Award-winning Aotearoa artist Rei joins forces with First Nations Canadian artist Kiva MH on their explosive new single, “Victory Song”, a high-energy trans-Pacific collaboration bridging te reo Māori and Nuučaan̓ uɫ traditions through modern electronic hip-hop.
Written in Vancouver before embarking on the Moveable Feast tour across Vancouver Island, “Victory Song” centers on an ancestral chant from Kiva’s nation, the t ̓ uk ̓ ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) Nation (part of the Nuučaan ̓ uɫ confederacy). Originally sung while carving up a killer whale to nourish the village, the duo re-imagines this legacy into a modern anthem celebrating resilience, community, and Indigenous abundance ("provide for my people, we born for this / we sharing the catch with all of us")
Musically, the track pays homage to the heavy, driving rhythms of Pow Wow Step, blended seamlessly with Rei’s signature electronic/hip-hop production and the organic voice of taonga pūoro, including Rei playing the pūtōrino live on the track. Expanding on the whale traditions of both cultures, Rei also composes and performs a haka breakdown during the track’s climax ("Toia mai te waka... Kia kai te iwi katoa"), drawing a direct line to Paikea - the whale rider crossing oceans.
The track carries deep personal and cultural significance, highlighted by standout lyrics:
"Paikea Whale rider how I'm crossing these oceans... Wolf clan, Raukawa when we link then it's overs" — Rei
"Clutching on Cedar, Kakaw ̓ in when I swim see the sea burst" — Kiva MH
The connection was sealed during the Moveable Feast stop in t ̓ uk ̓ ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht), where Rei and Kiva MH performed the song together for the first time on the very weekend it was written. In attendance was Kiva’s grandmother—the Hereditary Chief of the t ̓ uk ̓ ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht) Nation—who gave her blessing for the chant to be shared with the world.
“‘Victory Song’ is about taking the strength and traditions of our ancestors and bringing them into a modern space,” says Rei. “Connecting with Kiva, laying down the haka, and receiving his Grandmother's blessing right there in Toquaht was unforgettable. It’s an honour to share this kaupapa with the bro.”
“Victory Song” drops on all major streaming platforms on November 6th.