The Naked Choir judge Matt Gifford says "a cappella singing comes naturally for Kapa Haka performers."



Besides judging New Zealand's iteration of "The Naked Choir," Gifford is a part of The Musical Island Boys (along with host Jeff Hunkin), who won Barbershop Harmony Society's International Quartet Championship in 2014.

Matt Gifford's 2014 gold medal-winning set

"We're used to singing in groups from a very young age right through to old age," Gifford said regarding Maori singers. "We sing every day. These aren't new skills.

I attended Te Matatini this year to see the groups on stage. From what I saw and heard, Māori have beautiful songs. When we're growing up in the church, on the Marae and in Kapa Haka, singing is very important.

Gifford was vocal coach for Te Matatini first-timers Hikurangi Pariha at this year's Kapa Haka Nationals, hailed as the Comeback of the Century.

"I was the fortunate one to be able to help them," he said. "I think they are outstanding. Ngāti Porou is my other home. Yes, they have beautiful songs."

Gifford went on to say, "What I like about a cappella is that it's all about the language. There are no actions or instruments, just the beauty of the language. No matter where you are from or who you are, we've always sung, from ages ago to now. It makes me happy when I hear people sing, sad, happy, and celebratory songs. No matter the topic, we sing."

When it comes to judging on The Naked Choir series, Gifford is very clear about what he looks for in the performances.

"We look for several things," he said. "One of them is their singing ability. From how they breathe, use their vocals, including the tongue and jaw, all of those things that makes the song sound beautiful. Their enunciation, how the song flows, all those sorts of things.

"What I'm looking for is something that combines the mind and heart and resonates with listeners."

Kaikohe Intermediate Kapa Haka sing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

The Naked Choir airs on Sundays at 8.30 PM ET on New Zealand's TVNZ 1.


Subscribe to the FloVoice Newsletter to never miss a beat!