Aro
Aro are Te Tiriti-based duo Charles (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua, Ngāti Mutunga) and Emily Looker - songwriters, storytellers, and whānau-centred creatives whose artistry weaves together reo Māori and English with elements of jazz, folk, soul, and haka-infused rhythm.
Since forming in 2017, Aro have released multiple acclaimed projects exploring Aotearoa’s natural heritage, including Manu and He Rākau, He Ngārara, earning nominations at the Aotearoa Music Awards, being finalists for the APRA Maioha Award for excellence in songwriting in te reo Māori, and most recently winning the Best Pop Album at the 2024 Waiata Māori Music Awards. Also in 2024 they received NZ on Air’s Best Music Video award for Totarā, and were longlist finalists for the 2024 APRA Silver Scroll Award.
Their work is anchored in the values of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga - caring for ourselves, each other, and the natural world - and continues to reflect their journey as artists, parents, and storytellers living life on the road.