Māori-Ska-Reggae Debut for Dancehall Brothers

4 MAY 2014: Brothers Adrian and Marc Wagner fuse ska and reggae with Māori language to deliver their dancehall debut, 'The Wagner Brothers', in time for NZ Music Month (May 2014).

The Wagner Brothers' as well as two soon-to-be-released albums: 'Te Manu’ by PAO members Karl, Tangaroa and Te Manea Teariki; and ‘Tomokia’, her follow-up to chart-topping 'Hopukia' with support from Paddy Free.

‘Ngā Tukemata o Matariki - A Celebration of New Māori Music and Performing Arts from Ngāti Kahungunu’ in Wellington on Thursday 5 June 2014.

"We were still children when our family moved over to the UK to live and we listened to a huge variety of music when we were growing up there," Adrian explains.

"Back in those days, reggae and ska were popular and we bring some of those sounds to our new EP."

"Looking back on when we were growing up in Aotearoa, we were also exposed to Māori and other Polynesian music as we used to sing together a lot as a whānau. 

"The jazz and swing vibes of our pakeke (adults) who listened to groups like The Ink Spots and the Glenn Miller Orchestra to what our parents were listening to at the time - Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin and Stevie Wonder - were big influences."

'The Wagner Brothers' EP is available to purchase at iTunes ; Amplifier; Amazon; Google Play; and Spotify

www.thewagnerbrothers.maori.nz  

waahuu@xtra.co.nz  

TRACKLIST

My Sweet Baby
"Written when we were going through troubles with our lady friends at the time."

Wāhine Toa
"An acknowledgement of our woman folk - who are the backbone of our families."

Kāri
"Dedicated to the daughter of one of our mates after she had run off to be with a street kid …"

Porotēhi
"A song about the battle between the Māori and the Crown for their part of the wealth of this country."

Kōhanga Reo
"This is an acknowledgement to the kōhanga reo movement - and the time that it delivered the language to our kids."

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Singers/Songwriters: Adrian Tangaroa Wagner, Marc Marino Paetahi Wagner
Programmers/Engineers: Paddy Free, George Nepia III
'My Sweet Baby': Richard John Wagner
'Kōhanga Reo': Timothy Pamariki Wagner
Distribution/Sales: www.amplifier.co.nz 

For more information including review copies and interviews in English and Māori, contact publicist Vanessa Bidois at Kanui Limited on mobile + 64 21 928 007 or email  vanessa@kanui.co.nz