LIVE ALBUM SET FOR SIMULTANEOUS RELEASE ON FRIDAY 11 AUGUST
Fans of the multi-talented dub musician Tiki Taane are in for a full-blown cinematic audio-visual treat with the world premiere of Tiki Taane In Session With CSO, the film of his one-off 2021 concert extravaganza, ‘Ōtautahi Proud’.
As part of the NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, the inaugural screening will be in Tiki’s hometown of Ōtautahi/Christchurch on Friday 11 August at the Isaac Theatre Royal, with the celebratory evening including a hosted Q&A session with Tiki, where he will get to meet film festival attendees as a ‘Film Director’ for the first time!
Filmed and recorded live in May 2021 to a sold-out audience at the fully refurbished Christchurch Town Hall, Tiki’s film has captured an emotional and explosive performance with Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Stunningly shot and superbly mixed, Tiki has raised the bar of what can be achieved when collaborating with a 50-piece live orchestra as the musicians bring powerfully reimagined versions of Tiki’s beloved songs to life, set against a backdrop of striking imagery.
The genre-bending, live-looping performances make for an extremely unique and original experience, solidifying Tiki as one of the most diverse artists in Aotearoa NZ. To date the film has garnered an impressive 30 international laurels from film festivals around the globe ranging from Official Selections to wins for Best Music Documentary; Best Sound Design; Best Documentary; Best Live Performance; Best Film Score Soundtrack; Best Music Director; Best Original Score and counting. *see end notes for a full run-down of laurels
More than just a filmed concert, the film is intercut with scenes from the rehearsal providing an insight into Tiki’s fascinatingly intuitive process of working with the classically trained orchestral players and their accomplished conductor Tom Rainey.
Talking with Stuff, Tiki explains: “I don't read sheet music, I just memorise it all and see it all in my head as colours and sounds. The orchestration of ‘Always On My Mind’ ... I'm used to a beat, but this is free-form, with strings.”
From the clever scene-setting debut of live looping with an orchestra on epic opener ‘Whakapuaki’, to the stellar special guest appearances by Tali and Big Sima, to the shimmering, delicate beauty of Tiki’s #1 hit ‘Always On My Mind’ (Kei Tōku Ngākau Nei Koe), to the sheer power and grandeur of the mighty ‘Tangaroa’, Tiki delivers a uniquely diverse, commanding, and genre-bending experience that evokes all the feels.
Speaking to Newshub, Tiki revealed: “Sometimes there are 40-50 people involved in playing the music, which takes it to another level—a level that is powerful, it's unforgettable, it's moving, it's emotional, it has so much depth to it and width to it. For me, it's the pinnacle.”
With familial links to the CSO going back several generations, a special moment is shared with the audience when Tiki welcomes his talented tamariki Charlie (then 12), and Karcia (then 9) to join him to perform on stage, a sweet remembrance to be cherished by the Taane whānau for years to come.
An Artist, Producer, Activist, Engineer, and now Director, Tiki Taane has long been an energetic creative who has followed his own light, creating his reality every step of the way by allowing his unfettered artistic and musical talents to shine brightly. Now, with this self-funded, cross-cultural, cross-generational, cross-musical genre project, Tiki positively radiates!
Says Tiki: "This feature documentary film has been the most challenging project I’ve ever under taken. Being the film’s director, producer, sometimes editor, sound mixer, composer, leading musician, and project manager is a LOT to commit too! But the things I’ve learnt along the way are priceless and worth the thousands of hours and years of preparation to get me to this point. I’m so proud of what we have captured and have managed to put together in an exciting, genre bending experience for all to see. Thank you so much for supporting my music and art. YOU are part of our Tikidub Whānau, so let's see how far we can take this thing!"
Now film-festival audiences can experience this multi-talented musician at his very best - look out for the latest update of nationwide screenings of Tiki Taane In Session With CSO still to be announced through the months of August and September, with a very special Auckland event also to be revealed soon.