Last night’s performance by Ladi6 at Hollywood Avondale was nothing short of magical. With her distinctive blend of soulful melodies and electrifying stage presence, she captivated the audience from start to finish. The intimate venue set the perfect backdrop for Ladi6’s raw talent and effortless charisma, as she delivered an unforgettable show.
Ladi6 lays out minimalist house rhythms and seductive neo-Soul and we all feel the heat, with or without somebody to dance with.
At the heart centre is Karoline Fuarosa Park-Tamati. Of Samoan descent and raised in Christchurch.
As a teenager she spent a year in Africa, where her musical journey fuse was lit. It would be interesting to know which part of the vast continent, as the music is so diverse. The rhythmic traditions are legion.
Embedded deep in her musical DNA is the call-and response of World Music, and she has played WOMAD Taranaki in 2010.
Ladi6 have also appeared at another global music mecca, Glastonbury.
A break dancer in the mid Nineties, she formed the country’s first and only all-female Hip-Hop group in Sheelahroc. The time when Gangsta Rap was reaching its apotheosis.
Verse Two followed, and with that came long-time collaborator and partner Brent Parks Park-Tamati.
This is the creative core of Ladi6, with creative input from Julien Dyne and keyboard player Brandon Haru in recent times.
The impetus for this nationwide tour is the release of new album Le Va, the first in seven years.
What came in between? The strange behaviour of lockdowns year Zero 2020 (party over whoops out of time!) followed by the subsequent totalitarian State brutality.
Karoline’s mother Fuarosa died during this time. Possibly everyone would have experienced the cruelty of this time when families were denied access to be with sick and dying loved ones.
The current Royal Commission Part Two has reached the stage of public testimony and hopefully transparency.
Karoline herself underwent surgery for laryngeal polyps and was facing the prospect of losing her voice.
What can I do if I can’t sing?
She entered tertiary education to gain qualifications in counselling.
Le Va also refers to the time between in Samoan culture.
The space between life and death, which implies the bardo and the navigation of the soul towards rebirth.
The show starts with a triple combination hit from the new album. Fuarosa, Zoom, and Haters Down.
Beautiful Soul vocals to start. The name of my mother/ And she gave to me/ I am so confident/ I am not afraid of what you got to say to me.
Spare arrangements and minimalist beats accentuated. The voice is smooth and tastefully downplayed for heightened effect.
Lightbulb has a nice chugging House style electro-beat and follows with some Rap vocals. I feel so wasted.
Two dancers and backing singers come on for Shine On. They could be part of the Sixxes troupe.
Like Water is introduced as being about besties, best friends. The rhythm glides along and the music launches like a smooth glider.
The dual keyboards are from producer and partner Brent Park-Tamati, and Brandon Haru. They work well in tandem and provide a seamless musical landscape.
Diagonals raises a cheer of familiarity. Sci-fi sound effect with a little debt to Sixties Joe Meek. Singers Soul heat gets turned up.
Hours is drone-Pop and effectively hypnotic. On the Hollywood stage, the singers disappear in the stark and sharp lighting which is dominated by four large triangles. Appear cold so probably LED.
Closing now and new song Under It really does turn the dance heat up, with the stage performers leading the charge.
Last song brings back a harder edge and minimalist metronome beats of Walk Right Up.
My first time to see Ladi6 but there is a love that burns.
Rev. Orange Peel
Photography by Jennifer De Koning
Ladi6
Kahu
