This week's PBS Feature Album is Te Whare Tīwekaweka, the fourth album from Marlon Williams. Over fourteen original songs, performed entirely in Te Reo Māori, Marlon explores newfound lyrical honesty and a grand sonic vision. When Marlon was having difficulty writing an album in English, he found that switching to his other ancestral tongue, which while not fluent, unlocked a new means of self-expression and felt like an important act of reclamation. He spent five years creating Te Whare Tīwekaweka, reconnecting with family, friends, and his home town of Lyttelton, NZ, after a globe-trotting decade establishing his career.
Supported by long-time touring band The Yarra Benders, co-producer Mark Perkins (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), the He Waka Kōtuia singers and featuring a collaboration with Lorde, the album is a collection at once contemporary and timeless, traversing Marlon’s familiar folk-country-bluegrass territory, while continuing his exploration of poppier waters and the inherent rhythms of Māori music.
Check out a beautiful clip of Marlon performing 'Pānaki' in PBS Studio 5 Live here.
Tune in all this week to hear tracks from Te Whare Tiwekaweka, and PBS Members have the chance to win a copy of the album on vinyl: simply email your name and membership number to before midnight Sunday April 20.
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TOP TRACKS WE'RE LOVING THIS WEEK
Kaisa's Machine - 'Origin Story' (Ft. Melissa Aldana)
Surprise Chef - 'Consulate Case'
Durand Jones and The Indications - 'Been So Long'
Marli - 'Freedom Day'
Squidgenini - 'Like I'm Supposed To'
Lady Wray - 'Be A Witness'
Sai Galaxy - 'When I'm With You' (featuring Natalie Slade)
Cool Sounds - 'Just A Dream'
We Lost The Sea - 'A Dance With Death'
Mannequin Death Squad - 'Monsters'