Album Review: Ria Hall Discusses Indigenous Rights And “Rules of Engagement”
Ria Hall’s debut album, Rules Of Engagement (ROE), draws on the themes of not only love and war, but also revolution and change, the album has been nearly five years in the making. Initially conceived in Wellington and completed in Hall’s ancestral home of Tauranga, ROE is an epic collision of traditional ways of thinking and modern musicianship.
Aiming to create an honest dialogue about both the good and bad aspects of our cultural past, the album looks to uphold the integrity of Māori culture amongst modern musical sounds and the current cultural climate. Yet, ROE does not just embrace the past and present, it reveals its strange rulings and even philosophical hypocrisies. Rules of Engagement is a terminology based on the idea that there is a certain degree of civility and dignity that can be held in the battlefield. It is in this notion that ROE thrives as a sincere look into whether darkness can hold a level of honor. In between tracks like “Black Light”, “They Come Marching”, and “Love Will Lead Us Home”, are the voices of poet Te Kahupakea Rolleston’s reading lines, rules, and thoughts on war. Meshing with the dramatically potent vocals of Ria Hall, the record feels like a gorgeous, almost “Hamilton-esque” endeavor. You cannot help but feel like you are watching a “sister” of the revolutionary musical as adrenalized instrumentals are rolled and pushed like they too are going to battle. The beautiful chaos surrounds Hall as she sings to her desiring discovery/ much needed answer: is there such a thing as human peace or is it just a dream?
Epic is one way to describe Rules of Engagement, but also relevant and insightful. Hall has used her debut as a statement piece to discuss indigenous rights, human history, and the faultiness in how we construct morality. Humans do not reach enough for the purity of virtues, and can grow accustomed to staying in one degree. Yet, Hall’s vocal range is a spear soaring through high notes, and demanding higher goals for humanity. As the central storyteller in ROE, she rivets with heart and talent to show she is a force that can take you on a reflective journey, as music should. Honestly, I want to, literally, see her in Hamilton. For More Information On Ria Hall, and To Buy Rules of Engagement on October 27 Click Here.
