LISTEN - Here
2020 nominee Best Māori Male solo artist (Maori music awards) Riqi Harawira (Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) has shared stages with some of the world’s biggest acts, Guns N Roses & Pearl Jam to name a few. The former lead guitarist and co-songwriter for popular 90’s grunge band Dead Flowers has collaborated with numerous kiwi artists across his career such as Kings, stellar*, DLT, Che Fu and Dam Native. Riqi Harawira is a Kaupapa Māori fusion artist and a guitar virtuoso who is passionate about telling stories about Aotearoa through his guitar driven original music.
Riqi’s new Single ‘E rere ai' is a song which originally came from a poem written by Riqi and his partner Floss, which touches on love, hopes, and dreams.
WATCH ‘E rere ai - MUSIC VIDEO’ - Here
E rere ai (fly away) is a soft rock song which easily switches between English and Te reo Māori. It is 70’s style American in flavour with some nice Hammond organ supporting Riqi’s clean lead lines on his Fender Stratocaster. A song about a culturally blended couple who are flying away above the noise and opinions and doing their own thing. Inspiring others to find their wings too.
Riqi says .. “Our song about Flying Away above the noise… to a quiet place where the voices of opinions can’t be heard. We have learnt to fly and blend our family together, which has not always been socially accepted. But we endure because we row in our waka together and love each other through the noise. We hope our song Fly Away helps others in culturally blended relationships find their wings to Fly Away too.”
‘The lyrics are incredibly important’, says Riqi, and this Waiata is dedicated to interracial couples who have the courage to embrace each other, who understand the cultural differences, racial disparities, inequities, cultural history of violence and trauma. Despite these differences develop a respect and love for each other to counter racial prejudice, systemic racism, and the oppression of specific racial groups.
What they are saying around the world about E rere ai (Fly away)
Ukraine: Hello! Wow! I like this track! Welcome to my playlist! Svetlana Svetlana
Brazil:Good news I would like to share E rere ai (fly away) to our Radio show Rock'n'Roll Vibration | Alternativa Rock
United Kingdom: Good news! I would like to share E rere ai (fly away)as part of our radio show & on rotation, An enjoyable sound, modern and well made. Can't wait to play. The Sound Lab
Hawkes Bay Radio: This song is beautiful! Video is so relaxing!
Single/Video Review Review: E rere ai - Fly Away -Kev Rowland - NZ Muzic Net
‘ powerful message, all wrapped in a very enjoyable song and lovely video.’