Composer, anthropologist, and musician Rob Thorne M.A. (Ngāti Tumutumu) is a master at blending the ancient voices of taonga pūoro with modern musical sounds, techniques, and technology. His debut recording for Rattle, Whaia te Maramatanga, is a captivating dialogue between the past and the present, the old and the new, a musical exploration of identity and connection. Rob's innovative use of modern looping technology and traditional Māori instruments made from stone, bone, shell, and wood creates aural experiences of timeless beauty, showcasing his unique approach to music.
Rob’s combined musical and academic experience are multitudinal. For more than 25 years, he has performed extensively within a wide range of collaborations and as a solo artist within alternative music scenes (free noise, experimental, improvisational sound art). He has an MA in Social Anthropology, and his Post Graduate Diploma research, "Kōauau: The Music Within", successfully toured regional New Zealand for five years. Rob regularly travels the country to research museum collections, teach and lecture, and collaborate with academic and musical masters such as Richard Nunns and Phil Dadson.
