Stuff article: Aro translates mātauranga Māori into music - Jan 6th 2024
Bilingual folk music duo Aro have anchored their music in stories about the unique environment of Aotearoa.
He Rākau, He Ngārara will be Aro’s fourth body of work and is based on research into kōrero tuku iho (oral tradition) from Charles Looker’s iwi and hapū about native trees, insects and reptiles.
Stuff article: Silver Scroll-nominated bilingual duo Aro embark on rural New Zealand tour
Bilingual musical duo Charles and Emily Looker hit the road on Friday to take their waiata to rural community halls and theatres across Aotearoa for month-long tour through Arts On Tour NZ.
Aro live on the AM Show
Charles and Emily talk about their newest release, Aroā, and share news about the upcoming nationwide tour
Aro – Aroā: 13th Floor Single Session (Live Performance)
Aro return to The 13th Floor to perform Aroā for our cameras. And the couple get a little help from an unexpected family member.
Aro announced as Finalists for the 2023 Silver Scroll Awards (Top 20) for waiata Aroā
"It’s our pleasure to announce the Top 20 finalists for the 2022 APRA Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka and the Top 5 finalists for the 2022 APRA Maioha Award."
Aroā Single Review by Kev Rowland
" For lovers of beautiful music, whatever genre they normally listen to."
Know How Single Review by House of Prog - Kev
"It is a powerful message, delivered in their world where their love for each other and their voices combine to create something very special indeed."
Emily & Charles Looker’s Meet-Cute: ‘There’s relentless love’ - NZ Herald
Musicians Emily and Charles (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Te Ari Awamutu) Looker met in 2013, became a couple in 2015 and married in 2016. The Lookers are parents to Olive, 2. The couple performs together as Aro and are releasing two waiata for NZ Music Month – Know How on May 5 and the te reo Māori version called Aroā on May 19. Emily also has a tune called Warenoa coming out on May 26 under her solo-artist name, Emily Rice.
Aro's waiata Kia Mau nominated as finalist for APRA AMCOS Te Korokoro Tūī - Best Children's Song
"The 2023 finalists are our storytellers, rhymers and singers, writing and recording songs that ignite a love for music in New Zealand children. "
Aro on Cultural Icons
On this episode of Cultural Icons, Aro describe their humble beginnings and how they have weaved their love of Te Reo Māori, music, storytelling and whānau to help inspire and empower rangatahi Māori from all over Aotearoa, NZ.
NZ Live: Aro - June 3rd 2022
"Aro (aka the bilingual husband-and-wife duo Emily and Charles Looker) play us a live session ahead of their nationwide tour celebrating both Matariki and their latest waiata Kia Mau."
Chart topping, bilingual duo Aro release new single & video
"Timed perfectly for NZ Music Month, they further this recent success with ‘Kia Mau’, featuring ‘Aro’s’ signature playful and uplifting sound, with vocals melding together perfectly and with an awareness of recent covid related divisions between families and friends, nationwide, at the forefront."
Aro – Kia Mau: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day - 19th May 2022
"Inspired by recent events and experiences the pair have released their stunning new Waiata and video clip for ‘Kia Mau’. "
Kia Mau Single Review by Kev Rowland
"They just don’t sound like anyone else, as they bring in so many additional elements with RnB, jazz, electronic, soul and folk being just a few of the places they borrow from to create something which is unique and entrancing."
Watch Aro's new music video for Tohorā - Under The Radar
"Aro, aka Charles (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Mutunga) and Emily Looker (nee Rice), have shared sun-dappled new visuals for beat-driven ballad 'Tohorā', the closing track from their 2021 He Wai EP."
Aro in Good Magazine on Tohorā video release
"Exceptionally talented bilingual duo, ‘Aro’, release their breathtaking new music video"
Aro - Single/Video Review: Tohorā - Muzic.net
"In many ways, their music is so grounded in Aotearoa that they become part of it, and I cannot imagine music quite like this being produced anywhere else."
Aro interview with Leanna & Josh on Life FM Afternoons
A conversation around the release of music video Tohorā
He Wai EP - Released Sept 3rd 2021
Media coverage of Aro's release of He Wai - Stories of our waters, below. A selection of interviews and EP reviews. Mega thanks to Cheree Ridder for the awesome publicity around this release!
