Maori music collective IA, (pronounced te reo: ‘e-ah’) share an emotive new single ‘Ruia Taitea’, with a stunning live music video performed on Mt Ruapehu. The release follows hot on the heels of Silver Scroll Awards and Going Global performances from the Waikato-based band. Their song ‘Te Aho Tapu’ was part of Waiata Anthems Week and charted on the New Zealand Te Reo and Alternative Charts. Both tracks feature on IA’s forthcoming EP, The Art Of, due out February 23, 2023.
‘Ruia Taitea’ is a stripped-back waiata inspired by the art of carving. Reti Hedley, lead singer of IA, says, “The song draws upon metaphors used in carving that describe a carver’s ability to bring out pieces they are trying to create within rakau/wood.The particular whakatauki/proverb referenced in this waiata is ‘Ruia Te Taitea, Ka Tu Taikaka’ strip away the bark to reveal the heart within.
“We have related this to how we all have a beauty, a mauri, a mana inside of us that sometimes isn’t always seen by others and even ourselves. It’s up to us to strip away the bark so that we can see our own worth.”
Hedley continues: “I think this waiata speaks to the modern Māori who is still in the process of decolonising intergenerational self worth and cultural degradation. As we rediscover ourselves as Māori in the modern world, we have to strip away some of the colonial baggage.”
The accompanying video is a live version of ‘Ruia Taitea’ performed on Mount Ruapehu. The maunga has special significance as Reti’s whakapapa and the proverb which inspired this waiata comes from Ngāti Tūwharetoa the land of Ruapehu Maunga.
2021 Māori Music Award finalists IA create indigenous soul music. Their compositions blend old with new and feature the voices found with traditional Māori instruments/taonga pūoro. The puoro voices are blended with modern instruments, ancient poetic writing style and modern soulful melodies. IA has been discovering new frontiers with traditional Maori instruments by using taonga puoro as the driving force in their creative process. Featuring Moetu Smith, Reti Hedley and Turoa Pohatu, the Waikato based band is dedicated to showcasing taonga puoro and Te Reo Maori in their music.
IA – Te Aho Tapu’ (Official Lyric Video)
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