Maui Records launched

Tu Tangata, Issue 14, 1 October 1983, Page 14

Maui Records launched

A new record label has been launched along the lines of the ‘black music’ Motown label, but Maui Records is out to promote the Polynesian sound. Founder, Maui Prime, or Dalvanius as he is known in music circles, says there’s a wealth of talent amongst Polynesian musicians and singers that needs to be heard. He says the old days of putting Maori lyrics to western melodies are gone because that’s a one way street for composers. He points out that all royalties go to the original composer.

But he’s excited with the new songs being written in a mixture of styles, from reggae to disco to rock. The first example is a single ‘Poi-E’ written by Dalvanius and Ngoi Pewhairangai and performed by the Patea Maori Club. Dalvanius describes it as ‘reggae poi’. Backing musicians were Alistair Riddell, Stuart Pearce, Tama Renata, Fred Faleauto, Brian Glamuzina and Dalvanius. Maui Records has four other acts, as well as Dalvanius, set to record. There’s Taste of Bounty, Ruinz, the Tama Band and the Patea Maori Club.