Baby Beat

When I think about the moon and the stars

The same hands that make you

Who you are

I guess we’re gonna find out soon enough 

I wonder what comes of this love

Kaua e aukumea

Kaua e aukumea

E karanga ana te ao mārama

(nō reira) kaua e aukumea

When I think about the birds and the trees

The same hands that make you

Perfectly 

Guess we’re gonna find out soon enough

I wonder what comes of this love

Kia kite au... i to mata, Kia tākina... to ingoa

Kia mau ki o... ringaringa, Ka mōhio... te aroha 

I can’t wait to see your face and

I can’t wait to say your name

I can’t wait to hold your hands and

I can’t wait to tell you that I love you

Listen/Watch

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Baby Beat - a translation

Don't take too long

Don't take too long

The world is waiting for you

Don't take too long

I can’t wait to see your face and

I can’t wait to say your name

I can’t wait to hold your hands and

I can’t wait to tell you that I love you

He Manu Anō - Release Day

Tēnā koutou katoa!!

We are so happy to share with you our newest EP, out TODAY, 'He Manu Anō', which basically means "and some more Manu"; an extension of our 2019 debut album 'Manu'. The EP is FREE for you to download and enjoy right here. This EP is fully written in Te Reo Māori, with  lyrics and translations up on our website.

"He Manu Anō consists of five songs which display Aro’s signature playful and uplifting sound, using a plethora of instruments and taonga pūoro, including guitars, saxophone, shakers, hand drums and tambourine. A multi-genre offering of storytelling pop, R&B and jazz, fusing vocals, whistles, clapping, and chants, with bird song and calls, each song also thematically explores the ideas of being vigilant and brave, looking out for each other, and getting through things with love, a sentiment which rings true, now more than ever."

This EP has been fully recorded from our whare, and was funded by Creative NZ, who have also supported us in the making of a new education resource to pair with the music, which we're sharing through September as a virtual schools tour! We're so, so, SO thankful for the backing of CNZ for this project (in the form of an Arts Continuity Grant), and are so excited to now be sharing it with you. We also want to acknowledge Tainui and the wonderful crew at Te Pou Theatre, who encouraged, believed in, and supported us with the proposal for this project.

Special thanks to those who were involved in this project with us, Beka Hope who has created our new website (it's meannn, go check it!!!) as well as the presentation of the education resource. Manu Berry who created all of the incredible wood-cut screen print bird images to pair with each song - you can see them HERE, above each of the lyrics and translations for each waiata, we'll also have physical copies coming on tour with us! Vivek Gabriel who mixed and mastered this project, thanks for going above and beyond as usual our bruv, we always love working with you, and finally, to Elephant Publicity who have been doing a stellar job getting our new waiata out there - for all the radio interviews and TV broadcasts. PS we're on RNZ tonight at 8.05pm!

Though our Auckland show was cancelled due to Covid19, the remaining shows are still going ahead at this stage and tickets can be found here: www.aromusic.co.nz/shows

We're also going live TONIGHT on facebook, 7.30pm for a listening party and kōrero around the songs and how they came to be, join us!

XOXO

Aroha nui whānau,

Emily & Charles

aka, Aro

Kōtare

Ētahi wā e taumaha ana ngā ngaru i te moana

E patu ana ngā waka e te au tuke, e te au miha

He uaua ki te kite nā te pūrehurehu o te rehutai

Te pae tata kua huna nā te pupuke o ngā wai

Whaia te iti kahurangi

Ki te tuohu, me maunga teitei

Kia mataara, kia māia

Toka tū moana

Kia mataara kia māia

Tutuki me te aroha.

He ngaru whakateo he kōtare, ko tēnā te kī

He pūhara i ngā taiapa o te pā hoki

Ko tēnei ka waiho iho mo te iwi

He waka eke noa, āwhina atu tētahi ki tētahi

Toka tū moana

Wanawana tutuki me te aroha

Me te aroha!

Kia Mataara kia māia

Kia mataara, kia māia!

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THE KINGFISHER - A KŌTARE TRANSLATION

Sometimes the waves are heavy out at sea

Battering our waka under its weight

It gets hard out there to see through the haze

The horizon hidden by the swelling waves

Pursue that which is precious

If bowed down let it be to a lofty mountain

Be vigilant, be brave

Like a rock against the sea

Be vigilant, be brave

Overcome fear with love

A curly wave is a kōtare’s work, that’s what they say

And watchtowers were named after me too

This is what I want to leave with you all

Together we can succeed, so look out for each other

Stand like a rock against the sea

Overcoming fear with love

With love!

Be vigilant, be brave

Be vigilant, be brave!