In the fizz of releasing their joyous sophomore album 'HAJA' (out 20 July), Jon Toogood’s The Adults now announce three live performances across Aotearoa in September.

With a fluid cast of collaborators helmed by Shihad frontman Toogood, this live incarnation of The Adults includes electric-blue witch hop pioneer Estere (who features on the album’s first single, ‘Bloodlines’), hip hop artist / rapper Raiza Biza (who’s found on the second single ‘Boomtown’ & album cut ‘That Gold’), Ben Wood of Trinity Roots and smoky-voiced singer Emily C. Browning.

Writing “HAJA” Toogood was inspired by the Sudanese folk music Aghani-Al-Banat, performed exclusively by women, which he first encountered at his wedding in Khartoum.

The Adults

Saturday 1st September Wellington - Meow 

Friday 14th September Christchurch -  Blue Smoke             

Saturday 15th September  Auckland -   Powerstation         

For tickets & info visit theadults.live

HAJA ... the album  .... 

After the release of Shihad FVEY in 2014, Jon began searching for an inspiration to kick off the second chapter in the critically acclaimed Adults journey, eventually finding it at his wedding in Khartoum, Sudan in the traditional music, Aghani-Al-Banat, performed during the ceremony.

Aghani-Al-Banat literally translates to 'girls music' and is one of the only aspects of Sudanese music that deals exclusively with women, their lives and their issues. After a recording session in Khartoum with an all-female group of musicians, Jon returned to his Melbourne home to amend them into an album with the help of co-producer Devin Abrams (Pacific Heights/Shapeshifter). The album’s title, HAJA, is a respectful Sudanese term identifying an older, more experienced woman.

Much like the first Adults album, HAJA features an exciting cast of collaborators, including upcoming New Zealand artists Chelsea Jade, Estère, JessB, Miloux, and Raiza Biza, the award-winning Aaradhna, and recent breakthrough artist Kings. These contributions help make up the eight tracks that are HAJA, which is one of the freshest, most intriguing records to emerge from New Zealand this year.

The album’s second single, ’Boomtown’, features Kiwi indie pop darling Chelsea Jade and Rwandan-born/ Hamilton-raised rapper Raiza Biza. "This track is the most positive, uplifting track I think I've ever written and that's heaps to do with the Aghani Al-Banat track I chose to write the tune around," says Jon. "I remember hearing it played at my wedding and couldn't get it out of my head. After playing all this music along with it I had a tune that we couldn't stop listening to."

Jon is currently studying towards his Master's at Massey University, with the cultural significance and music of the Northern Sudanese people as the topic for his thesis.