'Māori original' unveils new album for Matariki

He’s warmed up for Grace Jones in New York and entertained HRH Prince Charles at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. He shocked audiences in the Oscar-winning film The Piano, and penned the world’s first ever gay haka.

Now Mika is formally launching his latest project, a new CD titled Mika Vs Fashion. While a demo of the CD had a successful premiere at last year’s New Zealand Fashion Week, the release of the full CD has been timed to coincide with the Matariki festivities throughout June.

The title of the CD represents the creator, who is both a talented musical artist and fashion trendsetter. Mika describes the album as delivering “luscious world lounge music, songs that make you want to giggle, dance, make love to and chill out.”

It features an underlying sense of impishness as Mika brings Māori culture into the present tense, keeping it real, timely and accessible.

“There’s a perception that Māori is an ancient culture stuck in its own indigenous time warp,” Mika says. “I don’t think so.

“Māori are alive. Our bro’ takes out the title of Australian Idol, we play chameleon roles in Hollywood blockbusters. We are NZ’s next top models and greatest opera divas.

“Mika vs Fashion is a reflection of contemporary Maori culture and also a hint of what I intend to inject into this nation of ours over the next few months.”

Kiwis can expect to see more of Mika’s interpretation of modern Maori culture in the lead up to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Mika has been selected to be a major part of the Auckland celebrations, giving him a chance to share his cultural vision and New Zealand’s culture with an international audience in his bold over-the-top creative way.

About Mika

Mika vs Fashion is the Auckland-based performer’s seventh album, all of them recorded in te reo Māori and English also sung in French, Cuban and Spanish. He is an APRA Maioha Award nominee and has appeared in more than 20 TV series and specials.

Mika has also been tireless in educating and inspiring new generations of Māori and Pacific artists and performers.

The 21st Century Mika is a modern Māori taonga whose artistic achievements stand proudly alongside philanthropic work as kaitiaki (trustee) of the Mika Haka Foundation. The charity is committed to keeping young New Zealanders active and healthy through physical culture and the performing arts.