“Carry On The Walk” comes as their debut release to include all current artists involved in Oceans Before Me: La Coco, KALALA, MARINA and Vox Dawn.
Oceans Before Me is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering communities through music, elevating indigenous narratives and methods from the South Pacific and the world. OBM is a Whakapapa (genealogical) project, focused on Rangatira and Rangatahi connection: renowned and esteemed orators, lyricists and songwriters, mentoring a new generation of narrators to guide the next.
Created with the support of their mentors, the waiata “Carry On The Walk,” as well as their upcoming album “Daughters of the Dawn,” are testament to what united healing can achieve. The album is focused on addressing history to honour not a perspective but the autobiographical realities of the marginalised communities affected.
“Daughters of the Dawn” concentrates specifically on one of Aotearoa’s most significant national traumas: the 1970’s Dawn Raids. The Dawn Raids were the fundamentally racist, forced displacement, disconnection and disruption of marginalised communities, particularly towards our Pacific peoples. Only this year, half a century later was there an official apology made by the government to acknowledge this shame, marking the importance of Ocean Before Me’s purpose.
The entirety of “Daughters of the Dawn” was guided by Panther members and inspired by the vāhine in the movement, specifically Melani Anae, Miriama Rauhihi Ness, Etta Gillon and more. It serves as an incredible witness of what intergenerational healing looks like, uniting and passing on an unbreakable bond of strength and perseverance.
The emphasis of an all vāhine artist project, hence the name “Daughters of the Dawn,” was an informed choice, showcasing from the vāhine perspective, “the Dawn Raid stories also told from their own mothers, grandmothers and aunties whom settled in a land that promised much and in the same breath declined them.”
“Carry On The Walk” begins with chilling samples of the movement’s leaders, before a smooth backbeat enters. Lyrics which harness deep layers of intergenerational resilience are paired with vocal harmonies transcended through their lineage. Each of the four artists showcase their gifts, from established spoken-word poet and facilitator MARINA’s truths and La Coco’s Waiata Maori
Award-winning vocal artistry.
Barring unforeseeable COVID-19 restrictions, OBM plan to take the fruits of their shared mātauranga (knowledge), wānanga (workshops) and creative sessions throughout Aotearoa, visiting secondary schools, alternative learning spaces and community organisations. These initiatives will be based around their central kaupapa: “enabling generations to heed the stories that heal... hauora, the healing returned when reconnected.”