– Shares new video “I Am The River, The River Is Me“
– Album out now via Milk Records! / Marathon Artists
– European tour in June
Following the release of their acclaimed fifth album, Jen Cloher reveals their new video for the title track ‘I Am The River, The River Is Me’. Jen’s album is out now via Milk Records!/ Marathon Artists and they are set to tour across Europe this June with UK shows in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham, London, Bristol and Brighton.
The title “I Am The River, The River Is Me” is taken from a Māori proverb with Jen sharing further insight saying “It holds especially deep significance for Iwi (tribes) along the Whanganui River in the North Island of Aotearoa, NZ. In 2017 they won a landmark legislation when the New Zealand government granted the Whanganui River legal personhood—a status that is in keeping with the Māori worldview that the river is a living entity. The legislation refers to the river as an “indivisible, living whole,” conferring it “all the rights, powers, duties, and liabilities” of an individual.
At the heart of this album is a remembering of our purpose as human beings. We are not of this earth, we are the earth. When we frame our dependence in this way, we remember our purpose as guardians, caretakers – as kaitiaki.”
The video – filmed by Nick McKinlay – is a day in the life story of a young Māori boy growing up in Collingwood, balancing the modern world with the traditional practices of his culture. His parents (Fallon Te Paa and Kodie Heremia) are members of Te Hononga o ngā Iwi, kapa haka (a Māori performing arts group) who appear across the album and will be joining Jen on tour for the capital city shows. Discussing the clip’s creation, Jen shares “When we were writing the treatment for the clip, Fallon and Kodie joked how their life is spent dressing up to be Māori. We ran with this idea which shows the time and care that goes into every performance. Like the song, the clip contrasts the grind of modern life with the transformative joy of connection, family and culture.”
This magnificent expression of culture will be front and centre as Te Hononga o ngā Iwi, kapa haka take the stage at Jen’s capital city shows this May. Also joining Jen to open the shows across the country are the dynamic supporting acts, including the likes of Bumpy, Platonic Sex, Workhorse, ENOLA, Dancing Water and more.
A journey of self discovery, rich in culture and history, wrapped in achingly addictive indie-rock, alt-folk tone, the album is verdant and rich. It luxuriates in stillness, and carries itself with cool, unfussy confidence. It’s not urgent, or hurried, but it is vital, made with the care and ease of someone who knows that their past began before birth, and will continue long after they’re gone.
Stream album in full here: https://jen-cloher.lnk.to/iamtheriver
See Jen Cloher live:
7 Jun – Deaf Institute, Manchester UK (Tickets)
8 Jun – Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds UK (Tickets)
9 Jun – The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle UK (Tickets)
10 Jun – Stereo, Glasgow UK (Tickets)
11 Jun – The Hare & Hounds, Birmingham UK (Tickets)
13 Jun – Jazz Café, London UK (Tickets)
14 Jun – Louisiana, Bristol UK (Tickets)
15 Jun – Green Door Store, Brighton UK (Tickets)
16 Jun – Witfloof Bar Botanique, Brussels BE (Tickets)
17 Jun – EKKO, Utrecht NL (Tickets)
18 Jun – Rotown, Rotterdam NL (Tickets)
20 Jun – Supersonic, Paris FR (Tickets)
22 Jun – Molotow Skybar, Hamburg DE (Tickets)
23 Jun – Privatclub, Berlin DE (Tickets)
