Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home

Jordyn with a Why (Tainui Āwhiro) grew up in South Auckland immersed in her Samoan culture. It wasn’t until high school, when her Dad suggested she take Te reo Māori instead of French, that a door opened into her cultural identity. Now her days are spent teaching full immersion Te reo Māori while raising her sons with Māori as their first language. Her debut album Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice is written in rua reo (both Māori and English), and blends R&B, neo-soul, and pop to speak to the experience of being an urban Māori. In this episode, Jordyn takes Jen for a feed at Denny’s – a South Auckland mainstay – and shares how Te Reo Māori has changed the direction of her life and music.Find out more about Jordyn with a Why: https://www.instagram.com/jordynwitha_why/?hl=en

Whirimako Black (Ngāti Tuhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is Aotearoa’s undisputed soul diva, and one of the greatest living performers of waiata Māori. While her work has broken new ground for Māori music, her career has never been easy.When Whirimako released her debut album Hinepukohurangi (Shrouded in the Mist) in 2001, there were very few albums (let alone jazz albums) written and performed in Te Reo Māori. In this episode, Jen visits Whirimako at her home in Ruatoki to find out why she shelved the album for five years … and how learning about her whakapapa gave her the strength to finally set it free.Find out more about Whirimako Black:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg81FN-pZ24158Wz-4DhaLg

Since releasing their fifth album, Ko Au Te Awa, Ko Te Awa Ko Au, and the first season of this podcast, Jen Cloher not only found their way home, they packed up their life and moved there. They’ve enrolled in a year long Te Reo Māori rumaki (immersive) language course at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki, Aotearoa, NZ. “Rumaki means to immerse or drown”, Jen explains, “and for a beginner like me, drowning in the Māori language definitely sums up the experience.”In this episode, Jen speaks with Anahera Neho-Cooper from Te Reo Maioha – a Māori language class based in Melbourne that utilises the well-loved Te Ataarangi method of learning. Jen also stops by Tauranga Moana to get some survival tips from their friend Ani Bennett, who has just completed a year long immersion.For more on this podcast and for the best transcripts head to https://everybodystryingpodcast.com/ Find out more about Jen Cloher:https://www.jencloher.com/jen Show notes:‘Being Human’ performed by Te Hononga o Ngā Iwi and Jen Cloher band at the Northcote Town Hall 2023. Recorded by Dave Manton for Double J.‘Toku Reo Toku Ohooho’ performed by Waiata Takatāpui written by Te Tāwhiro Maxwell & Okeroa Huriwaka.‘Whakatupuranga Rua Mano’ performed by students at Te Wananga o Raukawa written by Tipi Wehipeihana.Taonga puoro composed and performed by Pānia Elmsly. With thanks to Te Wānanga o Raukawa, Te Reo Maioha and Waiata Takatāpui.Credits:Executive Producer/Host: Jen CloherProducer/Engineer: Jon TjhiaStory Editor: Beź ZewdieCover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke-Te AhoLayout and Design: Sebastian WhiteWeb Design: Aron LebaniAnimation: Charlie BuddWith thanks to: Three Triple R 102.7FM and Creative Australia.

Breanne Peters (Kai Tahu, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Atiawa) was born in Naarm (Melbourne) and didn’t know anything about her Māori heritage until a trip home to Aotearoa a few years ago that changed the course of her life. Now, the 18 year old artist is on a mission to heal intergenerational trauma so that future generations can have access to their language and culture. She is a passionate advocate for rangatahi Māori (young people) and has found community and support for her journey with the Naarm based kapa haka T’HONI. Breanne shares how singing vocals on Mana Takatāpui helped her to put words to what she had been feeling and how Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview) has deepened her respect for First Nations people and culture in Australia. See tour dates and listen to Jen’s new album: https://bio.site/jencloher Credits: Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher Producer/Engineer: Mike Williams Story Editor: Karla Arnall Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke -Te Aho Layout and Design: Sebastian White Web Design: Aron Lebani With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM, Australia Council for the Arts

Anna Coddington (Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa) was catapulted into the public eye at age 15 when her high school band won a national songwriting competition. Since then she’s released four solo albums, received a degree in socio-linguistics, and has been dedicated to learning Te reo Māori at night classes — all the while raising two young boys. Her album ‘Aho’ (written entirely in the Māori language) recently won Best Te Reo Māori Album at the Māori Music Awards. Jen catches up with Anna at the APRA NZ Te Reo Māori Songwriting Hubs curated by Bic Runga. The story begins with a masterclass in Taonga Pūoro (traditional Māori musical instruments) from Reti Hedley. Find out more about Anna Coddington: https://annacoddington.bandcamp.com/music See tour dates and listen to Jen’s new album: https://bio.site/jencloher Credits: Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher Producer/Engineer: Mike Williams Story Editor: Karla Arnall Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke -Te Aho Layout and Design: Sebastian White Web Design: Aron Lebani With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM, Australia Council for the Arts

Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tīpa) has earned a reputation for fearless pop music. Now her Māori language project, Te Kaahu o Rangi [Taite Music Prize] has caught the imagination of new fans worldwide. In this episode, Jen and Theia head out to the Waikato River to trace the origins of Theia’s rich songwriting ancestry, dig into the significance of Pai Mārire, and spend time at Theia’s beloved Taupiri. Find out more about Te Kaahu: https://www.princesstheia.com/https://www.princesstheia.com/ See tour dates and listen to Jen’s new album: https://bio.site/jencloher Credits: Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher Producer/Engineer: Mike Williams Story Editor: Karla Arnall Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke -Te Aho Layout and Design: Sebastian White Web Design: Aron Lebani With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM, Australia Council for the Arts

Introducing Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home. A podcast where Jen Cloher speaks with Māori and First Nations songwriters who are writing and performing in their tribal languages. See tour dates and listen to my new album: jencloher.com Credits: Executive Producer/Host: Jen Cloher Producer/Engineer: Mike Williams Story Editor: Karla Arnall Cover Artwork: Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho Layout and Design: Sebastian White Web Design: Aron Lebani With thanks to: Triple R 102.7FM, Australia Council for the Arts