To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) 2024, running from September 14th-21st, Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s Song You Need to Know series is spotlighting a new up-and-coming Māori artist each day.
Her debut album Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice has just dropped, and one of its standout tracks, “Māku Anō” featuring soulful Māori singer Mohi, has been selected for the 2024 Waiata Anthems Programme. The track is a feel-good R&B tune that celebrates the rising influence of Māori voices today.
Along with the track, there’s a documentary where the artist shares her journey of reconnecting with her culture, despite not growing up with te reo Māori. She hopes her story will inspire others to embrace their own cultural heritage.
Earlier this year, Jordyn with a Why was nominated for Best Māori Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards and is also in the running for the APRA Maioha Award, which honours Māori storytelling in contemporary music.
This Friday, to mark Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Jordyn with a Why and Mohi will perform at Tāmaki Makarau’s Tuning Fork for a special fundraiser. They’ll be joined by Anna Coddington and Geneva AM, with Moana Maniapoto as MC. All funds raised will support Te Puna Reo o Ritimana, helping create a vibrant space for tamariki to learn and use te reo Māori (tickets here).
Dubbed “Aotearoa’s Indigenous sweetie lover girl” by CubaDupa, Jordyn with a Why has been delivering soulful anthems like “He Rei Niho” and the 2022 single “Brown Melodies,” which was nominated for Best Single at the Māori Awards, consistently.
In 2023, she made an impact at SXSW Sydney, performing her heartfelt waiata, and also featured on Georgia Lines’ INTROS series for Rolling Stone AU/NZ earlier this year, where the two discussed music, culture, and life.
“I’d like to introduce you to the beautiful Jordyn with a Why!” Lines said about the episode. “Juggling being a māmā, an incredible songwriter, and an artist alongside being a wonderful human!!! This was such a beautiful conversation, talking about her experience of the industry, reclaiming her Reo, and the hope she has for the future!”
Jordyn with a Why’s “Māku Anō” and Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice are out now.
