March 25, 2026

#lifestyle: IA — A Voice Bridging Ancestral Sound and Contemporary Soul

Dale Husband Posted On March 25, 2026

Dale Husband #lifestyle: IA — A Voice Bridging Ancestral Sound and Contemporary Soul

Aotearoa’s indigenous music landscape continues to evolve, and at the forefront of that movement is IA – a collective blending ancestral sound with contemporary soul, guided by the creative vision of Reti Hedley.

With the release of their latest waiata Rerehua, featuring Jordyn with a Why, alongside the long-awaited EP Tawhiti, IA is once again pushing the boundaries of what Māori music can sound like in a modern context. The project brings together taonga pūoro, soul, R&B, and deep electronic textures – creating a sound that is both grounded in whakapapa and globally resonant.

Reti Hedley, of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Ngāti Rāhiri descent, has built a reputation as a musician, composer, and producer who is unafraid to explore new sonic territory. Central to that exploration is his mastery of taonga pūoro, traditional Māori instruments that carry the voices of the natural world. Rather than preserving these sounds in isolation, Hedley integrates them into contemporary production, allowing them to evolve and speak to new audiences.

The approach reflects a deliberate commitment to innovation while remaining anchored in identity. The blending of ancient and modern influences is not simply stylistic – it is a reflection of how Māori creativity continues to adapt, respond, and thrive across generations.

Hedley’s journey has taken him across the world, collaborating and performing in a wide range of musical environments. Those experiences have shaped the wairua of IA’s sound, drawing on global influences while maintaining a distinctly Māori perspective. The result is music that moves fluidly between genres, yet remains unmistakably rooted in the stories and sounds of Aotearoa and the wider Pacific.

Rerehua captures that essence. The track carries the energy and rhythm of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, celebrating movement, connection, and the flow between worlds. The collaboration with Jordyn with a Why brings a fresh dynamic, with her vocal presence helping to shape the emotional and sonic direction of the waiata. Together, the pairing creates a sound that is both expansive and intimate, reflecting the interplay between voice, environment, and instrumentation.

The release of Tawhiti marks a significant moment for IA – not just as a body of work, but as a statement of intent. The EP signals a continued commitment to storytelling through sound, drawing on whakapapa, environment, and lived experience to create music that resonates across cultures.

Looking ahead, the direction remains clear. The focus is on expanding the reach of indigenous sound, building collaborations that cross borders, and sharing stories that connect whānau across Aotearoa and the wider Moana. For Hedley, the aspiration is not only to create music, but to contribute to a broader movement – one that honours the past while shaping the future.

As IA continues to evolve, their work stands as a reminder that indigenous music is not static. It is living, breathing, and constantly transforming – carrying the voices of ancestors into new spaces, and ensuring those voices are heard by generations to come.