Work

Programme Note

How the Dead Live is inspired by the story of one of the early pioneers – Susannah Hawes. Susannah left her life in Gravesend, London to sail to New Zealand in 1874. After three months on the ship “Michael Angelo”, Hawes and her husband arrived in Nelson. From there, they were sent on to Karamea as part of a disastrously unplanned settlement programme.

Reyne, spent 6 weeks in Karamea (where she also grew up) as part of the Creative New Zealand and Department of Conservation “Wild Creations” programme. She researched Susannah’s letters and the local legends surrounding her character. She sourced the sounds that that
would have made up Susannah’s environment at the time, basic farm implements, steam ships, saws and sleuths, and set these sounds to folk instruments.

“It’s a fierce and unflinching vision, familiar to those who know Reyne’s work, and it’s perfectly etched with double vocals combined with that dense, intense electronic backdrop…”
William Dart, New Horizons, RNZ 19 April 2009

“How The Dead Live _is a fascinating and intense listen. Reyne’s voice is, as ever, a gift. And the fact that she chooses to use it by applying the tools of a story-writer and an illustrator, rather than just taking the easy route, is all the more encouraging…”_
Simon Sweetman, Dominion Post, 17 April, 2009

Click here to listen to an interview with Jordan by Sam Wicks from Radio New Zealand National. More information and music available here.

Click here to download an interview with Jordan and Mike Higgins broadcast by KiwiFM.

Text Note:

Text by Jordan Reyne

Influences:

• History - NZ

Funders:

• Creative New Zealand