Anna Coddington returns with the release of Mana-Wā-Hine, a new EP featuring a collection of waiata performed in te reo Māori. The release features the new title track, alongside four tracks originally performed in English on her acclaimed album Beams, translated into te reo Māori. Each track puts the spotlight on not only Coddington’s songwriting ability but also the beauty of te reo Māori.
This release features the title track 'Mana-Wā-Hine', co-written with Ria Hall. The title itself brings a play on the words ‘Manawa Hine’ - heart of a girl - and ‘Mana Wāhine’ - mana of a woman. The release also arrives accompanied by artwork from Pōneke-based artist Te Kahureremoa Taumata inspired directly by the track, depicting three feminine figures dancing in the rain on the chest of Papatūanuku.
The EP also features four tracks originally taken from Coddington’s Taite Music Prize-nominated album Beams, translated into te reo Māori by Stacey and Scotty Morrison, including the previously released ‘Aho / Beams ft. Louis Baker’. Across all five tracks, Coddington’s ability as a vocalist & songwriter remains evident, showcasing her unique indie/pop/folk-inspired sound.
Mana-Wā-Hine represents a step in Coddington’s ongoing journey with the language, and follows on from her release as part of Waiata Anthems earlier in September. The release of Mana-Wā-Hine comes as Mahuru Māori/Māori Language Month draws to a close, but arrives with a similar goal - of helping to normalise reo Māori in all contexts - at all times - across Aotearoa.
