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Loop is proud to present a special live performance of Taylah’s ‘Descendant’, filmed within Brett Graham’s acclaimed exhibition Wastelands at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.

The release is the latest instalment in Taylah’s four-part Live Session series, which pairs her original waiata with the work of contemporary Māori artists. Each session places Taylah’s music within a significant artistic setting, creating a connection between song, visual art and the stories that inform both.

Performing ‘Descendant’ in front of Graham’s monumental Wastelands installation, Taylah is also joined by the artist for an intimate conversation exploring the ideas shared across their work, including whakapapa, identity, environmental guardianship, cultural resilience and the responsibility each generation carries for those who follow.

The collaboration began after Taylah encountered Wastelands during a walkthrough of the gallery. “I just remember walking into that space and being absolutely taken by it,” Taylah says in the accompanying interview. “Its scale gives it this majesty. It completely stopped me in my tracks.”

For Graham, the connection between the song and the artwork was immediate. Reflecting on the lyrics of ‘Descendant’, he discusses the Māori understanding that our ancestors continue to walk alongside us, and how the waiata carries the strength, experiences and stories of those who came before.

Written during isolation, ‘Descendant’ emerged from Taylah’s reflections on her own whakapapa and the generations whose lives made her own possible. Throughout the conversation, she speaks about reconnecting with her Māoritanga, the privilege and responsibility of being tangata whenua, and how this journey continues to influence both her life and songwriting.

The discussion also highlights the parallels between music and visual art. Graham explains that Wastelands is not only a reflection on raupatu and history, but also an environmental work centred on whenua, waterways and the health of Aotearoa’s ecosystems. Through imagery of wetlands, tuna and fire, the installation explores the relationship between cultural survival and environmental stewardship, while leaving space for audiences to bring their own interpretations to the work.

Together, Taylah and Graham reflect on the importance of preserving and evolving Māori culture, acknowledging the work of previous generations while embracing the responsibility to create a stronger future for those still to come.