- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Maori group Oceania record music for World cup rugby competition
- Date: 6th October 1999
- Summary: STUDIO IN HAMMERSMITH, WEST LONDON LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 6, 1999) (REUTERS TV) LEAD SINGER HINEWEHI MOHI, LEAD SINGER OF OCEANIA, SITTING AMID GROUP, SAYING 'Well we're over here for the release of the album, and the performers are here, working, travelling, so we've all come together for the release of the album, and as part of that I've sung the World and Union song which is to promote the Rugby World Cup, which the All Blacks are very much a part of. And we're very excited and privileged to be performing before the game at Twickenham this Saturday because we're very excited about the prospects for our team and yeah, that's basically where it's come from.'
- Embargoed: 21st October 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVA74RCUIWNW7OWKDCCFIQ26A4DL
- Story Text: Making their world debut at Twickenham for the Rugby World Cup's opening game between England and New Zealand, Oceania bring their traditional Maori music to a venue with a difference! Reuters caught up with the New Zealand group as they put their finishing touches to their performance during rehearsals in London.
Oceania has been described as what happens when Maori culture meets the modern world.
A unique group from New Zealand, they have a sound that has so far been very much on the sidelines of the music world.
Combining traditional songs and instruments rooted in New Zealand's Maori culture with contemporary ambient beats, Oceania get their world debut at none other than England's famous rugby ground in Twickenham on Saturday, when the Rugby World Cup kicks off with a clash between England and New Zealand.
Taking a short break between rehearsals at a studio in West London, lead singer and Maori poet Hinewehi Mohi described her excitement at being in Britiain to celebrate the start of the Rugby World Cup, particularly at the prospects for their team, the All Blacks.'Definitely I think the entire New Zealand contingent will be there at Twickenham on Saturday - and round the world they will be there in spirit.' Oceania's hit single 'Kotahitanga' is the new single from the album Oceania is currently promoting.Performing at Twickenham will certainly give a a wider audience to this unique music than may have previously been found.Mohi herself says that Oceania is quite an unusual fusion of sounds: 'We've combined an Englishman's western experience of music as well as orchestral instruments with very traditional vocal phrasing, very traditional Maori instruments from Aoteearao, New Zeakand, and so it's a fantatic combination I think.We're very excited about making it palatable for a younger audience of music lovers as well as bringing all ages together in rejoicing and celebrating the Maori culture.' And with the fearsome Maori 'haka' chant the New Zealand rugby team are famed for before taking to the field, the opening game promises to be a musical as well as sporting extravaganza. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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