Tiki Taane’s CSO concert movie comes to TVNZ+
At least two years in the making, utilising 22 cameras and a 50-piece orchestra, with thousands in attendance and one man at the centre of it all. Welcome to the concert film Tiki Taane in Session With CSO (Christchurch Symphony Orchestra).
The 47-year-old singer-songwriter (and more besides) has been doing what he does best for three decades now, contributing abundantly to Aotearoa’s musical heritage along the way.
It was originally filmed in front of a sold-out audience of around 2000 people at the Christchurch Town Hall in May 2021, eventually premiering at the New Zealand International Film Festival Whānau Mārama last August.
Now coming to TVNZ+ in celebration of New Zealand Music Month, the concert doco will be available for viewing online from Wednesday.
Since first screening at Whānau Mārama, it’s also been tripping around the globe on the international film festival circuit, racking up more than 40 awards and counting – mostly for best sound design. Which makes sense coming from the man who is probably the best-known Kiwi sound engineer in history.
“It’s been a real journey you know – and to be the director, the producer, the sound engineer, the composer, the lead vocalist, lead musician, and funder right – this is like super important, it’s 100% funded by me, it’s totally independent. I’m putting everything into this thing,” recalls Taane.
It was a challenge made easier for Taane by all those who came along with him on what he calls a “crazy ride”, including: former CSO CEO Gretchen La Roche; his arrangers Tom Rainey, Hamish Oliver, Ewan Clark and Reuben de Lautour; cinematographer and editor Mark Russell; guest artists MC Tali and Big Sima; and also his wife Rachel and two kids Charlie and Karcia, who both came up on stage to perform with their dad for the film.
Someone who wasn’t there on the night – at least not in person – is also worth a special mention, and that’s Taane’s late father and co-songwriter Uekaha Taane Tinorau, who had been set to perform with his son, but sadly passed away from cancer five months before the show. Tiki Taane in Session with CSO is dedicated to his memory.
“He would have loved to have been there performing with me, doing the song that we wrote together, which is called Tangaroa God Of The Sea – so that was a dedication to him.”
Tiki Taane in Session with CSO debuts on TVNZ+ on May 1.