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 ~ celebrating contemporary Maori music ~
The finalists for the 2009 APRA Maioha Award are:
Jamie Greenslade, Jeremy Froger, Rupert Brown (maitreya) Whakakotahi Rangatahi
Maisey Rika, John Rika, Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (Maisey Rika) Repeat Offender
Rewi Spraggon, Riki Bennett (Te Aratoi) Tapapakanga
Launched in 2003 the APRA Maioha Award seeks to recognise excellence in contemporary Maori music and to acknowledge waiata in, or strongly featuring Te Reo Maori.
The name Maioha embraces creativity and translates as “a spontaneous composition which reflects a very deep emotional understanding”. Our panel of judges are asked to consider the creative content of the music and lyrics along with the use of Te Reo Maori when selecting the finalists.
The winners of the APRA Maioha Award receive a $3,000 cash prize and are the annual guardians of ‘Te Ngore’ our award crafted by Brian Flintoff. Previous winners for this award include Ruia Aperahama, Ngahiwi Apanui, Bennett and Whirimako Black & Antituatua Black.
The APRA Maioha Award will be presented at the APRA Silver Scroll Awards, Christchurch Town Hall on Thursday September 17. Under the musical direction of Don McGlashan the winner of the Maioha Award will hear their composition reinterpreted by their peers in a live performance.
Maitreya – Jamie Greenslade burst onto the scene in the summer of ’99 as part of Christchurch crew Dark Tower (remember “Baggy Trousers”?). In 2001 he began recording under the guidance of DLT who gave him the moniker maitreya, meaning a ‘future teacher’. He then spent several years immersing himself in the open mic scene in New York City. During this time he enlisted the production skills of Kilotone – d’n’b duo Jeremy Froger & Rupert Brown – for his debut album “Close To Home”, the lead track Waitaha was a finalist for the 2008 APRA Maioha Award. www.myspace.com/enterthemaitreya
Maisey Rika – hailing from Whakatane, this singer/songwriter has a powerful and majestic voice that has captivated audiences worldwide. Her debut EP was released earlier this year, co-written with her brother John Rika and produced by Simon Holloway & Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper. With her spine tingling fusion of English and Maori lyrics, Maisey has developed a poetic soundscape of folk, soul and easy listening. www.maiseyrika.com
Te Aratoi – a collective of musicians who have a combined passion for the sounds and continued revival of Taonga Puoro (traditional Maori instruments). Riki Bennett and Rewi Spraggon are leading exponents of this ancient art having both trained under the late Hirini Melbourne. Te Aratoi’s “Ancient Maori Music” is a sublime mix of ancient and modern interpretations whereby the musicians skilfully blend the Taonga Puoro – flutes, conches, shells, trumpets and gourds with vocals to recreate the sounds of birds, the forests of Aotearoa and of nature. www.tearatoi.co.nz
 APRA Maioha Award History
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