Akawui shares the new single, “Breath Of Fire”
The singer, composer, and songwriter Akawui has released his new single entitled “Breath Of Fire” from his album El futuro es tribal to be released on December 9th.
The single, “Breath Of Fire,” is a marriage of the tribal and modern. With this title, Akawui becomes the first artist to include a Haka from the Maori nation and a Ringa Pakia in a Canadian urban track. The Haka was recorded in Montreal by the band Whakatipu Kotahi in the Indica Records studios (with their Maori Leader Glenn Cruz).
Inspired by his Indigenous-Chilean cultural heritage, Quebec artist Akawui offers music that is at the same time tribal and modern, merging different styles such as cumbia, Indigenous chants, traditional Andean music, EDM, and urban rhythms. The single released on Noemai Records intends to be the open-minded purveyor of a strong and committed message and offer hope.
Listen to “Breath Of Fire” below and learn more about Akawui via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi readers, my name is Akawui Riquelme. I’m a singer-songwriter born in Montreal, Canada, of Chilean and Indigenous Mapuche origins. I’m releasing my first album, El future es tribal ( The future is Tribal), where I blend the urban music genre with the universe of tribal rhythms, instruments, and chants.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Nov 21st will be the release of “Breath Of Fire,” a song that features Maori Haka, performed by Maori leader Glenn Cruz and his group Whakatipu Kotahi. Its a literally a fighting song, an eye of the tiger type of song. You see, I had a professional Mixed Martial Art career in my twenties, and I always wanted to compose a song that would describe what drove me to compete in such a hardcore sport. It’s a song for listeners to press play and hit the gym, go for a run, sweat it out, and the Maori Haka really does it.
Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?
Everything that surrounds me. Historical events, Life is full of paradigms, and there’s so much to write about.
Do you have any upcoming shows or festivals you’d like to tell us about?
Yes, on November 29th, I will be at Le Ministère in Montreal, a night that is sponsored by Vision Diversité. During spring 2023, I will present my official show ( El future es tribal), yet to be determined when and where, but it’s coming, and for summer 2023, you can find me at the Francofolies de Montréal.
What’s your goal for 2022?
Have a good album lunch, release all my music videos ( I’m now directing my music videos and really enjoy that, it’s another way to put your vision and the message you want to spread out in the world), and go on tour with my band, I have incredible solid and talented musicians. I call us the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles… really, hahaha, we give a great show, and it flows.