Tavita & Bay Road deliver a standout debut in their self-titled EP, blending a range of genres from funk to reggae, to R&B/soul, into a rich and fresh sound.

Lay It Down, the band’s debut single, kicks off the EP with a funky bass riff that you can’t help but groove along to. From call and response echoes to subtle harmonic “ooohs” that build tension flawlessly, the track’s perfectly mixed backing vocals are not to be overlooked. The outro’s lyrics repeatedly remind us to lay our “worries down, worries down, worries down,” leading perfectly into the next track, Celebrate Life.

An opening drum fill, syncopated guitar strums and a warped electric guitar smoothly shift us from funk to reggae in Celebrate Life. Frontman Tavita De Seymour’s soothing vocals are the perfect match for beautiful lyrics like, “Brother, the time, the time has come / Turn to the sea, return to the sun / Once you were lost but now you’re found / Yes, you are homeward bound.” It doesn’t take long to realise that the fun of this EP lies not only in the band’s sound, but in their songwriting too.

Shine, which was written in remembrance of De Seymour’s mother, begins with a solo piano that evolves into a fresh harmonic accompaniment as the song continues. Every verse leads into a bright chorus, with fun chord progressions that build and release tension beautifully. This is followed by Boy, a five-minute track packed with a variety of both instrumental and lyrical sections. De Seymour’s vocals are extra emotive in this one, singing poignant lyrics like, “All the things that were said / All I feel is regret / Hope someday you’ll forgive me / I was blind, but now I see.”

Made of You slows things down with a more laid-back vibe. With a synth riff line that elevates the song to a whole new level, Tavita & Bay Road, along with electric guitarist and percussionist Toby Lloyd, prove they are masters of instrumentation. Made of You’s intro gradually stacks parts upon one another, rather than beginning with a full sound, which is a nice change.

A Look Around – AKA the perfect closing track – brings together the best elements from each song on the EP. It opens with the groovy, upbeat reggae sound of Celebrate Life, with bright piano lines like those in Shine sprinkled throughout. The chorus nods to one of Tavita & Bay Road’s influences, reggae icon Bob Marley, with the lyrics, “Every little thing is going to be alright / Every little thing, we’re going to make it, put it right.”

I’d recommend listening to this EP from start to finish with your best headphones on, as sound engineer and producer Toby Lloyd and mastering engineer Mike Gibson turn each track into a full-on, head-bopping musical journey. It’s a lyrically cohesive collection of work with a perfectly crafted track list; every song leads perfectly into the next while maintaining its own unique sound. As a big fan of Troy Kingi’s funk and R&B/soul-inspired albums The Ghost of Freddie Cesar and Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way To Zygertron, this multi-genre EP has become an instant favourite of mine. Tavita & Bay Road is definitely the next Kiwi act to keep an eye on, and I can't wait to see what they do next.

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