Aaria are the second set of New Zealand Popstars. But the main difference between them and True Bliss (the first Popstars from New Zealand) is that Aaria is made up of Maori people only. The Maori are the native Islander people of New Zealand. So this is a different & interesting concept for a Popstars group. I don't know too much about them, but I think they must only have been formed pretty recently, as I saw their single in stores in New Zealand the last time I was there (in June/July 2001).

I think the band is made up of three guys and two girls. It's nice to see the guys having a majority in one of these bands for a change **g** Their names are Hayden, Amomai, Hemi, Te Rau and Tomairangi. I think that to be in the band, they had to be racially Maori as well as being able to speak the Maori language.

I haven't really heard their song, but it's called 'Kei a wai ra te Kupu'. It's in Maori, but I think there are various other versions of the song, including some in English. I listened to a part of the song on their record company's website, and I was surprised to hear that it was R&B/Hip Hop music. I suppose it's not really strange, in that Maori people borrow a lot of their youth culture from African-Americans, but I don't think many Popstars really sing in this style. After all, they are called POPstars! The song doesn't sound bad, and I'd like to hear more of it. I don't know whether the group is having much success or if they've got any other songs out, but I hope they do have plans for more releases in the future.

Links: It's almost impossible to find information on Aaria! But I've managed to find a bit.