Telek releases new single Noken Paitim Meri
The album title Kambek (I Lilikun Mulai) includes the languages Tok Pisin and Kuanua, referencing Telek’s recovery from a long fought battle with mouth cancer, which preceded the recent years of absence from touring and recording due to the global pandemic.
Additionally “Kambek (I Lilikun Mulai)” is the first album Sir George has recorded in his home base of Rabaul since the volcano Tavurvur destroyed the town (including its recording studios) back in 1994. For this album Telek teamed up with his former bandmates from Painim Wok, PNG’s biggest rock band of the 80’s, with legendary guitarist Sir John Warbat, drummer Henry Maniot, and bass player John “Pooger” Yass. The album was mixed by Simon Polinksi (Yothu Yindi, Paul Kelly) who recorded and mixed Telek’s self-titled album in 1997, which received an ARIA Award for Best World Music Album.
First single, Noken Paitim Meri (English translation: No violence against your woman) is a powerful ballad, where Telek speaks directly to other Papua New Guinean men, that domestic violence is abhorrent and acceptable under no circumstances. The vocal is yearning and heartfelt, the chorus epic.
Telek believes that the women of Papua New Guinea have for too long shouldered the burden of finding solutions to the gender-based violence issue, and it is now time for men to stand up strong and join in the cause to appeal to each other to eradicate such inequality.
Telek hopes that his song will be a powerful tool in advocating positive change in communities throughout the Pacific. In 2018, the World Health Organisation reported that the Oceania region had the highest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence in the world, with PNG having the 3rd highest rate amongst surveyed countries. According to the PNG Parliamentary Coalition to End Gender Based Violence, PNG’s Demographic and Health Survey (2016-2018) found that 56% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence.
‘Noken Paitim Meri’ (English translation: no violence against your woman) is a powerful ballad, where Telek speaks directly to other Papua New Guinean men, that domestic violence is abhorrent and acceptable under no circumstances. The vocal is yearning and heartfelt, the chorus epic. Telek believes that the women of Papua New Guinea have for too long shouldered the burden of finding solutions to the gender-based violence issue, and it is now time for men to stand up strong and join in the cause to appeal to each other to eradicate such inequality.
The single is accompanied by a film clip edited by Papua New Guinean woman Natasha Henry, with footage of Telek filmed by Juan Low in Rabaul and additional footage of actors from Goroka provided by Dilen Doiki.
‘Kambek (I Lilikun Mulai)’ will be released on October 7th, 2022 through Wantok Musik and distributed through Planet/MGM.
Publishing: Origin Music Publishing
