Photograph by Josh Thomas and Hanna Lee
It's with great happiness that I announce my second album & New Zealand tour.
Forest: Songs by Hirini Melbourne is a collection of my interpretations of waiata by the New Zealand composer Hirini Melbourne, whose folksongs I've become very close to over the past three years. The album is a celebration of Aotearoa's birdlife, as well as a tribute to the legacy of Melbourne's work.
Bandcamp · Spotify · SoundCloud · iTunes
Forest is recorded almost entirely with only the human voice. Of course, I couldn't do this all myself (and wouldn't want to), so a number of collaborators performed with me on the record. Among them are Dr. Richard Nunns on taonga pūoro, beatboxer King Homeboy, Gerry Findlay of Franz Josef Glacier as bird mimic, barbershop quartet The Dawn Chorus, four-part choir, and Vashti Bunyan joins me for a duet called Tūī.
1. Pīpī Manu E (Baby Birds) (2.58)
2. Tīrairaka (Fantail) (5.04)
3. Pīpīwharauroa (Shining Cuckoo) (4.37)
4. Tūī ft. Vashti Bunyan (4.37)
5. Ruru (Morepork) (4.14)
6. Pūngāwerewere (Spider) (2.57)
7. Kiwi (10.03)
Total runtime: 34:30
Written by Hirini Melbourne (and Dudley Benson on Tūī and Ruru)
Arranged & produced by Dudley
Recorded & mixed by Adrian Hollay
Mastered by Mandy Parnell for Black Saloon Studios, London
Just as exciting for me is the upcoming tour!
12/11/10 · Auckland, Te Māhurehure Marae, Pt. Chevalier
14/11/10 · Kerikeri, Kingston House
19/11/10 · Nelson, Trafalgar Street Hall
20/11/10 · Wellington, Pipitea Marae
24/11/10 · Dunedin, Māori Hill Coronation Hall
25/11/10 · Queenstown, St Peter's Church Hall
27/11/10 · Christchurch, Deaf Society Hall
28/11/10 · Akaroa, Gaiety Hall
04/12/10 · Waiheke Island, Palm Beach Hall
05/12/10 · Waitakere City, Hoani Waititi Marae
{Update: Waitakere City Dec. 5 venue change - Oratia Settlers Hall, 569 West Coast Rd, Oratia, Waitakere}
I'll be performing with my new ensemble The Dawn Chorus - a vocal group made up of close-harmony quartet and beatboxer Hopey One - and I'm honoured that each show will be opened with a performance by dance artist Cat Ruka.
Tickets for the tour are only available here at dudleybenson.com. We've chosen intimate venues, so it is worth booking in advance. Any remaining tickets will be sold on the door, on the evening of the show.
Photograph by David White for Listener
A round-up of interviews, if you're interested in hearing me blah about the album:
· Listen to my interview with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand National, 23/10/10
· Listen to an interview with The Dawn Chorus' beatboxer Hopey One for Radio New Zealand National, 16/12/10
· Listen to an interview about the Forest album with Eva Radich for Radio New Zealand Concert, 25/11/10
· Listen to an interview and song-clip feature from the Forest album with Sam Wicks for Radio New Zealand National, 13/11/10
Kia ora, and see you very soon.
Dudley