Te Whare Tīwekaweka is Marlon Williams' first album composed and performed entirely in te reo Māori. Williams (KāiTahu, Ngāi Tai) embraces his ancestral language as a window to the Māori world, saying “Through the process of constructing these songs...I’ve found a means of expressing my joys, sorrows and humour in a way that feels both distinctly new yet also connects me to my tīpuna [ancestors] and my whenua [land, home]."
The music combines folk, country, and pop with traditional rhythmic patterns. 'E Mawehe Ana Au' opens with a cappella vocals that echo a traditional karanga. 'Aua Atu Rā' pairs tremolo guitars with Williams' voice, while 'Whakamaettia Mai' weaves in a distinctive Polynesian waltz.
Created over five years, the fourteen songs mark Williams' return to Lyttelton after years of international touring. The album celebrates the communal spirit of music-making through collaborations with The Yarra Benders, co-producer Mark Perkins (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), the He Waka Kōtuia singers, and Lorde, who joins Williams on the piano ballad 'Kāhore He Manu E.'
Te Whare Tīwekaweka
Marlon Williams
