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Mau Power
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Key Information
Mau Power, born Patrick James Mau, is a hip hop artist from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait and is the first Australian rapper to tour from this region.[1][2][3][4][5] He is also the founder and executive director of One Blood Hidden Image, the first Torres Strait independent record distribution label, film production and media company.[6]
Career
[edit]While he recorded his first song in Brisbane when he was 17 and attending the University of Southern Queensland.[citation needed]
In 2012, Mau was a producer for the National Indigenous Television (NITV) Our Stories.[citation needed]
Mau's second album The Show Will Go On, an autobiography, was released in 2014[7][3] after being recorded over a period of two years.[8] The album included a remake of "My Island Home",[9] which he performed with Christine Anu at the 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Australia on the Gold Coast.[citation needed]
In 2015, Mau was one selected as of the emerging Indigenous film producers to be part of the Screen Australia Indigenous Producers Initiative. He has also produced documentaries and music videos for NITV, SBS, ABC and online platforms. His production company also produces promotional and corporate films for health and educational organisations.[6]
Mau has toured nationally and internationally and also collaborated with Australian musicians Archie Roach and Christine Anu.[6][10] Eddie Mabo’s daughter, Gail Mabo, selected Mau to sing an ode she wrote to her father on the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision, which overturned the notion of terra nullius in Australia.[11][12][better source needed]
On 26 January 2020, Mau was a guest performer at the Sydney Indigenous Smoking Ceremony on Australia Day.[13][14]
In July 2020, he was nominated for two awards at the National Indigenous Music Awards.[citation needed]
Personal
[edit]Mau Power, who grew up on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, is a Dhoebaw man of the Guda Malullgal nations and is guided by two cultures: Indigeous (Torres Strait Islander), and hip hop.[11][3]
He was jailed in 2001 for nine months for a street fight and said this jail time made him reflect on his life, and he decided to focus on his music, which he said is dedicated to inspiring others.[15][14]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Two Shades of Grey |
|
| The Show Will Go On |
|
| Blue Lotus Awakening |
|
Singles
[edit]| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "My Blood, My People"[16] | 2006 | Two Shades of Grey |
| "One Blood, Hidden Image"[16] | 2008 | |
| "Warupau Nur (Sing Strong)"[19] (featuring King Kadu) | 2013 | The Show Will Go On |
| "My Island Home"[20] | 2014 | |
| "Freedom"[21] (featuring Archie Roach) | ||
| "Koiki"[22][23][24] (featuring Radical Son) | 2017 | Blue Lotus Awakening |
| "Arrived"[25] (featuring Marcus Corowa) | 2019 | |
| "Warrior Dance"[26] (featuring Astro Brim) | 2020 |
Awards and nominations
[edit]National Indigenous Music Awards
[edit]The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) is an annual award ceremony and recognises excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020[27] | "Himself" | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
| Blue Lotus the Awakening | Album of the Year | Nominated |
J Awards
[edit]The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| J Awards of 2020[28][29] | Jaguar Jonze | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Nominated |
Queensland Music Awards
[edit]The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[30]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020[31] | "Arrived" (featuring Marcus Corowa) | Indigenous Song of the Year | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "Rapper Mau Power has the power to make change | Green Left". www.greenleft.org.au. 23 March 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "The power behind Mau - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Mau Power | triple j Unearthed". www.abc.net.au. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Mau Power, Torres Strait Islands' first rapper, and the history of the piano trio courtesy of Seraphim Trio". ABC listen. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Australian Independent Record Labels Association, Sept 17, 2019, Mau Power – Arrived Power, https://www.air.org.au/news/4399/mau-power-arrived-feat-marcus-corowa
- ^ a b c The Combinator, Australia’s hip hop directory and community forum, Patrick Mau (Mau Power), https://australianhiphopdirectory.com/listing/patrick-mau/?doing_wp_cron=1564551345.0653600692749023437500
- ^ "Patrick Mau (Mau Power) (Albums & songs)". Creative Spirits. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Ward, Mat (27 February 2014), "Mau Power: Growing Pains", Deadly Vibe
- ^ Gordon, Bob (29 April 2014), "Mau Power", X-Press
- ^ SBS, October 25, 2016, Shami Sivasubramanian, Mau Power: "I saw hip hop as a culture of hope for people who didn’t have any opportunities", https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/life/culture/article/2016/07/01/mau-power-i-saw-hip-hop-culture-hope-people-who-didnt-have-any-opportunities
- ^ a b "Amrap - Australian Music Radio Airplay project". amrap.org.au. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ Torres Strait Regional Authority Annual Report 2013 - 2014, p.204
- ^ National Indigenous Times, September 26, 2019, Mau Power weaves Torres Strait identity into new album, https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2020/1/17/10-to-broadcast-indigenous-smoking-ceremony-live-for-australia-day
- ^ a b "10 to Broadcast Indigenous Smoking Ceremony LIVE for Australia Day — Australian Television News - TV Blackbox". Australian Television News - TV Blackbox. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ February 27, 2014, Mau Power: Growing Pains, https://www.deadlyvibe.com.au/2014/02/mau-power-growing-pains
- ^ a b c "Two Shades of Grey (DD)". I Hear Music. 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "The Show Will Go On (DD)". Apple Music. July 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Blue Lotus Awakening (DD)". Apple Music. July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Mau Power - Warupau Nur (Sing Strong) feat King Kadu". YouTube. June 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "My Island Home by Mau Power". Apple Music. March 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Freedom by Mau Power". Apple Music. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Koiki by Mau Power". Apple Music. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ Shedden, Iain (3 June 2017), "Spin Doctor", The Australian
- ^ Nicol, Emily (3 June 2017), "Music reviews", NITV
- ^ "Arrived by Mau Power". Apple Music. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Warrior Dance by Mau Power". Apple Music. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled". noise11. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ "Here are your nominees for the 2020 J Awards!". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Triscari, Caleb (19 November 2020). "Lime Cordiale take home Australian Album of the Year at the 2020 J Awards". NME Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- ^ "Past Winners 2020". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
