Maisey Rika - (real name: Mei-Alicia Rika on 10th May 1983)- an award winning singer-songwriter from New Zealand.
Biography:
Maisey has one of Aotearoa's (New Zealand's)most impressive lead vocal styles, fused with her honest and thought invoking messages. Some have described her sound similar to Tracy Chapman or Sade, with a splash of India Arie. Her spine tingling vocals and fusion of English and Maori (Te Reo) lyrics is capturing the hearts of soul seekers both in New Zealand and abroad.she is maori. Maisey and guitarist J.J, have worked to create an original melodic experience backed with strong eclectic messages. A mix of folk, acoustic, soul and easy listening, their musical palette is vibrant with elements of roots and deep culture. Since the early age of 13, Maisey began singing on stage and in the studio at a professional level. Maisey’s first recordings brought her to stardom with “E Hine”, a classic collection of Maori traditional songs. “E Hine“ went double platinum and also won “Best Maori Language Album” at the New Zealand Music Awards. Maisey was nominated for “Best Female Vocalist” in 1998 at just 15 years old also. Maisey, now in her 20's, has released 3 albums all charting in NZTOP40 and gaining critical acclaim. "Heartfelt music and song showcasing what I believe to be one of the most arresting and beautiful voices to emerge from New Zealand, ever" (Paul McLaney - Mushroom Music Publishing). Her songs are filled with touching tales and the universal emotions of hardship, happiness, love, justice and sorrow we can all relate to. "Tohu" and her self titled EP explore many different arrangement styles. Her latest album release 'Whitiora' debuted at #1 on the NZTop40 charts and #5 on the NZTop20 International charts - the highest charting full Te Reo Maori album of original songs ever. The ancestral sounds of traditional Maori instruments have been used along side energetic guitars, drums, animated horn sections and pure string sections. Maisey has toured New Zealand, Australia, Asia and has now expanded through Europe and America. Live performances have put her alongside Dave Dobbyn, Hinewehi Mohi, Tama Waipara, Anika Moa, Australian Idol - Stan Walker, 5 time U.S.A Grammy award winners “The Blind Boys of Alabama”, 4 time Grammy winner Slack Key Guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. and many more well known musicians/artists. Maisey won 4 out of 4 nominated categories at the 2010 Waiata Maori Music Awards including 'Best Maori Female Solo Artist Award' - which she won in 2009 as well, 'Best Maori Pop Album', Best Maori Song and Best Maori Songwriter of the year. She was also a nominee for the prestigious APRA songwriting 'Maioha Award' for her song 'Repeat Offender' in 2009. At the 2013 Waiata Maori Music Awards Maisey took home 5 awards for her works with 'Whitiora' including Best Maori Female Artist, Best Maori Traditional Album, Best Maori Song (Tangaroa Whakamautai)' Best Music Video by Maori Artist (Tangaroa Whakamautai) and Best Maori Songwriter. Maisey's strong heritage, eclectic songs, and her honey-stung vocals are quickly traveling around the world, from Aotearoa shores into international hearts.
History:
Maisey was born in Wellington and is of Ngati Awa, Te Arawa, Tuhoe descent. She also strongly regards herself as of Te Whanau a Apanui descent as she spent a lot of her early years on the East Coast of the North Island. She started singing at a very young age at family gatherings and for school choirs something she had adopted from her mother Rebecca (Honey) Rika whom also sings and used to do cover gigs together with Maisey in the school holidays. It wasn't until her days at College 1997-2001 where she attended St Joseph's Maori Girl's College in Napier where she took her singing more seriously, being prompted by her school Principal "Miss Kingi" and being the soloist for their school choir. This lead to Maisey recording Maori song albums with the school choir. These were 'E Hine', '20 Favourite Maori Songs' and 'Kotiro Maori'. Throughout her years at the Maori Boarding School she and the choir toured many countries such as; New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Japan. After her schooling years, Maisey attended University of Waikato and studied towards a Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) majoring in Psychology and Te Reo Maori. She completed her degree in 2006. During her last year at St Joseph's Maori Girl's College and her years at Waikato University she was in a long-timed relationship with Bossy Hill whom is now her husband and manager for her music career. They also have two sons. Its fair to say during these years at university Maisey took a break from music to concentrate on studies and family life. She admits that it wasn't until she had her first son that everything fell into place and the love for music rose again and she started writing her own originals but when she and her family moved back to their hometown of Whakatane and teamed up with her younger brother JJ that things went to the next level. A few years on from there with an E.P and two full albums to their names there are no signs of slowing.
Discography:
1997: E Hine - South Pacific Recordings Ltd (Traditional Maori songs) 1999: 20 Favourite Maori Songs - South Pacific Recordings Ltd (Traditional Maori songs) 2000: Kotiro Maori - South Pacific Recordings Ltd (Traditional Maori songs)
March 2009: Maisey Rika (E.P) - Moonlight Sounds Ltd (originals) October 2009: Maisey Rika - ‘Tohu’ - Moonlight Sounds Ltd (originals) September 2012: Maisey Rika -'Whitiora' - Moonlight Sounds Ltd (originals)
Awards and Nominations:
1998 - Mana Reo Trophy - NZ Music ‘Tui’ Awards 1998 - Nominated for Best Female Vocalist - NZ Music ‘Tui’ Awards (at just 15yrs old) 2000 - Nominated for Mana Reo Award - NZ Music ‘Tui’ Awards 2009 - Nominated for the Maioha Award at the Silver Scroll Awards for the song ‘Repeat Offender’ 2009 - Best Maori Female Artist - Waiata Maori Awards - (E.P album) 2010 - Best Maori Female Artist - Waiata Maori Awards - (Tohu) 2010 - Best Maori ‘Pop’ Album - Waiata Maori Awards - (Tohu) 2010 - Best Maori Maori Song - Waiata Maori Awards - (‘Nia’ - Tohu) 2010 - Best Maori Songwriter - Waiata Maori Awards - (Tohu) 2013 - Best Maori Female Artist - Waiata Maori Awards - (Whitiora) 2013 - Best Maori Traditional Album - Waiata Maori Awards - (Whitiora) 2013 - Best Maori Song - Waiata Maori Awards - (Tangaroa Whakamautai) 2013 - Best Music Video by a Maori Artist - Waiata Maori Awards - (Tangaroa Whakamautai) 2013 - Best Maori Songwriter - Waiata Maori Awards - (Whitiora) 2013 - Winner of APRA Maioha Award - 'Ruaimoko' 2013 - Winner of Best Maori Album - Vodafone NZ Music Awards - (Whitiora)
External links:
Official website for Maisey Rika Official Maisey Rika Myspace page Maisey Rika on Amplifier https://www.facebook.com/maiseyrikamusic
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