‘Ka Puta’ a track performed entirely in Te Reo, by Auckland Rock band ‘KIKO’. The song is about escaping the beaten track, dismantling the enclosing barriers and breaking free to find your own path, your new journey.
The context used in this powerful video is about escaping the colonised encroachment and the western determined formula of existence. It’s something the musicians in the band hope will resonate with people around the world serving as a ray of light in these rather dark times. The video will be released by Waateamusic and was funded by Te Māngai Pāho.
It marks a milestone for the band, as the first official track they will have released since their debut EP dropped in 2018 . KIKO is a Māori band comprised of Rewi McLay (Ngāti Kahu/Ngāti Hine), Kara Gordon (Ngāi Te Rangi), Lucas Wharekura (Ngāti Kahungunu), Phillip Peters (Whanau and Rangitane), Windon Bradfield.
Guitars feature heavily in Ka Puta and it’s something of a trademark for the band, which lead singer/songwriter and guitarist Rewi McLay is proud of. “Guitars have been a prominent fixture in the Māori music scene for the past 50 years, which we aim to continue. Our lead guitarist Kara, came up under the wings of Tama Renata and Billy TK senior when he was a teenager starting out in the music scene. It’s hard to define our sound, it’s definitely a multitude of many genres. What ever we make though, we try and deliver songs in a way that’s easily accessible whilst maintaining a level of depth to the music” McLay said.
“This song and video project is very much reflective of my battle to keep the language and culture alive within myself and create an ability to then share it with others,” McLay said.