Earlier in June we released Pūoro Ki te Ao (Puoro to the world), an three part audio-visual journey that combines the healing properties of Tāonga Pūoro with the calming effects of nature. Komako Silver was one of the Pūoro artists (alongside Horomona Horo and Reti Hedley) who were tasked with composing one of these unique sound healing experiences. In this interview we thought we'd catch up with Komako post-release, and get to know a bit more about the artist behind Oro Mauri o Puu-te-hue. In the process we got some fascinating insight into how Komako's Pūoro practice has continued to evolve following her participation in Pūoro Ki te Ao...
Mihi / pepeha
Ko Emiemi te Maunga, Ko Ngatukimatawhaorua te waka, Ko Whangaroa te moana. Ko Ngati Pakahi te hapu, ko Nga Puhi te iwi.
Please tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a devotee to the practices pertaining to the Art of Taonga Puoro. I play a variety of Taonga Puoro that have been gifted, made and harvested over the years. I currently have a small clinic in which I offer Oro (sound therapy) sessions in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton. I’m also part of a tira, collective which is made up of my whanau called Oro Mauri. We offer wananga, workshops, concerts and ceremonial rituals that honour and acknowledge our Taonga Puoro and teachings around sound/oro mohiotanga. I’ve been working alongside a very talented vocalist/composer/writer Taisha Tari to bring more healing music and cultural experiences to the world. This project is called Woven. We’ve performed in a few different places and hope to share more of our work around the world. Future aspirations are to continue the development of my own artistry and to weave with other indigenous, Maori, Pasifika artist across the globe to share our stories through music, poetry, movement and wananga.
As one of SOUNZ featured artists in our recent Hōtaka Māori release ‘Puoro ki te Ao’, can you tell us a bit more about your experience in the series?
It was such a wonderful experience from the first karanga/email to the launch event in Poneke. I loved working alongside 2 of my most favourite puoro artist friends, Horomona Horo and Reti Hedley. They are both masterful in their own unique ways of playing Puoro. It was great to share stories and concepts behind each of our pieces. The SOUNZ whanau and film crew as well as the studio team were all amazing to work with. I learnt a lot and loved every moment. The filming in Te Taiao with Mark Russell was definitely a highlight as I have a background in making films myself and I loved the collaborative invitation he offered throughout the piece. I very much got to decide and offer ideas about what and how I wanted to represent myself and my work onscreen. Toni, Kirsten and James were all just beautiful and very supportive humans that made the whole experience easeful, fun and meaningful.
What drew you to the Puoro ki te Ao kaupapa?
I appreciated being invited to contribute to a kaupapa that included composing a Taonga Puoro track and making a music video and with the kaupapa being centered around Hauora with a strong focus towards our Rangatahi. This inspired me to consider and put intentional energy into designing something alongside the team that would be of value to our people.
Has participating in Puoro ki te Ao impacted your life outside of the project?
Yes absolutely. This kaupapa gave me a chance to really investigate what is really important to me and that is to contribute another perspective and representation of the Art of Taonga Puoro in a way that is unique to me. This for me is one of the central aspects of its healing abilities. The uniqueness of each player of puoro is evident when we are together but most people don't even know what Taonga Puoro are so being able to offer something that contributes to the conversation as a way of sparking a desire in someone else is of great value to me. I feel inspired to make a whole album based on our Taonga Puoro atua with a music video, composed track and resource for our tangata.
Outside of performance, how do you use puoro to accompany your everyday life?
Most of my engagement with Taonga Puoro is experienced through daily ritual practice and ceremonial events and wananga. I play my puoro less as musical instruments but rather as tools for transformation.
Since participating in Puoro ki te Ao you’ve started Oro Mauri Clinic, tell us more about this venture and how it came to be?
Oro Mauri clinic came to be as one offering my Oro Mauri whanau offer as pathways forward for our people to have access to the healing properties of Taonga Puoro. We’ve been in wananga for a long time with aspects of Rongoa Maori, toi maori and Matauranga Maori. This clinic is one way in which I felt we could support our tangata more regularly alongside wananga we run over the different seasons. We endeavour to expand and eventually have a bigger facility to run wananga, workshops, kura and rongoa maori practices in the Waikato Region so that we can provide more support to our whanau and hapori.
How can we connect and follow your new mahi?
If you want to find our more information about how you can engage with us please email[email protected]