23 July 2021 - 0 Comments

Loop are incredibly excited to present the first single of a new musical project from The Nudge & Troy Kingi - He Orite. This debut single is the first taste from the 2020 Taite Music Prize winner Kingi (Te Arawa / Ngapuhi) combining with the Wellington-based psych-rock trio.

The waiata is a Te Reo Maori psychedelic jam, recalling the sound of both Kingi & The Nudge's past releases. With an instantly memorable bassline from James Coyle alongside the rhythmic drumming of Iraia Whakamoe (Tuhoe), the track combines harmonies & soaring guitars from Kingi & Ryan Prebble, with Kingi’s Te Reo vocal driving the waiata.

The brainchild of The Nudge’s Iraia Whakamoe, the track represents the first collaboration between The Nudge & Kingi. With Whakamoe recording & performing alongside Kingi for multiple years, this track sees the two combining with Nudge bandmates Coyle & Prebble, producing & recording this track with the legendary MU aka DJ Fitchie (Fat Freddy’s Drop).

Born from Te Mangai Paho’s initiative of encouraging collaboration between Te Reo speakers and non-speakers, He Orite speaks to the truth, we are all equal.

The Nudge have long established themselves as one of NZ’s best live acts, always pushing their psychedelic/blues-sound in new & interesting directions. Early-2020 saw The Nudge share the stage with Troy Kingi for the first time as part of Fly My Pretties, and the seeds of collaboration were planted. He Orite is the fruits of the two acts combining & collaborating in the studio for the first time.

The release is accompanied by surreal artwork from Gina Kiel, Xoe Hall & Miriama Grace-Smith. Directly inspired by the waiata, the artwork depicts a united force against injustice & greed for the generations to follow. Hall’s signature take on Atua Wāhine seen here, represents our Tipuna, channeling the inner taniwha for strength. Kiel brings her distinctive head, symbolising the personification of the cosmos & the Milky Way.

Grace-Smith worked with the central figure, the hammerhead shark (ururoa), bringing courage, determination & power as mentioned via whakatauki in the waiata. All these elements combine on a surreal landscape with maunga, full moon & blazing sun in the distant horizon.

This waiata in its entire creation has been supported by Te Mangai Paho.

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