ONO

Since her 1980s debut, New Zealand Māori singer Moana Maniapoto has remained at the forefront of Aotearoa’s Indigenous music scene, and in recent years she’s even been hosting her own award-winning TV current affairs program. This latest album was repeatedly delayed by COVID-19, but despite its lengthy gestation, it’s been well worth the wait. ONO means ‘Six’ in Māori language, and it brings Moana together with half a dozen Indigenous women (wāhine) vocalists from around the globe. And their resulting multicultural duets are bold, inspired and very beautiful. ‘Āio Ana’ delicately blends Moana’s vocal clarity with veteran Norwegian Sámi songstress Mari Boine. Combining half-whispered ambience and full-throated power, Hawaiian vocalist Kaumakaiwa Kanaka’ole unites seamlessly with Moana on ‘Ātahu’, while the spellbinding vocals of Inka Mbing – from Taiwan’s Indigenous Atayal ethnic group – are highlighted on ‘Tōku Reo’. Australian Aboriginal singer Shellie Morris joins Moana for light reggae of ‘Huakirangi’ and ‘Maiea’ features Scottish vocalist Megan Henderson (Breabach). But the strongest track is ‘Tū’, which showcases Canadian First Nations singer Jani Lauzon, who is of mixed Métis-French-Finnish ancestry. With inventive Kiwi production throughout from The Tribe’s co-producer Paddy Free (Pitch Black), ONO is a shared global triumph of female vocal strength. Simply gorgeous.