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With haka chants and ancient proverbs, the Australian musician connected deeply with Maōri culture for their new album – another personal reckoning after understanding their gender identity
There is a well-known Māori proverb: Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au. Translated, it means “I am the river, the river is me”. For the Māori of Aotearoa, rivers are roads, supermarkets, home. The proverb can also be applied to fluidity and continuity; a recognition that change is part of being human.
I Am the River, The River Is Me is also the title the singer-songwriter Jen Cloher has given to their fifth album. It was an album born of intense upheaval: a breakup with former partner, Australian indie-rocker Courtney Barnett, in 2018 also led to the dissolution of their band, and the pandemic gave them time to think and reflect about who they were.
