Te Whare Tiwekaweka - Vinyle Blanc

Description

"Ko te reo Māori, he matapihi ki te ao Māori" – this Māori proverb guided the fourth solo album by Aotearoa singer-songwriter Marlon Williams (Kāi Tahu, Ngāi Tai), Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Translated, the title means "The Māori language is a window to the Māori world" and encapsulates Marlon's motivation for his first Māori album. Connection is at the heart of Te Whare Tīwekaweka, a five-year process that saw Marlon reconnect with family, friends, and his hometown of Lyttelton after a decade spent traversing the globe to establish his career. The album represents a new step in Marlon’s journey towards his ancestral language, with his fluency growing as the songs accumulated over hours spent with close friend and co-writer, rapper KOMMI. The language unlocked both new lyrical honesty and a grandiose sonic vision. Supported by long-time touring band The Yarra Benders, co-producer Mark Perkins (Te Whānau - ā - Apanui), singers He Waka Kōtuia, and a collaboration with pop star Lorde, the album traverses Marlon's familiar folk-country-bluegrass territory, while also continuing his exploration of more poppy waters and rhythms inherent to Māori music. The result is a collection that feels both contemporary and timeless.