Aro on 'Breakfast' - 24th September 2021
Interview with John Campbell on Breakfast - TV1, featuring little miss Olive and a live performance of Taniwha off the He Wai EP
Muzic.net 'He Wai' EP Review by Kev Rowland
"There is a languorous and relaxed feel in all that they do, so that even when there is a beat it never feels forced or hurried, like a gentle forest stream just babbling along with the dappled sunlight on its surface. There is a huge amount of space within the songs, so that each instrument is clearly defined, and one can wrap oneself in the vocal layers like a gossamer cloud."
13th Floor 'He Wai' EP Review by Rev Orange Peel
"Aro are developing a sound which will help keep a language alive and vibrant, rather than merely surviving. It’s great if you can sing and dance to it."
Music 101 on RNZ - Bilingual duo Aro on their third EP 'He Wai'
Aro joined Charlotte over the phone to discuss the meaning behind the water-inspired EP, and their excitement about the rising popularity of bilingual music in Aotearoa.
Radio One 91FM Dunedin
The Hits - Estelle chats with Aro about their new bilingual music
Stuff NZ article by Emily Looker - "I sing in te reo Māori, but now I'm learning to speak it"
"My journey with te reo Māori began with bilingual waiata – when Charles and I first started writing tunes together."
Baby Beat - Released March 11th 2021
A waiata inspired by pēpi Looker's little heart beat at 12 weeks grown. About the anticipation of her arrival, which was due to be March 11th, and ended up being February 20th! She must have heard us singing "Kaua e aukumea" ... Don't take too long
INTRODUCING: Husband and wife duo Aro - Music 101 interview
"Aro is husband and wife duo Charles and Emily Looker. They met while both studying a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland, where they discovered they share a passion for the power of language and music to tell stories and remind us of our cultural identity..."
Baby Beat song Review - Kev Rowland
Aro live interview and performance at The 13th Floor
Here is Aro with three beautiful songs recorded exclusively at The 13th Floor Studio. Aro is Charles & Emily Looker and along with the three songs they chat with The 13th Floor's Marty Duda
He Manu Anō - Released August 27th 2020
Media coverage of Aro's release of 'He Manu Anō' (... and some more manu!) below.
Thanks to Elephant Publicity for the epic publicity support around this release!
Te Karere - He Manu Anō
Aro returns with new EP entirely in te reo Māori, and share their most exciting announcement to date!
13th Floor EP Review: Aro – He Manu Ano (Aro) - Rev Orange Peel
"Folk to Soul. Rap to Reggae. Hakas and Jazz. It’s not only children who will be into this."
Concert Review: Aro at Onewhero - Rev Orange Peel
Manu - Released 6th February 2019
Media coverage of Aro's debut album release of Manu.
Te Karere - Aro launch their album, ‘Manu’
“These two love birds were brought together by their shared love for romance. They’ve now produced their first album. Charles and Emily Looker of Ngāpuhi met at music school. Te Okiwa McLean reports the album is inspired by NZ’s indigenous birds.”
Manu Album Review - Corinne Rutherford
RNZ - Aro perform ‘Miromiro’
“Emily & Charles Looker are a married couple who spend most of their time living in their van as the band Aro. They're about to release their debut album Manu and perform one of their songs 'Miromiro' in the RNZ Auckland studio.”
RNZ - Aro perform ‘Korimako’
Gig Review, Common Room, Hastings - Rosheen Fitzgerald
Gig Review, Jam Factory, Tauranga - Corinne Rutherford
Aro live on Hakanation
NZ Music Month - interview on Rhema
“Charles and Emily Looker from Aro joined Andrew in studio to talk new music and play a song.”
“The musicianship through out – haunting and interlocking vocals, stick percussion, evocations of taonga puoro, touches of Latin rhythms – is clever and diverse” – Graham Reid | Elsewhere Magazine
“This is currently my go-to album to take a break from the world and let the music wash over me.” – Corinne Rutherford | muzic.net.nz
“Incredible voices…gave us goosebumps! And such awesome chemistry. A pleasure to listen to and watch.” – Sophie Greenly | Concert Goer – Queenstown
“This authentic and talented duo played at Leigh Sawmill Cafe last night and deserved many more encores! Their voices together are magical, with some lyrics in Te Reo Māori and amazing looping skills…seriously worth watching! Kia ora” – Eva Tui | Concert Goer – Leigh
“Love the musical gel linking the wairua in your voices. Kia kaha. Meinga meinga” – Jeanne Kelber Hill | Concert Goer – Paeroa
“This is lively and cheerful yet at the same time inspiring and engaging. I was completely captivated by the stories told through the birds and I very much look forward to seeing Aro perform this album live.” – Corinne Rutherford | Muzic.net album review