released September 13, 2023

A NOTE FROM NATALIE (Dunedin, 2021)

This album came about when I was awarded a year 2000 scholarship by the Otago Primary Principals’ Association.
The proposal was to write a show, celebrating our past and present life in Aotearoa, at the beginning of the new millennium. The show was gifted to all the primary schools in Otago, in the form of a CD and accompanying songbook and script (no more cassette tapes!).
Subsequently, it was marketed throughout the country and was performed from Southland to Northland in multiple big and small schools, town and country and by all ages. I was invited to many shows locally and was stoked at the high standard and the creative way each school gave
the show its own twist, flavouring it with their own local character and culture (just as I had intended).
I received feedback, photos and videos from all over the country for a long time and got great vibes from it all! The colourful and fun cover artwork was done by a Year 7 pupil of mine at the time, Taarati Taiaroa-Smithies.
Once again I recorded with Phil Yule, this time in his own studio, The Voicebox In Ponsonby. I did most of the instrumentation myself with some beautiful additional guitar work from Derek Lind.
My personal favourite (still right up there) is ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, the big finale anthem of the show. Memorably, we recorded that in the midst of a massive thunderstorm and pouring rain, on a humid Auckland night with the doors open. Magic. So fitting.

NOTES ON TE REO MAORI PRONUNCIATION:

Many listeners may notice some incorrect pronunciation in amongst these songs! I've been on a long journey with Te Reo Māori and this album came early in that journey. Most obviously, and for which I unreservedly apologise, is my mispronunciation of some of the names in 'The Place Names Song'.
By way of clarification, the following vowel sounds in Te Reo Māori are pronounced as: 'a' as in 'car'. 'e' as in 'jet'. 'i' as in 'tee'. 'o' as in 'core'. 'u' as in 'boot'. 'ae' as in 'high'. 'au' as in 'toe'. 'ao' as in 'ouch'. 'ei' as in 'pay'.
(For example, Ōtaki, should be pronounced Or-Tar-Kee rather than O-tack-ee. Taupō should be 'Toe-por'.).

In 'Land of the Long White Cloud', those familiar with the Māori name of the South Island, Te Waipounamu, may notice I use an alternative pronunciation, Te Vai Pounemu. This was intentional (at the time). An early mentor in my Te Reo journey provided guidance and advice in my songwriting over a number of years. He introduced me to the variant Te Vai Pounemu and his view that this was probably an original, traditional form arising from early Māori Polynesian origins. Aotearoa was an early name for the North Island before coming to refer to New Zealand as a whole. I was happy to go with his advice and this song reflects that; he has since passed away and I remain indebted to him for much help and inspiration. I am not qualified to make authoritative claims on these points but 20 years on, Te Waipounamu continues to have universal acceptance and usage. When I teach and sing the song these days I always use Te Waipounamu and invite others to do the same. Even better, seek your own guidance from someone well-schooled in early Māori history. Tell them this story and ask what they think - you're bound to learn something interesting!