New Music Release - 1 Drop Nation delivers new album 'The Way We Love' - 28th November 2025
Artist Name - 1 Drop Nation
Release Name - The Way We Love
Release Date - 28th November 2025
Genre - Reggae, Roots, Funk
Label - DRM NZ
Ōtautahi’s one-and-only 1 Drop Nation is cruising into summer with their feelgood, uplifting brand new album, THE WAY WE LOVE, out today.
One of the fastest rising bands on the local roots, rock and reggae scene, 1 Drop Nation has been teasing fans with tracks from the record over the past 12 months, including the radio hit ‘Proud’; the funk-filled ‘Supernova’ ft Laughton Kora; the stirring title track ‘The Way We Love’, which has amassed more than 120,000 streams on Spotify in only a matter of months; and the addictive and feelgood ‘Nothings Wrong’.
Also on the 10-track ‘soundtrack of summer’ is the new single ‘Irie Loving’, which features East Coast legend Chad Chambers.
Listen to ‘Irie Loving’ HERE
Capturing that hazy, dreamlike state where time slows down and everything feels a little more vivid and surreal, ‘Irie Loving’ is all about escaping the nose of everyday life.
“Letting go, and slipping into a different headspace, one where your thoughts wander freely, and you’re just present in the moment. It’s a mood, a vibe, a sort of mental vacation,” says Kanei Johnson.
THE WAY WE LOVE saw 1 Drop Nation working with one of the biggest names in New Zealand music, Wellington producer Dr Lee Prebble (L.A.B., The Black Seeds, The Phoenix Foundation, Trinity Roots).
“This album is special to us. It’s our third record, but we really feel that this one is the strongest reflection of us as a band - from the stories to the feel of the music, it sums us up as six individuals coming together as one whanau,” says Kanei, who is the frontman in the band, alongside Derin Thompson on keyboards and backing vocals, Paerau Hemopo on guitar, Burke Goffe on guitar Marc Hansen on drums and Dru Sione on bass, and backing vocals.
Other notable collaborations on THE WAY WE LOVE are ‘Can I’ ft Lion Rezz and the heartwarming ‘Family’, which proudly features the 1 Drop Nation tamariki helping out on vocals.
1 Drop Nation released their 5-star-reviewed, self-titled debut album in December 2022, leading to their second album MOMENT IN TIME in 2023. They’ve since gone from strength-to-strength, carving out a reputation as one of Aotearoa’s must-see acts with an electrifying live show that engages the crowd from start to finish. THE WAY WE LOVE now promises to be one of summer’s hottest new albums.
To celebrate the release of THE WAY WE LOVE, 1 Drop Nation is performing a hometown album release gig in Christchurch on Friday November 28th at A Rolling Stone. Tickets available from www.ticketspace.com
