Ria Hall emerged onto the Aotearoa music scene in 2011 as a commanding, uncompromising voice. An award-winning artist, she is known for fusing hip hop, roots, and soul energy with richly layered vocals in te reo Māori and English, creating a sound that is cinematic, confrontational, and deeply grounded in story. Her music refuses neat genre boundaries, speaking instead with urgency, clarity, and cultural weight.
Ria’s artistry is anchored in whakapapa and politics. Her foundation lies in kapahaka, shaped by close to a decade performing with the iconic Te Waka Huia and more recently, with Te Taumata o Apanui. That grounding gives her work depth and authority—allowing her to move seamlessly between the ancestral and the contemporary while carrying kaupapa Māori into modern soundscapes without compromise. Her style is indigenous and expansive, yet unmistakably Māori, driven by rhythm, language, and intent.
At the heart of Ria’s work is storytelling. Drawing from identity, resistance, and the histories of Tauranga Moana—her tribal homeland—she uses music as a vessel for truth-telling, challenging audiences while inviting connection and reflection.
Renowned for her commanding live performances, Ria Hall is an electrifying stage presence. Her shows are immersive, emotionally charged experiences, marked by extraordinary vocal range and an instinctive ability to shift between moods and styles. Fearless and future-focused, she continues to push Māori music forward—confident in its richness, relevance, and power on the world stage.
