Bundanon

WARU is the music project of movement artist Bella Waru, who is evolving as a singer/songwriter based in Narrm/Melbourne.

Born to jazz musicians of Ngāti Tukorehe, Taranaki Tūturu (Māori) & Celtic bloodlines and growing up in south-coast NSW, Yuin country, Waru’s sound is haunting and immersive; journeying between realms of Avant-nesian and celtic folk, blending sirenic soundscapes with Jazz/R’n’B sensibilities.

Working on their debut EP, Waru is accompanied by sound engineer Guy Faletolu (Faletolu Audio) and producers Sione Teumohenga aka Lonelyspeck, Elle Shimada & Geryon. Waru is at the forefront of a new wave in Queer, Māori electronic music, developing their live show performing locally at Mama Chen’s, Black Spark, Footscray Arts Centre, Section8 & Midsumma Festival.

As an emerging artist, Waru has impressive foundations, performing as a session musician with Elle Shimada & the co-dreamers, Sampa The Great, Mwanjè, and writing sessions with POOKIE, Agung Mango, Milan Ring and DJSPELL.

In Residence at Bundanon

Narrm/Melbourne based, Bomaderry raised Musician, Choreographer & Creative Director, Bella Waru (Ngati Tukorehe, Taranaki Tūturu) returns to the lands that raised them, where their family still reside, to embark on their new music project WARU, with debut EP, Mānuka. For the 6-track EP, which culminates as a series of origin & legacy stories meditating on connection, intergenerational love & healing, Waru invites their whānau into the studio to collaborate on the body of work; recording, writing, storytelling & creating together. Mānuka is a dedication to their whānau – blood and found – who raised them in love and taught them its many meanings, shades and faces.