Mawiza join forces with Gojira’s Joe Duplantier on ‘Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan’

Integrating tribal rhythms and ancient instruments with modern groove metal has earned Mawiza recognition from the Chilean Grammys and respected elders like Mercyful Fate, Slipknot and Mastodon. But on their upcoming third album, these modern day Mapuche warriors are fighting to restore our balance with nature.

Now, Mawiza are releasing “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” as the third and final advanced single off ÜL. Though drawn from a place of deep sorrow, this earthshaking lament echoes the resilience of the band’s ancestral land by taking up the fight alongside Mapuche tribes-people and Joe Duplantier from Olympian performers and Grammy winners Gojira.

“This song is a lament for indigenous people who are living in the city, far away from the land”, Mawiza says. “But it’s also a wake up call. Underneath the city, even when crushed by concrete, nature is always fighting to come out”.

Hear MAWIZA perform “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” and other defiant anthems from ÜL when they tour Europe this summer alongside fellow Chilean metalheads Ater.

Immortal Flame 2025 European Tour
July 16 – Maribor, Slovenia @ Gustaf Pekarna
July 17 – Miskolc, Hungary @ Zugivo
July 18 – Deva, Romania @ John’s La Cetate
July 19 – Targu Jiu, Romania @ Piano
July 20 – Sibiu, Romania @ Rock & Bike
July 21 – Timisoara, Romania @ Nemesis
July 22 – Brasov, Romania @ La Templarie Pub
July 23 – Arad, Romania @ Club Flex
July 24 – Budapest, Hungary @ Riff
July 25 – Szeged, Hungary @ Varosi Club
July 26 – Pecs, Hungary @ Vararok
July 27 – Ostrava, Czech Republic @ Barrack
July 31 – Pinerolo, Italy @ Spazio Nino
August 1 – Barberaz, France @ Brin De Zinc
August 2 – Ostend, Belgium @ B52

more dates to be announced!

Can’t wait to chant along to ÜL? Hear the whole album a week before it comes out by RSVPing for this week’s Bandcamp Listening Party.

ÜL Bandcamp Listening Party
Thursday, July 10 @ 1 pm Eastern Time

RSVP: https://mawizakvlt.bandcamp.com/live/l-listening-party

As they recently showcased onstage at Rock al Parque, Mawiza are a rising force on the international metal scene. But “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” harkens back to a lost moment in time. In English, the band’s latest offering translates to “The Last Harp Call”. A mouth harp opens the ceremonial proceedings, humming like a chorus of tree frogs, though this peculiar metallic instrument was chosen out of necessity.

“When writing this song, we started with the mouth harp, even though the Mapuche traditionally carved this instrument from wood”, the band says. Despite the loss, this feeling of displacement guided the song’s sense of purpose. “Kimpayaymi tami ekuwael /  (Here you will learn to respect every form of life)”, Awka chants, gathering steam like a thundercloud, before a massive groove comes roaring down with the rushing force of a waterfall.

As outside land developers continue to encroach on indigenous territory in Chile, more Mapuche are being forced to migrate into the city. The video for “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” was filmed in neighboring Santiago, which is one of the largest cities in the Americas. While the band are now based amongst this bustling metropolis, even when performing atop one of its towering buildings, they can’t escape feeling trapped by the mounting pollution. With sickening screams, Awka strains against dissonant shredding that surges like radiation, as he calls out for the surrounding Andes mountains.

“We are supposed to be living in balance with nature”, says Awka, who wrote the lyrics to “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” amidst a bout with depression. “If nature is sick, then I’m sick, too”.

“Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” is the darkest and saddest of the nine chants on ÜL,  but in closing the album, the song stands as a final warning call. “Yafülüwkülen mapu kutxan mew (All that is born, will fall and rot)“, Awka shouts over a steady rumble of double bass. Like the dancing kollong who protects the Mapocho River in the song’s video, drummer Txalkan serves as a guiding force. His booming kultrun and rattle of cascahuillas run through the entire album like a whitewater rapid.

“We wanted this song to sound like nature resisting the advancement of the city”, Txalkan says. “Even when crushed by industrial pollution, nature is always pushing up from beneath the concrete”.

For ÜL‘s last stand, Mawiza recruited allies from across their tight-knit community. While the band are long-time fans of Gojira, after opening for the metal Olympians in Chile, they quickly connected over their beliefs. “We share similar views on nature, animal liberation, the struggles of first nations”, says Txalkan. Not only did frontman Joe Duplantier eagerly join them in visiting the Mapuche community where the video for the album’s first single was filmed. He also hopped into the recording booth. The chant that closes “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” brings his monstrous roar in conversation with the resilient cries of Mapuche tribesmen, the two coming together like a smoke signal that rises to meet the blue sky.

Mawiza would like to thank their Mapuche Community Ngillatuwe Maipu, as well as Joe Duplantier for being part of this chant.

The video for “Ti Inan Paw-Pawkan” was directed and edited by  Andrés Hetzler (@andreshetzler).

Lineup:
Awka — Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Karü — Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals
Zewü — Bass & Backing Vocals
Txalkan — Drums & Percussion