Tūpiki' by Abigail Aroha Jensen and Riki Pirihi is an extraordinary album inspired by Maui's journey to climb the 12 steps to heaven, featuring a tantalising blend of taonga pūoro, percussion and electronics, it transcends genres and easy descriptions. To celebrate it's release on vinyl through Audio Foundation Records on Thursday 27 March at Meow the duo will give their first performance in Whanganui-a-Tara with support from Te Kupu/Dan Beban and Wear Pounamu.
Riki Pirihi & Abigail Aroha Jensen
Riki Pirihi (Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Maahanga) is a musician and percussionist currently living in Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington. He currently practices percussion, composes music for films, and has developed a technique called Raungatuone (Weaving Gestures) for conducting Taonga Pūoro. He has performed and recorded alongside a diverse range of artists — Orchestra of Spheres, Mara TK, Crowded House, Recloose, Leila Adu, Fat Freddys Drop, Seven David Jnr, Bic Runga, Connan Mockasin, and Jeff Henderson. He is presently performing regularly as Cave Circles, Tuone Conduction Ensemble (as conductor), Orchestra of Spheres, Aja, DJ Oboe, and Clear Path Ensemble.
Abigail Aroha Jensen (Ngāti Porou) is an interdisciplinary artist who loves to play in all sorts of arrangements with friends and family. She has played and exhibited her work throughout Aotearoa and internationally. Her latest sound installation was recently presented at the Busan Biennale in South Korea. She likes to weave with waiata, random debris, field recordings and taonga pūoro. She loves bells. She uses a mixer for some sets, other times a bowl of water will suffice.
Te Kupu/Dan Beban
Te Kupu (Dean Hapeta, Ngati Huia) is a poet and orator, who has been producing socio-politically charged rap, poetry, music and film/video with Upper Hutt Posse (as principal songwriter/lead vocalist), and as a solo recording artist since 1985. He has also produced a four-part rapumentary (music-documentary) series called Ngatahi – Know The Links on native and marginalised people’s art and activism in twenty countries.
Daniel Beban is a musician, sound artist, author and producer. He performs on a number of different instruments in groups including Orchestra of Spheres, Devil's Gate Outfit, Imbogodom, the Stinging Nettles, Farewell Spit and UMU. Dan has also been managing the hub for adventurous sound in Whanganui-a-'The Pyramid Club' since 2013.
Wear Pounamu
Rooted in Māoritanga, Wear Pounamu (Te Ātihaunui-a-pāpārangi, Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa) is more than just music; it's a celebration of whakapapa and whanaungatanga. With the unique influence of SoundCloud-inspired music, their sets are designed to resonate deeply, invoking the wairua and mauri of the listener. Each performance carries the mana of their ancestors, connecting the past with the present and future.
Doors 8PM
Thursday 27 March @ Meow
Tickets from meow.nz or $30 on the door
