Artist Name: L.A.B

Release Name - IV

Release Date - 18th December 2020

Genre - Roots, Soul, Funk

Label - Independent

L.A.B return with their new album, L.A.B IV. A model of consistency, the new release is their fourth in as many years, and follows on from the biggest year for L.A.B to date. Featuring the Number One single ‘Why Oh Why’, the album shows an act continuing to prove themselves as one of NZ’s hardest-working groups.

Sticking to the same formula as previous releases, L.A.B IV has once more been recorded at the band’s home of the Surgery Studios in Wellington with Dr Lee Prebble, with yet another rigorous recording schedule resulting in the band living in the studio for weeks on end. With drummer Brad Kora heading up the production team of Prebble & bass player Ara Adams-Tamatea, the result is an album steeped in nostalgia, while sounding firmly rooted in the modern-day.

The 12 tracks featured on L.A.B IV showcase the styles that have grown to be the L.A.B sound - reggae, funk, soul & blues effortlessly combining. ‘My Brother’, ‘Yes I Do’ & ‘Operator’ all embrace a 70’s funk/soul sound, accentuated by strings composed & performed by frequent-collaborators The Black Quartet. ‘Yes I Do’ & ‘Boy King’ also feature a live-horn section, showing the band becoming more comfortable expanding & pushing their sound.

‘Why Oh Why’, ‘Boy King’ & ‘No Roots’ all bring L.A.B’s roots/reggae experience to the front, creating tracks which instantly feel like classic summer sing-alongs. ‘Never Give Up’, ‘IJDK’ & ‘My Baby’ bring together the harmonies that the band have become known for, while ‘Early Bird’ & ‘Natural’ show a softer-side.

Embracing the eclectic sound that has seen them grow into one of the most sought-after acts in New Zealand, L.A.B IV further solidifies L.A.B as one of NZ’s hardest-working acts with no signs of slowing down.

In a year which has turned many things upside-down, L.A.B’s strong work ethic has remained. Just prior to L.A.B IV’s release, ‘Why Oh Why’ debuted at Number One on the New Zealand Official Top 40 Singles Chart, their second number one for 2020 (alongside ‘In The Air’). L.A.B are only the second local independent artist to achieve two Number One singles in a calendar year, and the first local to ever hold Numbers One, Two & Four on the charts at the same time.

In addition to completing work on their fourth album, the band has performed capacity arena shows across NZ, won the Aotearoa Music Award for People’s Choice, and reached Number One on the 2020 End of Year New Zealand Official Music Single Charts.

The release comes ahead of another busy summer of live performances in New Zealand, including two massive headline performances at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth & Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium. April 2021 will see the band return to Australia, with a five-date tour sold-out to a total audience of over 15,000.

L.A.B are Ara Adams-Tamatea – Bass; Miharo Gregory – Keys; Brad Kora – Drums, Vocals; Stu Kora – Keys, Vocals; Joel Shadbolt – Guitar, Vocals.

L.A.B IV Track Listing:

1. My Brother

2. Why Oh Why

3. Boy King

4. Yes I Do

5. Never Give Up

6. No Roots

7. IJDK

8. Operator

9. My Baby

10. Early Bird