“Deep, musical and ecstatic- this is music produced with love, a dancer’s passion and a DJ’s understanding of dance ” - Christopher Tubbs (Club 121, Heads Down)
Bio
Aroha Harawira is a fully-fledged music industry icon, accentuating her renowned tastemaker stamp and creating moods for music enthusiasts across the seas. The New Zealand-born Melbourne-based producer and DJ whose throwdown teases the house, bass and techno realms, certainly gives audiences and industry tastemakers something to talk about. Having met with a phenomenal resume of opportunities throughout her career, AROHA’s passion for music is a stand out in its own affair, both as a solo artist and half of duo Aroha & Tali, with award-winning MC Tali. From prime-time hosting on New Zealand’s leading electronic radio station George FM, alternative station 95bFM and in front of the camera on Juice TV, she has pioneered. Out of radio and TV; AROHA has also opened parties for the likes of Disclosure and been voted as New Zealand’s Best Club DJ.
Notably acclaimed for her club-ready set lists that evoke the crowds before her, AROHA navigates a sure-fire trim of the most unique, energetic and driving musical attire across house and techno with hues of breakbeat, electro, footwork, garage, jungle and UK bass - truly aligning with her studio signature. Fusing a sheer devotion for music that moves people in every way and creating her own lane, she has claimed festival spots at the likes of Beyond The Valley, WOMADelaide, Let Them Eat Cake, Rhythm & Vines, Northern Bass and Electric Avenue. Around the world including the UK and Japan, AROHA has welcomed prodigious highs in her career with many headliner shows, and support spots for Kaytranada, Ben UFO, Heidi, Jazzy Jeff, Dusky, Breakbot, Chase & Status and more.
In late 2020, AROHA cemented her debut EP ‘No More Jenga’ which explored the experimental elements of house, bass and post-dubstep. She truly honed in on her asset in the electronic music pool and received support worldwide including plays on Glasgow Subcity Radio, Street Sounds Radio Essex, Triple J, FBi Radio, PBS, 3RRR, and in New Zealand on George FM, Radio New Zealand, Pulzar FM, RDU and Radio Active.
She followed up with ‘No More Jenga - The Remixes’ including standouts by rising Melbourne house and techno export Luke Alessi and liquid drum & bass royalty Tokyo Prose. The remixes received support worldwide including plays and DSP support by RÜFÜS DU SOL, Eelke Kleijn, Doc Scott, Dillinja and The Aston Shuffle, inclusion on Spotify editorial playlists “Long Live DnB” and “Listen Local” and earned a #2 spot in the listener-voted 95bFM Top 10.
In 2022 she released remixes for POOLCLVB and Kédu Carlö, plus original tracks "Escape to Eora Country” on Glasgow label Sounds of Lava Lava (which was selected by CC:DISCO! for her “Track IDs” Spotify editorial playlist), and “Pūrerehua” on Melbourne/London label Phenomena. A huge year for performing, she wrapped up stacked Aus/NZ winter and summer tours and played her debut Boiler Room set at Hidden Valley festival.
With more original music and remixes coming out in 2023, a huge Aus/NZ tour supporting The Jungle Giants plus a UK/EU 2023 summer tour on the horizon; AROHA certainly has her name carved.
Music
DJ Sets
Press
Triple J Mixup - October 2021
Purple Sneakers - March 2021
Live School - December 2020
Radio New Zealand - December 2020
NZ Musician - December 2020
Happy Mag - December 2020
95bFM - December 2020