MOHI (right) will perform at this year's Waiata Anthems concert with the Auckland Philharmonia.
MOHI (right) will perform at this year's Waiata Anthems concert with the Auckland Philharmonia.
Popular Kiwi songs performed in te reo Māori, and with a full orchestra and kapa haka group, will entertain audiences at the Auckland Town Hall this Matariki.
Auckland Philharmonia has announced the guest artists for its Waiata Anthems concert, set to feature hits such as Tami Neilson’s Roimata/Cry Myself toSleep, Stan Walker’s Tēnā Rā Koe/Thank You, and Drax Project’s I Moeroa/Woke Up Late.
A full-strength Auckland Philharmonia will be accompanied by local artists Jordyn with a Why, neo-soul singer MOHI, and beatmaker Geneva AM, and joined by school group Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae Kapa Haka.
Jordyn with a Why will join a cohort of artists taking part in Waiata Anthems live.
The original Waiata Anthems album, released in 2019, was curated by Dame Hinewehi Mohi and debuted at No 1 on the Kiwi music charts. Mohi described the live event as “a beautiful musical tribute for Matariki”.
“The combination of classical instrumentation with contemporary voices will provide a sublime evening of celebration of Aotearoa.”
Waiata Anthems in Concert producer Esther Stephens said it was exciting for different musical worlds to come together to celebrate the holiday.
“There is an incredible team of creatives contributing to this concert; local composers and arrangers, our phenomenal guest vocalists, Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae Kapa Haka, and of course the brilliant musicians of Auckland’s professional orchestra.“
Audiences can also look forward to newly commissioned arrangements of hit songs from the guest artists, performed live for the first time.
“It’s truly the ultimate collaboration and the perfect way to celebrate Matariki,” Stephens said.
Waiata Anthems founder Dame Hinewehi Mohi. Photo / Paul Taylor
The music of Six60, Teeks, Benee and Bic Runga also features on the Waiata Anthems album.
In 2024, Kiwi artist Henare “H” Kaa described hearing Benee’s hit song Soaked, reinterpreted in te reo to Kua Kore He Kupu, and seeing it reachNo 5 on the New Zealand artists’ singles chart, as a “game-changer.”
