AONUA

AONUA

Origin

New Zealand

Year Formed

2007

Genres

New Age Music
World Music
Ambient Music
Healing
Environmental

Albums

Aonua (2008)

Website

www.aonua.com

Members

Taisha
Malcolm Smith

AONUA is a New Zealand MusicAL group. Their music is a combination of Polynesian INSTRUMENTS, Māori vocals, native wildlife and natural sounds blended with contemporary instrumentation. The lyrics are a combination of the Māori language and English.

The group was formed in 2007 and released their self-titled debut album Aonua in June 2008. The name AONUA is derived from the Māori words ao meaning cloud and whenua meaning the earth.

Taisha was chosen to perform Karanga from AONUA for the opening of the Netball World Championships, The Halberg awards (New Zealand Sports Person Of The Year), Style Pasifika Fashion Show and New Zealand Fashion Week. A karanga is a traditional Māori welcome or 'calling' of visitors to the marae or Maori meeting house.

Traditional instruments used include the Maori flutes Koauau and Putorino, as well as the Pacific Log drum or Pate.

New Zealand native birds heard on the album include the Kokako, Tui, Korimako (New Zealand Bellbird), Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Grey Warbler and Morepork.

Members

The group is comprised of vocalist Taisha and composer/producer Malcolm Smith.
Taisha is Māori with her ancestory from the Nga Puhi tribe.
Malcolm Smith has extensive composing and production experience, including co-writing and producing all the albums for the Pacific world music group Te Vaka.

Discography

Year

Album Title

Tracks

2008

Aonua

1. Karanga (Call From My Heart)

2. Whakarongo (Listen And See)

3. Haere Mai (Welcome To My Shores)

4. Haerenga (The Journey)

5. Whetu (The Stars Are Shining Above)

6. Te Moana (The Ocean Blue)

7. Haere Ra (Goodbye My Friend)

8. Rawhiti (Sunshine And Happiness)

9. Matauranga (Under The Sea)

10. Kia Kaha (Stay Strong)

11. Whanga (I Will Wait For You)

12. Aotearoa (Land Of The Long White Cloud)

13. Kainga (Home)

14. Pumahara (Live In My Memory)

15. Haere Ra Hakari (Farewell Celebration)

Awards

2008 Maori Music Awards

  • Best Maori Song - Karanga
  • Best Maori Female Vocalist - Taisha

Official Website: www.aonua.com
MySpace Page: www.myspace.com/aonua

References