Award-winning Māori artist Theia makes trailblazing alternative music with ethereal folk; Indigenous soul and art rock influences.
In November, 2025 Theia released her debut album GIRL, IN A SAVAGE WORLD, which received critical praise from around the world.
Respected NZ music critic Graham Reid described it as “one of the most important albums of the year”.
Leading US Indigenous platform Native Max said “Theia is one of the most innovative indigenous artists on the global stage - unafraid to use her voice, her culture and her artistry to ignite change”.
Canada’s Relentless Woman Podcast said: “Every track is an invocation, a spark for the fire that’s been waiting in you… one that longs for justice and dreams of matriarchy”.
Pairing angelic and haunting vocals with poetic lyricism, GIRL, IN A SAVAGE WORLD (written and co-produced by Theia) glides effortlessly between the Māori and Pākehā languages and weaves together traditional Māori instrumentation and composition with contemporary soundscapes. The songs deliver powerful messages of protest, hope, and resilience.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ listed the album as #3 in their Top 50 NZ Albums of 2025; and the single BALDH3AD! at #178 in their Top 300 NZ/Australian Songs of the last 25 years. BALDH3AD! was also a finalist for ‘Single of the Year’ in last year’s Aotearoa Music Awards.
Theia has been based in North America for the last few summers, performing at festivals such as Calgary’s Block Heater, Utah’s Westside Culture Fest, Belltown Bloom (Seattle), LA’s Women’s Freedom Festival, Lightning In A Bottle, Toronto Pride and many more.
This February, she will play her first solo headline tour in New Zealand in eight years.