Riqi Harawira Album Release Tour

Celebrating the release of Riqis new Kaupapa Maori album Mauri with a North island tour. With original Maori Fusion music, Native instruments, Mau taiaha and rock n reggae grooves.

Press Release: Mauri, Riqi Harawira

Mauri
(noun) life principle, life force, vital essence, special nature, a material symbol of a life princi-ple, source of emotions - the essential quality and vitality of a being or entity. Also used for a physical object, individual, ecosystem or social group in which this essence is located.

Mauri is the highly-anticipated second album from singer-songwriter and guitarist extraordi- naire Riqi Harawira.

This kaleidoscopic tour-de-force takes a rich look inside Riqi’s world, interweaving a multi- layered and moving narrative of drugs, delinquency and despair as he strides boldly down the path to recovery, reconciliation - and ultimately redemption.

Mauri is less like a reunion than a rebirth with each song a impressionistic and ethereal look at a life well-lived - and of course, lessons well-learned. Passion is the fire that lights the way with Riqi embracing the importance and uniqueness of both his Maori and Pakeha roots in this adventurous odyssey of rock, reggae and folk.

Riqi’s belief has always been that it’s ‘never too late to innovate’ - and here innovation is at the heart of this back-to-his-roots melodic and cinematic symphony. Mauri was created in the Far North, Riqi’s spiritual home.

“Ahipara is now home, a world away from my life of addiction in the city. It is a place which has allowed me to learn about the value of my own life while at the same time facing my past mistakes. This album is a retrospective look at what is nearly a half-century struggle with my personal demons,” he said.

With the support of Waatea Music, Riqi is now able to share his journey through his music. Mauri is on Spotify and iTunes.

Riqi Harawira
Riqi is an engaging performer whose music tells a story about rising above negative statistics Maori face today, to the adverse affects of addiction and abuse. “Top of my list is pathways out of addiction because I have been there myself”, and the normalizing of Maori roots and values in mainstream music.

Riqis message is positive and powerful combining traditional Maori instruments lead rock guitar with Maori weaponary, creating a style and sound that Riqi calls Maori fusion. Infusing contemporary indigenous music with authentic traditional roots.

Riqis sound has been described as arena rock, upbeat, feel good jams with engaging and powerful conscious messages with influences from Rock, reggae and funk.

Riqi has a dynamic pumping non stop set that caters to a global audience with powerful anthems for everybody, from Traditional Maori instruments, a Taiaha show, heavy rock lead guitar such as his version of NZ national anthem to his hard hitting waiata “Ruapekapeka”.

With heartfelt vocals and universal messages of hope in English and Maori Riqi is set to take 2019 by storm. For a one man show there is no other artist like Riqi Harawira.

Riqi moved from his lead guitarist career in rock group Dead Flowers in the 90’s to performing solo and is enjoying success with the release of his new single “Kia ora”. Poised to release his second album “Mauri” Jan 18th 2019 through Waatea music. The album is bilingual Maori and english and features the singles “Kia ora”, “Wairua Tuturu”, “Self Determination” and “Rise up “a track dedicated to Greg Boyed (NZ journalist) who lost his life to depression and suicide in 2018, another kaupapa Riqi feels strongly about.

Riqis goals in 2019 are to release album, travel abroad and secure festivals worldwide as an indigenous performer.