Mara TK returns to music as a solo artist with the release of his debut album Bad Meditation today. The singer-songwriter was the frontman for New Zealand R&B trio Electric Wire Hustle. Bad Meditation is a collection of personal songs about his Māori heritage, loss and love.  He has spent the past five years since EWH released their last album The 11th Sky in 2016 learning new studio gear and finding his lone creative voice. Bad Meditation sounds like a series of soulful dirges blended in with some lighter tones that leave a permanent impression because of Mara’s haunting vocals. He also explained the feelings behind Bad Meditation in a press release: 

“Growing up poor, everything goes through our indigenous lens. Here in Aotearoa, we have our own Gods, our own values, our own ways of speaking that are different to the colonial/capitalist culture.”

Mara TK exclusively wrote and produced all of the songs with a couple of guest appearances from Kenyan R&B singer and songwriter Xenia Manasseh and Māori musician Troy Kingi. 

Former Electric Wire Hustle frontman Mara TK breaks out with the solo single “Bad Meditation.” He emerges from the quarantine with a  therapeutic tune about organically processing grief without previous escape mechanisms. In a statement, he revealed how the loss of his grandfather led to creating the song. 

“I tried everything to plug up the void: antidepressants, molly, acid, hiking, running, dancing, Ritalin, one-night stands, six-month stands, spending money on jackets, airfares for bad friends, and so on. Eventually, I shut everyone out and I was finally alone. I takoto tÅ«pāpaku au [translation: I was like the dead who cannot move]. I would put on videos of the old people here talking – interviews with my elders. They said ‘Love yourself, forgive yourself. “

Mara’s grandfather was the link to his Maori/Scottish heritage in New Zealand. The perky movement of “Bad Meditation” is contrasted by  “Toroa/Alabatross” which is the other side of the single. The latter slows things down with a dedication to the Parikha refugee camp for Maorians whose land where Maorians gathered after having their land taken the New Zealand Land Wars. The video for “Toroa/Albatross” also debuted today. Both singles are from Mara’s upcoming album also titled Meditation. The 13-song project will be released on May 7th. 

 

[youtube id=”vFe5pAQdsK4″] Ria Hall is an R&B singer from New Zealand and she just released her debut album Rules Of Engagement. “Black Light” features fellow native Mara TK from Electric Wire Hustle. The song is a dedication to the late Māori artist Ralph Hotere who passed away while the album was being recorded. Hall’s lyrics reflect Hotere’s influence on her music and how much respect she has for him. Electric Wire Hustle produced Rules Of Engagement.