The Best Poly Fonk

Iconic Kiwi band Ardijah releases the definitive collection of their distinctive classic hits with a twist – the addition of four timeless covers.

“The Best Poly Fonk” features 18 tracks including ‘Watchin’u’, ‘Moonlighting’, ‘Love So Right’ and ‘Silly Love Songs’ as well as the four covers: ‘Haere Mai’ by Sir Apirana Ngata, timeless Prince Tui Teka tune ‘E Ipo’, an adaptation of ‘Over the Rainbow’ and the 1973 number one hit single by Gladys Knight and the Pips, ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’.

The chart-topping, award-winning band has earned enormous respect in the music industry for their consistent contribution over the past 25 years and continues to headline at concerts, festivals and private gigs both at home and overseas including the Pacific, Australia and America. In a tribute to the band, on the insert of the new album, Kiwi musician Jordan Luck, who features on the track ‘Desire’, writes on the liner notes: “In the chaos and confusion and anger and sadness in the world, there is a beauty, a beautiful happiness. My word for that is Ardijah”.

As Ardijah’s producer Ryan says the goal has been to find an identity unique to the band, showcasing Maori and Pacific Island talent and culture to the world through indigenous music and dance. “The vision was to fuse the beats of the log drum and the sweet rhythms of the ukulele with black American funk grooves and the reggae sway of the Caribbean to create what I call the poly fonk sound.”