'Ohaki’ means dying message, or legacy. It was the Ohaki of her ancestor Tamati Tikao from 1885 that inspired the latest single by singer Ariana Tikao, produced by Electronica pioneer, Paddy Free (Pitch Black).

This was the first time Free and Tikao have worked together, however they have had an association through Free’s partner, video artist and choreographer, Louise Potiki Bryant. Bryant has collaborated with Tikao on visuals for Tikao’s live shows, and also created an award-winning music video for her Tuia track, which won Best Music Video in last year’s ImagiNATIVE film + video festival in Toronto.

This first offering by Tikao and Free is a dub version of her song 'Ohaki'. Tikao plays taonga puoro on the recording and gives an emotional performance asking, (in Te Reo Maori) “What is the legacy that you will leave to your grandchildren?” 

“I ask this question as much to myself as to others of this generation, so that we stop and think about how we live our lives today. What effect will this have on generations to come?,” Tikao asks. “I look to my t?puna for inspiration, and feel grateful to them for the things they have left us, both the tangible and intangible”.

A feature of the recording is the spoken excerpt of her tipuna’s Ohaki, performed by the much respected Ngai Tahu kaumatua, Kukupa Tirikatene.

'Ohaki is also the name of Tikao’s show that she is performing next month at Christchurch’s Heritage Week and at the Nelson Arts Festival, during Labour Weekend.

'Ohaki has been described as a spellbinding work, highlighting the enduring relevance of Tikao’s ancestor’s words. It was performed to acclaim at last year’s Christchurch Arts Festival. The multi-media show features taonga puoro legend, Richard Nunns, and video by Potiki Bryant.

Also performing are Tikao’s bandmates from folk group Emeralds and Greenstone,  Jon Hooker (guitars), and Argene Montgomery-Honger (bodhran, percussion). There is also a live kapa haka element performed by her cousins Holly Weir-Tikao, and Karuna Karasulas. Bookings for the bilingual show (in Maori and English) can be made via the Nelson Arts Festival website or through Everyman Records in Nelson. Information about the Christchurch show will soon be available on the Heritage Week website.

For more details contact horomaka@actrix.co.nz or 0274 535 738

www.myspace.com/arianatikao

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