New Music & Video Release - Award-winning Tahitian composer Teiva Viaris shares debut single ‘Hī Rau E’

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Artist Name: Teiva Viaris

Release Name - Hī Rau E

Release Date - 4th June 2025

Genre - Indie, Folk

Label - Independent

Award-winning Polynesian composer and multi-instrumentalist Teiva Viaris is spreading his wings across the Pacific with today’s release of his debut solo single, ‘Hī Rau E’ - a gentle and hypnotic folk-infused tune, composed and sung entirely in the artist’s native Tahitian tongue.

‘Hī Rau E’ effortlessly blends the raw sounds of acoustic guitar and drums, with the guttural power of the Tahitian language. Softened by ethereal synth layers and choral harmonies, the song builds to a swirling crescendo of melodic motifs.

An ode to the ‘cradle of Polynesian culture’, ‘Hī Rau E’ explores the theme of the ocean.

“The lyrics draw a parallel between the inner workings of the human body and the marine world that gives birth to volcanic islands, evoking the sacred bond between people and the sea,” says Teiva,

“My approach, as a Polynesian artist, and a ‘half-blood’ Tahitian, is to assume the diverse and essentially multicultural nature of the Polynesian identity in today's world. This song is probably the most achieved mix of all the cultural influences that make up my complex personality.”

Although a known name in his homeland of Tahiti, Teiva has yet to dip his toes into the waters of his Pacific neighbours’ and says he is excited to be sharing his debut single with the people of Aotearoa.

“I always had the ambition of getting past the frontiers of French Polynesia, both physically and artistically. So, I had in mind to start with the corners of the Polynesian triangle - namely Hawaii and New Zealand. They are the next closest ‘big countries’ with which Tahiti, as a Polynesian territory, shares a common history and strong cultural bond,” says Teiva, who adds that he is a day one fan of Fat Freddy’s Drop.

‘Hī Rau E’ first came to life when Teiva was commissioned by the Tahitian Ministry of the Environment to compose a song to celebrate the 2023 Ocean Day Festival. “It turned out to be such a personal project, I decided to keep the song for myself,” he says.

The song is delivered alongside a gorgeous animation created by Mexican 2D animator Erick Cuevas AKA Nespy, who has earned international recognition for his work in the avant-garde music scene.

Listen to the new single here.

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