Ariana Tikao

Christchurch based singer/song writer Ariana Tikao melds the influence of folk, pop, jazz, reggae and Māori chant. She is inspired by the writings and deeds of her Kai Tahu ancestors and her cultural heritage permeates her music. She sings in both English and Te Reo.

Her musical career

Her musical career began when she was a founding member of the group Pounamu in 1993. She toured Australia, France and the UK with them and some of her work was featured on their album Mihi in 1996. Then in 2002 she launched a solo career with her first solo album Whaea. This was followed by a second solo album Tuia in 2008. Also in 2008 she won a Creative NZ grant and became Musician in Residence at the Centre for New Zealand Studies at the University of London.

A film featuring her song Tuia won the best music video award at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto in 2009. In the same year her Ohaki tour, in collaboration with Richard Nunns, featured in the Christchurch Arts Festival. In 2011 she featured on the Ihimaera album and in 2012 she released her own third album From dust to light. She also toured with Ngai Tahu musicians in Voices of our ancestors.

She continues to tour solo and in collaboration with other artists.

Aside from her solo work, Ariana is part of the folk fusion group Emeralds and Greenstone.

Ariana’s words feature in the revitalisation of Victoria Street.

Online resources

• Search for Ariana Tikao in our library catalogue.
• Mother tongue (interview), Vicki Anderson, The Press, July 31, 2009.
  Use at a library or enter your library card & password / PIN.
• Ariana on myspace
• Native Tongue Music Publishing
• Radio NZ interview with Emeralds and Greenstone
• Ariana Tikao profile on Māori Arts New Zealand