IPUKAREA: Four-day wānanga bringing together Māori, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander songwriters

Noema Te Hau III – Producer (Rongomaiwahine, Ngāti Porou)

Currently the Studio & Venue Production Manager at Big Fan, Noema is a multi-skilled music specialist with extensive experience as a tertiary lecturer, music producer, audio engineer, songwriter, music director and performer. Noema is an Auckland based producer, songwriter, live musical director working for a multitude of NZ Artists that include the likes of Paige, Alayna, and NEVERKNOWN.

Joel Tashkoff/choicevaughan – Producer (Ngāti Porou)

Joel is an entertainment lawyer at NZ's leading entertainment law firm Dominion Law. When not advising clients, Joel (under the name 'choicevaughan') is an award-winning, self-managed artist/music producer and composer. Joel's self-released albums boast millions of streams.

MAJIC – Singer/songwriter (Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei, Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri)

Majic Pāora is an artist with a soulful sound that captivates. MAJIC’s heartfelt vocals glide along smooth melodies, offering a unique experience that connects with listeners profundly. Beyond music, MAJIC wants to give back to her communities and is passionate about indigenous rights and equality.

MAJIC’s waiata ‘Hei Mokimoki’ released earlier this month was co-written with other wāhine songwriters at the Kōkōtea writing camp in April.

TAWAZ – Singer/songwriter (Ngāti Rangitāne)

Tawaroa Kawana (Ngāti Rangitāne), also known as Tawaz, hails from Palmerston North. Tawaz has recently released a series of vibrant waiata reo Māori that celebrate his culture and language. Tawaz is the driving force behind Tini Whetū, an ensemble of youth from Rangitāne based in the Wairarapa region using waiata reo Māori to embrace and connect with their culture.

TAWAZ released 2 new waiata last week in collaboration with muso bro’s Jackson Owens, Mike Dam, and Rory Noble. He is also a highly regarded mātanga reo (language advisor) supporting artists in the translation and recording of their waiata reo Māori.

Troy Kingi – Singer/songwriter (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Āpanui)

Troy Kingi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is an actor and multi-award-winning, multi-genre musician originally from Rotorua and Te Kaha. A small-town boy at heart, Kingi is now based in Kerikeri, where he lives a pretty simple life with his wife and five children. Troy set a goal to release 10 albums, 10 genres in 10 years, and has released 6 of these albums so far.

Troy is a prolific recording and touring musician and performer who has worked with many artists throughout Aotearoa and overseas.

Hana Mereraiha White (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu, Tainui and Taranaki)

Hana Mereraiha is a product of the Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori language revitalisation movement. She is a graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori (School of Excellence in the Māori Language) and is a reo Māori advisor, translator, composer and songwriter. Hana recently worked in the music team alongside Rob Ruha and Pere Wīhongi with Matewa Media, in the adaptation of Disney’s COCO into te reo Māori, following on from the success of Lion King Reo Māori and Frozen Reo Māori which she was also involved with. Hana has passionately supported established and emerging artists to reinterpret their waiata into Māori, including such artists as LORDE, Coterie, Tim Finn, Melodownz, RIIKI Reid, Muroki, Stan Walker, Majic Paora and many others.

Chris Tamwoy – Singer/songwriter

Chris Tamwoy is an award winning First Nations Australian singer, songwriter and musician with both Eastern and Western Torres Strait Islander blood running through his veins. His distinctive guitar-tap style and vibrant personality see him in high-demand for gigs across Australia, the USA, ongoing media appearances and documentary features.

Chris Tamwoy’s debut EP Ngaw Laag ‘My Home’ in 2015 was well received earning him the prestigious honour of National NAIDOC Youth of the Year and Queensland Young Achiever of the Year Award in 2018. In 2021, Chris’ showcase instrumental composition Waves from his Reality Is album will make a special inclusion in the feature film Alick and Albert, supported by Screen QLD, Screen Australia and broadcaster STAN. Dubbed a ‘guitar virtuoso’, this humble young man’s music, personality and vibe are unforgettable.

Emily Wurramara – Singer/songwriter

Emily Wurramara is an esteemed and award-winning artist, who's grew up between Meanjin (Brisbane) and NT. Her debut album, "Milyakburra," received an esteemed ARIA nomination and secured an AIR award. Emily has been honoured with six Queensland Music Awards and the prestigious AMP Tomorrow Maker award.

Beyond her remarkable musical accomplishments, Emily passionately advocates for essential causes, including environmental issues, mental health awareness, and youth suicide prevention. She proudly serves as an ambassador for the First Nations foundation and take3. Emily's music exquisitely delves into themes of self-acceptance and ancestral lullabies, drawing inspiration from her Indigenous heritage and life experiences. As a gifted storyteller, she effortlessly taps into ancient memories, provoking profound emotions within us all.

Fred Leone - Singer/songwriter

Fred Leone is one of the Butchulla Songmen with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. He comes from the Garrwa and Butchulla tribes. Fred’s role as a Songman sees him as one of the custodians of the traditional songs of the Butchulla tribe and one of a handful of keepers and custodians of their language. Fred is active in his role as a Songman, ensuring that contemporary Butchulla stories are embedded into the collective memory of the tribes oral histories and ceremonies going forward.

Fred blends his love of hip-hop rhyming and his singularly unique vocal style with his adeptness playing traditional instruments to create an utterly new and unique sound. He’s known for his abilities to transcend genre and form whilst bringing the true integrity of his life’s calling as a Songman to the forefront of all that he touches.

Blake Rhodes – Producer

As a founding member of the celebrated hip-hop trio Teddy Lewis King, musical alchemist Mr Rhodes makes soulful drenched future hip-hop with unparalleled energy and tenacity.

The prolific lyricist and producer has released acclaimed music, from the 2019 single “Wonderous” to the 2022 masterpiece “Fear and Loathing”, 2023 sees the Bundjalung musician release his newest single “Can’t You Tell”.

His newest musical offering "Can't You Tell" has seen him featured on Spotify’s popular “The Drip” and “Fresh Finds Au and NZ”, Apple Music’s “BLAKLIST” and “FIRST” playlists, as well as spins on Triple J, CADA and rotation on 2SER, and opening for powerhouse band, Winston Surfshirt.

Mr Rhodes has proven without a doubt that his is a voice of an artist at the forefront of the new global sound."