Tū' is the first song to be released from Moana’s sixth album ONO, produced by Paddy Free.
Currently, Moana and Paddy are touring the 'My Name is Moana' project through Arts on Tour with band members Cadzow Cossar and Trina Maniapotoaround NZ, using song and story to explore the relationship New Zealanders have with Ocean and people power.
While 'Tū', the new drum n bass collaboration between Moana Maniapoto, Paddy Free and Scotty Morrison is mainly in te reo Māori, it also features vocalist Jani Lauzon (Canada). A multi-disciplinary artist and Juno nominated singer-songwriter, Jani’s vocals reflect her Metis heritage.
“Jani is an extraordinary singer. The only direction I gave was to sing in her language and to meditate on the theme of tohi,” says Moana. “She nailed it.”
'Tū' is a karakia or incantation performed as part of a ritual ceremony of tohi during which a child is immersed in water or sprinkled with water from a branch dipped in the stream or lake. 'Tū' is a dedication to the God of War to strengthen and empower the child.
“My son was baptised in the little church at our marae. My daughter had traditional tohi rites performed over her by a tribal elder on the shores of Lake Taupō. Tohi makes sense because it connects the child and whānau to our ancestors and the environment.”
Moana’s first album TAHI was recently acknowledged by Independent Recorded Music NZ’s Taite Music Prize as a NZ Classic, twenty-five years after its release.
