Karekare: Te Reo O Te Whenua

Paddy Free is one of New Zealand's best-known electronic musicians, widely recognised as one-half of electronic duo Pitch Black. He has written music for TV, film, theatre, dance and multi-media art, as well as acting as (an award-winning) producer and engineer for NZ artists such as Crowded House, Salmonella Dub, Supergroove, Emma Paki and Stellar*.

'Karekare: Te Reo O Te Whenua' ("The Language of the Land") is Paddy's debut album, and sees him unite with Richard Nunns (Te Ku Te Whe), a master of Taonga Puoro (traditional Maori instruments). Together they create a uniquely Aotearoa sound, which pays homage to the raw beauty of the NZ landscape - and in particular the titular and broodingly spectacular Auckland West Coast beach, Karekare.

Ranging from dreamy ambience to full-on pounding beats, 'Karekare: Te Reo O Te Whenua' is a sonic journey that captures the many moods of Karekare. It was Paddy's intention that the electronic parts always serve the kaupapa behind the Taonga - that nothing be taken out of context, or dominated by the electronic elements.

Paddy's journey of exploration into working with Taonga Puoro has taken 14 years, through recording projects with Emma Paki, Hinewehi Mohi's Oceania project, AK dancefloor pioneers Mesh, Salmonella Dub, and now, culminating in working with the man widely considered to be the living expert on Taonga Puoro, Richard Nunns.

Paddy began creating ambient textures and beat structures for Richard to play over and undertook their first recording session together at Auckland's The Lab studio back in 2006.

Along with Richard's contributions, 'Karekare: Te Reo O Te Whenua' also features guest vocals in Te Reo from Tiki Taane, Waimihi Hotere, Te Wharetatao and Corrina Hunziker.