Māori-Samoan neo-soul sensation Jordyn with a Why is stripping everything back, turning away from artificial intelligence and manufactured music trends to deliver her most personal project yet — a seven-track bilingual EP celebrating real instruments, real experiences and the power of human connection.
The award-winning Raglan-based artist will release her latest EP, Where You Water, on Friday, October 30, marking a return to the intimate, organic approach that first inspired her musical journey.
Recorded live at Parachute’s Studio A alongside trusted musicians and collaborators, the project brings together English and te reo Māori in a deeply personal collection exploring identity, growth, relationships and the experiences that shape us.
For Jordyn, the EP represents a conscious decision to embrace authenticity in an increasingly technology-driven music industry.
REAL MUSIC, REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES
At a time when artificial intelligence and rapidly changing social media trends are influencing the music industry, Jordyn is taking a different approach.
Rather than relying on heavily manufactured production, Where You Water celebrates live musicianship and the creative relationships she has built throughout her career.
The seven-track project was recorded with musicians who have accompanied her on her artistic journey, creating a sound grounded in trust, collaboration and shared experiences.
Jordyn describes the project as an introspective exploration of her own life, returning to the foundations of her music career and the personal experiences that have shaped her.
She wants listeners to reconnect with the reality of their own lives rather than constantly seeking distraction or escapism.
The result is a collection of waiata that places emotional honesty and human connection at the centre of the listening experience.
Two singles from the EP, where you water and Pop Champagne, have already been released on streaming platforms, offering audiences an introduction to the project’s musical direction.
FROM WHĀINGAROA TO THE WORLD
Jordyn Fuala’au Awatea Rapana, known professionally as Jordyn with a Why, has rapidly established herself as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting contemporary Māori and Pacific artists.
Based in Whāingaroa, Raglan, she has whakapapa connections to Tainui Āwhiro through her father and to Mulifanua Lalovi, Falelatai and Vaimoso in Samoa through her mother.
Her journey to reclaim te reo Māori has become central to both her personal identity and her musical development.
Alongside her growing music career, Jordyn works as a te reo Māori teacher, bringing her passion for language revitalisation into her songwriting and performances.
Her music blends neo-soul, R&B and bilingual storytelling, creating a distinctive sound that connects contemporary musical influences with Māori and Pacific identity.
Since releasing her debut single Te Ao Mārama in 2021, she has built an increasingly impressive career.
In 2024, Jordyn won the prestigious APRA Maioha Award for her waiata He Rei Niho, recognising excellence in songwriting featuring te reo Māori.
She followed that success by winning Best Pacific Music Album in 2025 for Hibiscus Moon, Love & Justice.
VIRAL REO MĀORI COVER CAPTURES INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION
The past year has been particularly significant for Jordyn, with her music reaching new audiences both in Aotearoa and internationally.
Her te reo Māori interpretation of British singer Olivia Dean’s hit Man I Need went viral, attracting attention for its soulful delivery and celebration of the Māori language.
Jordyn subsequently performed the reo Māori version directly to Dean ahead of the international artist’s Auckland show.
The moment highlighted the growing international appeal of music performed in te reo Māori and the ability of contemporary Māori artists to connect across languages and cultures.
For Jordyn, it was another opportunity to demonstrate that reo Māori music belongs on the international stage.
4 THE MASSES TAKES TE REO MĀORI GLOBAL
Jordyn has also joined forces with fellow artists MOHI and HOPE to establish 4 The Masses, a collective dedicated to taking te reo Māori music to international audiences.
In September, the collective travelled to the United Kingdom, performing in London and recording at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
The group also secured permission from British musician Sam Fender to record a te reo Māori interpretation of his international hit Rein Me In.
The project represents an ambitious step towards establishing Māori-language music as a recognised part of the global contemporary music landscape.
It also reflects a growing movement among rangatahi Māori artists who are embracing te reo Māori as a natural part of their creative identity.
Rather than treating the language as a separate musical category, artists such as Jordyn are demonstrating that te reo Māori can sit comfortably alongside contemporary R&B, soul, pop and other international genres.
A CELEBRATION OF IDENTITY AND AUTHENTICITY
While Jordyn’s career continues to expand internationally, Where You Water marks a deliberate return to the personal foundations of her artistry.
The EP reflects her belief that music can create space for people to appreciate their own experiences, relationships and personal growth.
Her decision to record with real musicians also highlights the importance of creative collaboration in an industry increasingly influenced by automation and digital production.
For Māori music, the project offers another example of how traditional language, cultural identity and contemporary artistic expression can come together without compromising authenticity.
It is also a reminder of the growing influence of Māori and Pacific women in shaping Aotearoa’s modern music industry.
With major awards, international collaborations and viral performances already behind her, Jordyn with a Why is continuing to build a career that crosses cultural and geographical boundaries.
But with Where You Water, the message is refreshingly simple: sometimes the most powerful way forward is to return to your roots.
The seven-track EP Where You Water will be released on October 30, with the singles where you water and Pop Champagne available now on streaming platforms.
Listen to Jordyn’s te reo Māori cover of Olivia Dean’s Man I Need:
https://youtu.be/MKBZgXoJo5Y
Follow 4 The Masses:
https://www.instagram.com/4themasses.aotearoa
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