Awa has just released his second EP Heartbeat which is perfectly titled encompassing all that Awa found himself feeling as he was working on it. In his own words it was "the happiest and most inspired I'd been in a long time," and as such he chose to pay tribute to this with seven naturalistic new songs written around the themes of, as he puts it, "Love, Aotearoa and enjoying life." There are also two bonus tracks on the EP at the end Moments and a Remix of the fouth track Kudeta by the Jupiter Project.
The album is full of solid Kiwi talent which is only intensified by the amazing collaborations Awa has put together on the EP. Kicking off on the first track Papatuanuku featuring NZ Hip Hop Legend Che Fu to the second track with rising Hawaiian diva Anuhea on Perfect Day which would be my favourite track off the EP. It's hard to think that a track can make you feel summer and that is exactly what it does, makes you feel like summer. Grimy voiced Hamilton rapper JB Love You Better, Nesian Mystik super producer David Atai, beatmakers Kase and Ali Toto and reggae stalwarts House of Shem Back in my Life and Home, as well as musicians Phil Crown, Thabani Gapara, Heath 'Haka Boogie' Manukau and Dylan Elise, he's crafted a distinctively Nesian hybrid of RnB, Reggae, and hip-hop. The undertone of the whole album has an Island Vibe, incorporating Maori and Hawaiian lyrics and complementing style that makes not only your heart but your whole body move to the beat.
Watch the video for Perfect Day feat. Anuhea and you will see what I mean!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAYZmR4REcY