I know it’s been a minute and a half since I last covered Taiaha’s music. But every time I revisit his albums, I forget just how magical his vibe is. He’s unlike any artist I’ve ever heard before or since. Whatever mana he carries with him into the studio is definitely one of a kind, and once again, I get the chance to cover his music, so let’s go!
This time around, he’s coming back with 6 new fire tracks! And although a shorter project than previous works, that same magic and traditional aesthetic is woven into every song!
From the very first song, you can hear those melodic vocals combined with that amazing tribal production that only he could pull off. As someone who was born in New Zealand, it sounds like I’m walking into a teleportation machine, and I’m back on the local streets of Auckland, hearing the everyday Māoris with their guitars in hand and vocals top-notch! It’s a feeling of home that, for some reason, no other artist can provide me outside of your classical ‘NZ Reggae playlists.’ Regardless, this is one of many reasons why I’m always excited for a new Taiaha release because he brings the spirit with him.
As the EP continues, you hear a variety of different vibes and sounds from:
-NZ Reggae
-Soul
-Soft Rock
-Hip Hop
-RnB
A lot of different sounds and inspirations, all brought by BVA and mixed and engineered by Dave Atkins, the legendary drummer of ‘Wolf Mother,’ who features his drums on tracks such as ‘Hot Forever.’ His influence on this project brings that extra piece to the puzzle to push this EP from amazing to phenomenal!
As far as Taiaha himself, he’s never lost a step. Whether he’s gone for 5 or 10 years, he’s going to sound immaculate on the tracks. He has unmatched energy, passion, resolve, and cadence. His soul can be felt in every bar he spits, and it goes through your headphones and to your heart.
He’s not alone this time around with features from:
-Brad Strut
-Shook
Who both kill the parts they are on and pair with him nicely!
The Verdict? Another dope addition to the ever-growing fantastical discography by Taiaha. I’m going to make sure to push this as much as I can because he is an artist that’s special to me, and I guarantee if you give him a chance, you’ll feel it too!
https://taiaha.bandcamp.com/album/music-up-in-here
(Donation link)
https://www.paypal.me/Corbz94?locale.x=en_AU
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 