Rei Expands Global Indigenous Network with Handsome Tiger Collaboration
Award-winning bilingual Māori artist Rei continues his expansion into overseas territories with a new international collaboration alongside Vancouver-based Anishinaabe Métis and North African producer/DJ Handsome Tiger. Their new single Ancestor NRG is out now, following the release of Rei’s new album Moisturise & Decolonise at the end of 2025.
A high-energy powwow-step anthem, Ancestor NRG bridges Indigenous cultures across the Pacific, connecting Turtle Island and Aotearoa through bass-driven club music, powwow rhythms, haka, rap, and melodic bilingual vocals. The track is both a celebration of ancestry and a forward-looking statement of Indigenous futurism, reflecting Rei’s growing presence within global Indigenous electronic and bass music scenes.
Speaking on the collaboration, Rei says: “I’ve been super inspired by the PowWow Step genre as a whole, so I’m stoked to be working with Handsome Tiger on this international First Nations link-up. There’s heaps of room for us on this side of the pond to take inspiration from Turtle Island producers fusing culture and electronic music, and to offer some hiko (spark) in return through our journey of Māori language and cultural revitalisation.”
The collaboration lands at a pivotal moment in Rei’s career, as he just released his highly anticipated new album Moisturise & Decolonise. Fifteen tracks deep, the album explores duality – balancing kaupapa-driven rap and cultural commentary with warm, pop-leaning, tropical sounds designed for both Aotearoa summers and international audiences. Featuring collaborations with Indigenous artists from Hawai‘i, Canada, Australia, and Aotearoa, the project reflects Rei’s commitment to global Indigenous solidarity and cultural exchange.
Moisturise & Decolonise is rooted in the realities of cultural and language reclamation, acknowledging the need for rest, regeneration, and self-care alongside resistance. As Rei explains: “When I travel the world with my music, I see how much other cultures love our haka and Māori culture. That showed me I’ve got to lead with the culture, not tuck it away in the background.”
The album follows a major period of international growth for Rei, including performances and writing camps across Japan, Canada, Australia, and Aotearoa, alongside showcases at SXSW Sydney and WOMEX Manchester. Recent singles have gained strong momentum, with chart placements on the Aotearoa Hot Charts, Spotify New Music Friday support, and hundreds of thousands of views across social platforms. Rei is also once again touring Canada in August 2026, with tour details to come soon. He will also be releasing a string of Turtle Island x Aotearoa collaborations in the lead up.
Together, Ancestor NRG and Moisturise & Decolonise position Rei as a key voice in the next wave of globally connected Indigenous music – grounded in te ao Māori, outward-looking, and unapologetically future-focused.
