16 August 2024 - 0 Comments

Persian-New Zealand artist and producer, CHAII, releases her debut album Safar, alongside new single We Be Killing It, fresh off the back of her epic collaboration with Tones And I and Young Franco, as well as performing shows in New York, London, Melbourne and SXSW Austin.

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We Be Killing It is the fifth song CHAII has released from her debut album, and follows on from hits like Night Like This, Fun, Main Thing and Drippin In Gold.

Produced with long-term collaborator and life partner, Frank Keys, CHAII's latest project, Safar, is deeply rooted in her journey from Iran to New Zealand and the connection she's maintained with her culture through music.

The word 'Safar' translates to 'journey' in Farsi (Persian), which perfectly encapsulates the essence of this body of work. CHAII has poured her heart into creating this album, blending Persian music with Hip Hop. Although the mix may not fit neatly into either genre, it embodies her unique identity as someone navigating between two worlds. Reflecting on her musical journey, CHAII shares, “Fifteen years ago, I told my school music teacher that I was going to mix Persian and Western music together, and since then, I've continuously experimented and had fun with it, while going through different phases of my life at the same time.”

Tracks like Drippin In Gold express her determination to achieve her dreams and give back to her parents, while Main Thing celebrates life's victories, and Night Like This delves into the tension between social connection and solitude.

The lead single, We Be Killing It, highlights the importance of being your own boss and surrounding yourself with loyal friends in an industry where success doesn’t come overnight. Meanwhile, Fun is a reminder to enjoy every moment, whether life is up or down.

To accompany the album, CHAII has once again self-produced and creatively directed the DIY Guerilla style videos for Safar, alongside a crew of friends including Director and Videographer Taine Noble, who she worked closely with for the album visuals.

CHAII’s songs have been featured in soundtracks for FIFA, Fortnite and Tony Hawk, advertising campaigns for iPhone, FENDI and KIAand used in Marvel’s Ms Marvel, Inventing Anna, Wellmania and Netflix original film The Old Guard. Plus, she’s been supported heavily across both Spotify and Apple Music playlists.

Now, with her much anticipated debut album, 'Safar', released, CHAII is gearing up to support Tones And I at Auckland’s Town Hall on Wednesday 28 August.

Photo Credit: Apela Bell

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