Geneva AM Shares Single & Video 'Pikipiki' ft. Samara Alofa, Hawkins, Rewi McLay, Mara TK

Geneva AM aka Geneva Alexander-Marsters (Ngāti Ruapani mai Waikaremoana, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Aitutaki, Palmerston) opens NZ Music Month / Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa with uplifting and revitalising dance-pop waiata 'Pikipiki' (meaning "to climb" in te reo), recorded in collaboration with a cast of local greats. Winner of the 2023 SRN Award for Te Tohu Puoro o te reo Māori (Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori) for 'IHO', the Tāmaki-based singer / producer shared the studio with Samara Alofa, Hawkins, Rewi McLay, Mara TK for the new single, laying down a buoyant bed of electronic grooves embellished by enchanting guitar solos from Mara TK — spurred into action by glorious choir-like group vocals and deep tones summoned from a conch played by Tyson Campbell (“calling to our ancestors to give us their strength, Whakamana vibes”).

Made with support from the Waiata Takitahi Fund from Te Māngai Paho and NZ On Air, director Ally Lase's video for 'Pikipiki' captures the synergetic energy of the supergroup recording their anthem sung entirely in te reo, likened to "the local version of 'We Are The World'". Look forward to Geneva AM playing the Dbldbl single release party this Saturday with Mokotron, Imugi 이무기 and Randa at Whammy Backroom, and read her insights into 'Pikipiki'...

"This waiata references my childhood and highschool years. When I was growing up, coming through the Rumaki Reo (Pounamu at Kowhai Intermediate) I began to see Māori pop culture emerging. There was the TV show Pukana where they covered pop songs in Te Reo and as an urban based school we even made it to the Kapa Haka Nationals for the first time (which for a mainstream school was basically unheard of). So this cheesy beat is my way of referencing a big turning point where I began to notice Te Reo becoming more mainstream.

The 2020's have been a bit hard on everyone in different ways and I wanted to create a song about overcoming obstacles. The term 'Pikipiki' means to climb and 'Hikihiki' refers to ascending. The lyrics are about climbing the highest mountain and flying over those obstacles like a kite as it ascends into the sky. I was also thinking about Tāwhirimātea (atua of the wind and storms) who always stands up for what he believes in, using storms to bring new beginnings. Pikipiki is a call out to him, asking for his breath to aid our kite's flight and help us bring change.

For Pikipiki I wanted to be in a healing space and sometimes that means seeking community, manifesting joy, creating space for renewal - you don't have to do that alone... I feel like I've been crafting some kind of positive force field that I'm about to throw over everyone. When they hear it, I hope it helps with any negativity they may be facing. Now more than ever we need to unify and believe in our collective power to make positive change".

Dbldbl release party w/ Geneva AM, Mokotron, Imugi & Randa
Saturday 4th May - Whammy Backroom, Auckland
Tickets available HERE via UTR

'Pikipiki' is out today on major streaming platforms.