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Pepeha
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Pepeha
| cover = Six60 - Pepeha.png
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| type = single
| artist = Six60
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| genre = Pop
| length = 3:10
| label = Epic, Massive
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| prev_title = All She Wrote
| prev_year = 2021
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"'Pepeha'" is a song by New Zealand band Six60, performed bilingually in English and Mori. "Pepeha" is the band's second song to be recorded in Te Reo Mori, and was released as a single in 2021 to coincide with Te Wiki o te Reo Mori. The song was written by Six60 band members Marlon Gerbes and Matiu Walters, alongside Te Reo experts Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (a member of the Black Quartet), Jeremy Ttere MacLeod and Sir Tmoti Kretu.
Background and composition
In 2019, the band collaborated with musician and project coordinator Hinewehi Mohi for the album 'Waiata / Anthems', a project for Te Wiki o te Reo Mori which reimagined popular New Zealand songs in Mori language. Six60 performed "Kia Mau Ki T kaip", a reimagining of their version of their 2011 single "Don't Forget Your Roots". The album was widely successful, certified platinum by Recorded Music NZ, and in the album's first week, "Kia Mau Ki T kaip / Don't Forget Your Roots" reached number 10 on the New Zealand singles chart - the highest-charting song from the album.
Two years later, Six60 decided to collaborate with Mohi a second time for an original song, to be released during Te Wiki o te Reo Mori 2021. Lead singer Matiu Walters is Mori (Te Rarawa, Te Aupuri and Ngpuhi), however did not grow up speaking the language. The band wrote the song at Mohi's house.
The word pepeha references a form of self-introduction, where the speaker describes their ancestry and connections to the natural environment (such as which waka your ancestors arrived on, and what mountains, rivers and marae are important to you and your family roots). Walters wanted to create a pepeha that would apply to all New Zealanders. Musician Reti Hedley performs taonga poro, or Mori traditional instruments on the song.
Live performances
The band first performed the song live as a part of a TikTok livestream on 19 September 2021, as the band was in Los Angeles at the time of the song's release.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.
*Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper songwriting
*Ji Fraser guitar
*Vivek Gabriel mastering
*Marlon Gerbes producer, songwriting
*Reti Hedley taonga poro
*Tmoti Kretu songwriting
*Chris Mac bass
*Jeremy Ttere MacLeod songwriting
*Nic Manders engineering, mixing
*Hinewehi Mohi background vocals
*Eli Paewai drums
*Matiu Walters producer, songwriting, vocals, guitar
Charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
See also
* Te Wiki o te Reo Mori
* List of number-one Te Reo Mori singles from the 2020s
References
Category:2021 singles
Category:2021 songs
Category:Six60 songs
Category:Mori-language songs
Category:Macaronic songs
Category:New Zealand songs
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