Contributor
Ranea Aperahama
Composer, Performer, Māori Composer
Biography
Ngāti Tūwharetoa; Muriwhenua; Mōrehu
Hailing from Rātana Pā, Ranea is a passionate performer who is adept on a variety of musical instruments including trombone, harmonica, keyboard and guitar. He has co-written, recorded and released songs with groups such as Southside of Bombay, with whom the top five hit What’s the Time Mr Wolf achieved gold sales status and featured in the world famous film Once Were Warriors.
In late 2000, Ranea and twin brother Ruia released the album Whare Māori, which was nominated as a finalist in the New Zealand Music Industry’s Tui Awards. A limited release tribute concept, Waiata of Bob Marley, again had the Aperahama brothers sharing vocal duties, covering a selection of Bob Marley’s songs sung completely in Māori.
Ranea is a talented recording artist and composer in both Māori and English. His long awaited debut album Tihei Mauri Ora is a collection of original compositions celebrating the gift of life and was launched at Rātana Pā in 2015.
"These songs were composed to rejuvenate and invigorate my spirit to encourage it to flitter beyond the clouds of despair - to feel and connect with the breath of my deepest consciousness."