Mandy Nolan
Te Haa Aio is music, dance, theatre and stories all rolled into an intimate journey. Be astounded by the lullaby of an ancient whale tooth or the wind instruments of an albatross wing. Hear the sound of more than 40 different Maori musical first instruments of Aotearoa, powerfully echoing the voices of the elements. Jerome is supported by Pauli Ngarimu – Ngati Hinemanu Paki tribe – on lead guitar and Janis Obrien – of Ngati Tuwaretoa – on bass.
Why do you use so many creative media to communicate story?
I am following in the footsteps of my ancestors and the beautiful treasures they have handed down to us the living memories of them. It is vitally important I do this to feed my own spirit and to enable me to hand these beautiful gifts to my children and future generations.
How do you think this enhances the journey of both the performer and the audience?
This enhances the journey for all involved and gives food for the soul, allows me to share and the audience to feast.
How do ancient tales remain relevant to the people we are today?
Connection to past, guidance for the present and future.
How do you use performance to connect audience with the elements?
By sharing the gifts carefully and lovingly handed to me through the taonga puoro, these instruments are the voice of the elements and are made from the elements with permission from those spirits that are our environment; this is our way as te ira tangata, or humans, to converse with the elements and for us to stay connected to our environment in a physical and spiritual way.
What is the essence of the experience that you try to create?
To evoke those spirits within all of us through the music of the Earth, to reconnect in a disconnected modern world.
What was it like recording with the London Philharmonic Orchestra? How did that add to your performance?
Amazing and humbling; it was also a huge responsibility to represent my people te iwi maori. It added to my performance through experience in the spirit of sharing each other’s music with mutual respect and appreciation.
What should we expect for Boomerang?
Sharing and caring, an elevation of united souls through our tangata whenua (first people of the land), a massive feast of cultures bringing absolute happiness and a wealth of experience.
Boomerang Festival runs October 4–6, 2013. Single-day and three-day passes are on sale now with camping available at the beautiful Tyagarah Tea-tree Farm site. www.boomerangfestival.com.au
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