Three years ago this month, Lady Shaka was at the centre of an excited crowd in a basement club on Auckland’s Karangahape Road. “I’m your girl, Lady Shaka,” she said. “And I want to dedicate this set to my beautiful people of the Pacific, of our moana! Lessgo … cheehoo!”
A lot of people have heard and seen what happened next. Shaka’s DJ set was part of an event staged by Boiler Room, the UK-based global music media enterprise. Boiler Room’s video of Lady Shaka fiercely twirling poi as the beats roll in and the crowd lights up has been viewed nearly 200,000 times since.
Last month, the 27-year-old played to a crowd of thousands ata soaring, propulsive 25-year-old collaboration between Hinewehi Mohi and the British musician-producer Jaz Coleman. The song’s “whaka awe” refrain translates as “be inspired”.
