16 November 2012 - 0 Comments

It has been four years since Ariana Tikao’s last solo album, “Tuia” which received great praise at home and abroad.

Tikao’s highly anticipated release “From Dust To Light”, is primarily inspired by the devastating earthquake in her hometown of Christhurch.

“Dust rose above the city that day from crumbling buildings. As you can imagine, it not only affected us physically, but emotionally and spiritually.” Says Ariana. “From the wreckage though, people are picking themselves up, forging ahead into new growth and opportunities.”

“From Dust To Light” is more of a crossover album since “Tuia”, showcasing Tikao’s stylistic development and experimentation. This album presents crystalline vocals and spacious meditative song structures with sparse, lush instrumental enhancement. Tikao alternates from English to Te Reo – in particular her native Kai Tahu dialect from the South island.

“I write specifically with South Island Maori historical and cultural themes in my lyrics and musical language.” States Tikao. “I do not try to imitate with my musical style. I just write how the song wants to come out and try and work with the songs as individuals.”

Tikao’s instinctual way of writing creates delightful stylistic variations.  The eastern influenced “Something To Give” is a bi lingual track that starts slowly as a traditional sitar track might, with the repeated lyric:

Whatever you do in life

Wherever in the world you live

You’ve got to know you’ve got something to give

In the adjoining song part, the tempo and percussive elements intensify as Te Reo vocals float across exacting strums and pulsating beats.  The entire movement leaves the impression of a devotional exercise.

“My Da” by contrast is more of a straight folk song reminiscent of Rosy Tin Teacaddy, with vocals accompanied by gentle electric guitar, piano and an exquisite cello solo by Charley Davenport. The song was inspired by fellow Kai Tahu friend and artist, Simon Kaan.  Tikao first met Simon at an artists’ hui, where he presented an image of a painting he had done based on the experience of his father who, when gravely ill, managed to drag himself out of the house, and put his hands in the earth. The power of his artwork and the story stayed with her for years. “My Da” is her own interpretation of this story.

Tikao has not been resting on her laurels since her previous album release. She touched the nation in February this year, performing “Whakaaria Mai” in her hometown for the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial in Hagley Park.

Last year Ariana was a featured artist on the “Ihimaera” album, performing live at the Auckland Arts Festival, and November 2011 saw her touring the country with fellow Ngai Tahu musicians Mahina-ina Kaui and Christine White as “Voices of Our Ancestors”.

In 2008 she released “Emeralds and Greenstone” with the cross-cultural multi-lingual band of the same name.  The group completed a mini tour of the country earlier this year.

With the assistance of Creative New Zealand, “From Dust to Light” was recorded at The Surgery, Wellington with Lee Prebble as engineer.  Co-produced by Tikao, Prebble and Ben Lemi Wood, and mastered by Mike Gibson, the album is to be released on November 16th via DRM and Ode Records.

Tikao will be performing songs from the new album at Dux Live, Christchurch on November 25th from 7pm.

Below is a link to her new video for the single, ‘Te Heke’ created by Louise Potiki Bryant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqRjGkTr9_o&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.arianatikao.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ariana-Tikao/124361444307191

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