“I think we need MĀori or Polynesian language in all genres,” 22-year-old Maori artist from Gold Coast, Australia claims. I agree.
Cult Romance is a self-taught musician who writes, records, and produces his own music. He is paving his own path in the Alternative Indie Rock genre. It is a space that is not saturated with many Pacific Islanders. In recent years we have seen Pacific Islanders infiltrate their talents with Island Reggae, RnB, Hip-Hop, Rap, and Drill, but we haven’t heard of many artists dabbling in the Alternative music space.
Cult Romance’s musical journey hasn’t always been linear. He’s been in the mainstream music space, being under Australia’s Amy Shark’s mentorship and management for the last four years. After years of writing, producing, and making music that has never seen the light of day, Cult Romance has gone fully independent, becoming his own boss. Since going full indie, he has received so much love and feedback now that he’s been able to freely release his own music. This self-sufficiency has redefined his career, allowing him to take control of his artistic vision and break free from the constraints of mainstream expectations.
His music career began eight years ago, driven by a deep connection to his Polynesian roots. He describes music as being “in his bones,” an integral part of his identity. In his music, he incorporates Te Reo MĀori (Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Koata) and English in a beautiful, creative, and seamless way.
Language as Activism
Cult Romance is passionate about language revitalization and views his music as a form of activism. He draws inspiration from other Māori artists who are pushing boundaries and incorporating Te Reo Maori into contemporary genres. His mother, Miss Nicky Says, is a Māori children’s musician who uses music to teach the language. He has helped collaborate with his mother with a few songs that have about a million views on Youtube.
“To have my grandparents beaten in school for speaking it (Māori) and then to have us publicly being bold is a huge shift in only a generation. It took our family three or four generations to get Maori back into our mouths because it wasn’t allowed in my grandfather’s generation.”
It’s a passion and intentional creative expression for Cult Romance to use his giftings to stand for what he believes in. His latest single, “Wā Moumou,” meaning “Wasted Time,” is a bilingual alternative-pop song that reflects on the complexities of modern dating. The song has been well-received, with listeners appreciating its authenticity and innovative use of Te Reo Māori and English.
“I think the song is just kind of reflecting on times that I thought that I was actually just wasting my time. Whereas when I find that I’m more myself and I’m with my spirituality, I end up just meeting people with similar values. That’s more or less what the song is about - saying I don’t waste my time. If I want something, it doesn’t have to be hard. It doesn’t have to be this game of trying to impress everyone. Just dropping that veil of trying to be cool, I think you’re actually cooler when you’re not trying to be cool.”
Long quote, I know, but it was filled with so many gems I had to share it all and leave no crumbs, especially since Valentine’s Day is this month. A month filled with love for the lovers and angst for those who are single. With that, I think we can all benefit from the drops of wisdom Cult Romance shared about not wasting our time when it comes to dating. Don’t waste your time, no matter how many posts you see on your feed, do not fold! Stand strong, and keep it pushing.
Anyways, Cult Romance plans to release one song a month throughout the year, exploring themes of cultural identity and personal experiences. With years of music being stacked, you can expect many songs to be pumped out and released by Cult Romance in the near future.
“Boxes”
Cult Romance challenges stereotypes and expectations of Polynesian artists. He embraces his individuality and encourages others to express themselves freely through music. His goal is to show Maori music can exist in any genre and to inspire other Polynesian artists to explore their own unique sounds. With his talent, drive, and passion for his culture, Cult Romance is poised to make a significant impact on the music world. He aims to create music that is “bigger than himself,” telling stories that resonate with his community, document the Maori experience, and be relatable.
As he continues to break down barriers and inspire others, Cult Romance is someone you need to keep your eyes. Especially if you haven’t opened your ears and taste palette to Indie Alternative music, allow Cult Romance to open you up to a whole new sound of music.
He is dropping a new song on February 7th, 2025 called “Boxes.” “Why should I listen to the song?” you might be asking yourself. Let Cult Romance share for himself.
“It is a song about feeling not enough for gatekeepers of your culture. The song is about being boxed in and feeling judged because you didn’t grow up the same way as other people or you didn’t grow up on your island…”
I’m intrigued and I know so many people, including myself can relate to it. Search Cult Romance on all streaming platforms to hear his music.
Images provided by the featured individuals or sourced from their public social media profiles and online platforms. All rights remain with the original creators. Originally published in PMN+ Magazine, February 2025 (Vol. 2 No. 2).
February 2025 · Digital Magazine
