T(M)²I (pronounced Tangaroa Made Me Ill) is the newest single from Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston singer Geneva AM (short for Alexander-Marsters). It’s a release that’s been recorded in Te Reo and English. I’m reviewing the Te Reo release.

Currently based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Geneva AM has created a minimalistic, enthralling number with a compelling, non-committal kind of melody that’s neither sweet nor angry, but deeply roots-centric and great to listen to. The vocal timbre does a lot to warm the song. Geneva has a definite mezzo soprano/soprano sound, rich and full – even when she’s tempering it for a quieter, more introspective track like this. Impressive singer!

The instrumentation is, as mentioned, minimalist. We have some nice beats going on, giving it a further push into the embrace of Indigenous Dance. That’s how it felt to me, anyway. And music is subjective, and this is my review, so there. Anyway, I digress. There’s some metallic sounding synth that pops up every bar, that if split and played alone would possibly sound too tinny – but the mix and master has successfully embedded it as a working part. Risque, but risque is genius when it works well. Good on you for taking the step.

I do like the anchoring bass that sits well and gels all parts as a good bass can. It runs through the track and assists Geneva‘s warm vocal. The track is about relationships. I’ll let Geneva explain, from the EPK: “The riff is a warm sound, something that felt comforting yet mysterious. Looking back, I must have been articulating my own feelings around ambiguity and those initial butterflies you can get at the beginning of a relationship.“

About the twin languages used: “Both versions mean the same thing. I use the metaphor of the light shifting as a way to convey the grandeur of Love. The night represents this dark lonely period of my life and then the sun reemerging into a new day, parallels my feelings that I am safe and ready to truly love this amazing person.”

There’s a nice wee video on the You Tubes that you can watch. It’s split between Aotearoa and Japan, and features Geneva, whanau and friends. In Japan a Nikon was handed around for various shots; in Aotearoa Geneva worked with director Eddy Fifield. It’s a sequence of activity shots, nothing to artsy, nothing too glam. It tells the tale of a lady ruminating on people, times and places, and really fits well with the vibe of the song.

You’ll see a certain flag on the back of Geneva‘s laptop; people have a much greater understanding of events and history these days, and People who themselves are culturally threatened – as Māori very much are regarding the truth of the 1840 agreement between them and the settler colony, their own language and the future balance of harmony within these islands – there tends to be a deeper level of empathy, demonstrated by a fierce unity and bond between them. My own people, the Celtic people of my homeland Wales, have walked in the shoes of Māori with regard to the attempted assimilation into a powerful neighbour that has suppressed our true history, tried to extinguish or language, heritage and culture, and is still trying to today. Geneva is entitled, in a nation that says it cherishes freedom of speech, to display that flag in her video. I applaud her for that – and for her belief in balancing her world with her parents coming from the two facing cultures that drafted and co-signed that document, so long ago.

This is an introspective song. It should get air on Mai FM, 99bFM, student radio, and I hope the video will see some air on Te Reo language TV as well as mainstream. You’ll enjoy this, in Te Reo or English, with friends around and with the intention of specifically listening to music. She should be seen live, and I really hope this goes out to the networks of Indigenous Peoples around the world.

I have a passion for music performed in the native languages of all places. This was always going to be a winner for me, but it’s compelling and deep, and fascinating too. Released today, 14th Feb, so it’s on the Spotty Fly playlists already.. And don’t forget to pop onto the You Tubes for that vid.

Kia Kaha whanau.