HINE: A Sonic Fusion of Jazz, Folk, and Taonga Pūoro.

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HINE is the artistic project of multi-instrumentalist GiGi Crayford, whose sound represents a groundbreaking fusion of indigenous folk, jazz improvisation, and poetry. Known for her enigmatic voice and powerfully captivating stage presence, HINE is a unique voice in New Zealand’s contemporary music scene, blending traditional Māori storytelling with modern musical sensibilities. 

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Her debut EP, KA MUA KA MURI, stands as a landmark release in Aotearoa music, reaching #1 on the Aotearoa Music Charts. The title, drawn from a traditional Māori whakataukī (proverb) meaning "walking backwards into the future," encapsulates her philosophical approach to music-making. The five-track EP is a profound tribute to the atua wāhine and the Māreikura Māori, featuring songs dedicated to Papatūānuku, Hine te Iwa Iwa, Hine Raukatauri, Hine Moana, Murirangawhenua, and Hine Takurua. 

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Her original compositions seamlessly merge the intricate rhythms of the Crayford jazz dynasty with the organic textures of folk instruments like the autoharp, resulting in a genre-defying sound that honours the past while speaking to the present. All of the tracks were co-produced by HINE and Michael Sutherland, it was recorded at her home studio in Ōtaki Beach, on land she have ancestral connection with through her Ngāti Raukawa tūpuna. There’s also Ngati Toa Rangatira, Te Ati Awa mana whenua status on this land in Otaki.​

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HINE studied taonga puoro Māori instruments with renowned practitioners including Sam Palmer, Te Kahureremoa, Al Fraser, Ariana Tikao, and Rob Thorne. HINE weaves the ancient healing modality of pūoro into her contemporary songwriting. This creates a soundscape that is both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly modern in context.​

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Supported by Creative NZ to release and promote the full EP, Aotearoa recognises her music's cultural and artistic significance. HINE toured her Ka Mua Ka Muri EP through Aotearoa and stunned local audiences. The EP’s title track, Ka Mua Ka Muri, was premiered at the prestigious Māoriland Film Festival in 2024 receiving critical acclaim for its mesmerising blend of te reo Māori and English lyrics.​

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