March 22, 2026

#liestyle: Te Tiriti-based duo Aro release new concept album Tāwauwau

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 22, 2026

Award-winning Te Tiriti-based musical duo Aro have released a new concept album, Tāwauwau, marking a bold creative shift as they explore new musical and storytelling territory grounded in whānau, imagination and lived experience.

The album, released on 20 March, steps away from the duo’s previous work which focused on the natural elements of Aotearoa, instead entering a more abstract and imaginative space where the boundaries between the physical and the unseen are explored.

Tāwauwau has been described as a deeply personal body of work, shaped by the experiences of Charles and Emily Looker as they travelled the country with their tamariki, living on the road and creating music inspired by the environments and communities they encountered.

The album blends te reo Māori and English, continuing Aro’s distinctive bilingual style, while drawing on a mix of musical influences including folk, soul, jazz and contemporary sounds.

Each track reflects a journey between the ordinary and the extraordinary, with themes of faith, wonder, and connection woven throughout. The project builds on earlier releases such as Puna Ora and Mundane, which introduced audiences to the evolving direction of the album.

While Tāwauwau represents a departure from Aro’s earlier focus on whenua, moana and sky, it remains anchored in kaupapa Māori values, including kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga, and continues to centre whānau as a core influence in their creative process.

The duo’s journey living full-time in a caravan with their young family has played a significant role in shaping the album, with the realities of life on the road reflected in the music’s intimacy and storytelling.

Following the release, Aro are set to take the album on a nationwide tour, bringing Tāwauwau to audiences across Aotearoa through live performances that combine music, narrative and cultural connection.

The project reinforces Aro’s growing reputation as storytellers who blend contemporary sound with cultural identity, offering audiences a body of work that is both reflective and forward-looking.

Tāwauwau signals not just a new album, but a continuation of Aro’s wider creative journey – one that remains rooted in whānau, language and the evolving expression of Māori storytelling through music.