion, Ngapuhi), Micheal Young (bass, Texas), Krissy Jackson (fiddle, Te Rarawa), Yair Katz (percussion, Israel), Ora Hohaia (vocals, Taranaki), Leonie Matoe (vocals, spoken word, Taranaki), Wayne Morris (percussion, Taranaki), Janet Muggeridge (mandolin, guitar, vocals, Taranaki), Luther Hunt (percussion, Te Ati Awa), Andrea Reid (tin whistle, dulcimer, vocals), Paul Hewitt (drums, Ngati Rarotonga), Antony Royal (bass, narration, Ngati Raukawa, Ngati Tamatera) & Robyn Kamira (vocals, guitar, a 135-year-old Zither 5-string banjo, stomp, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri).

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WAI.TAI Māori-World fusion music

With the support of musicians from all over the world, the band merges with music from all anywhere and seamlessly infuses it with Te Reo Maori language and concepts. The results can be in one moment contemplative, and the next upbeat with driving rhythms.

WAI.TAI literally takes you on a musical journey from the Pacific to Europe, to the Middle East, across the African and Asian continents, and to the Americas - with music from Aotearoa at its core.

Alongside a strong selection of originals, the sets also include re-mixes and sometimes 'te-reo-fies' familiar standards from the 60s, 70s and 80s that you may already know! Like Ray Charles, Hirini Melbourne, Bob Marley, Steve Earle, Fat Freddys Drop, the Mamas and Papas, and Dread Beat Blood.

The story-telling part of the performance is mischievous and mysterious – leaving audiences on the edges of their seats waiting for the next tale with its musical accompaniment.

What does WAI.TAI sound like?

"... heavy on gorgeous vocal harmony and luscious strings, grounded by a tight rhythmic banjo" – Regional News Connecting Wellington, 2019.

"… the musicianship is superb. It's full on rhythms and harmonies. Imagine an eclectic mix of contemporary folk, soft rock, and traditional world music, like a hundred flavours of the world all skilfully combined into a single concert."

"… mesmerised last night by the soulful harmonies of Wai.Tai … always a brilliant concert."

It's largely acoustic and never predictable, drawing the listener into this world-fusion … then escorting them out again onto solid ground. The percussion is almost always hand drums, intonations, emotive, driving or subtle – following the music wherever it goes. Every instrument is chosen for its role, there are no accidents, and the range of instruments is always interesting.

The result is music that is fresh and exciting – a superb mix of originals and surprising re-arrangements of music that audiences thought they knew – until they came to a WAI.TAI concert!​

Who influences WAI.TAI?

Musical director Robyn Kamira was tutored by adored Māori folk singer songwriter and taonga puoro tohunga, Hirini Melbourne. Hirini shared the the deeper knowledge of the Maori world through his music, and created it to be shared.

She also grew up with the music of much loved musical activist and Jamaican folk singer Bob Nesta Marley.

Both musicians are huge influences in the musical approaches and kaupapa that Robyn has created with WAI.TAI.

In addition, the silky smooth vocals and beautiful songwriting of Maisey Rika, who mixes both Te Reo Maori and English lyrics seamlessly, has influenced. Maisey's thoughtful and profound music, shows that she is never afraid to go to the challenging subjects – a barefoot songstress who chooses to be closer to Papatuanuku than any high-heeled singer could ever be.

Robyn's father Piripi (Popeye) Kamira (Campbell) was the guitarist in a 50's/60s rock 'n roll band in Wellington called the Supersonics, an exceptional guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, and a key influence in her earliest years.

She grew up at the feet of her elders, influenced by their music that was designed to bring joy and inclusiveness to everyone in the room – the so-called Maori Guitar Party (yes it is a thing).

She also spent 14 years with national competition kapahaka groups learning how to use her guitar to corral 40 performers on key and on time. Today, that strong rhythmic playing is a feature of the music – at times driving and at others, as subtle as a drop of water.

Finally, in recent years she has met a community of musicians that travel around the country sharing and collaborating on all manner of world, acoustic and folk music, and creating safe and generous spaces for everyone to develop their musical crafts.

What does the word 'wai-tai' mean?

Wai-tai is the traditional Māori term for ocean water. Here in Aotearoa (New Zealand) the southern-most ocean currents converge. Eventually all peoples around the world are connected by oceans and waterways. The music honours our connections to each other.

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