24 January 2025 - 0 Comments

We Belong is the brand new waiata created especially for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025. Commissioned by Te Matatini, the official song has been created by Corrella and L.A.B, a song which emphasises the collective strength and spiritual unity represented by the event and the host iwi.

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The biennial Te Matatini national kapa haka festival is the largest celebration of Māori performing arts excellence in the world. We Belong will serve as the soundtrack to this installment of Te Matatini.

Written and recorded in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington and Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, the waiata is a collaboration between two of New Zealand’s most popular acts, Corrella and L.A.B.

Featuring vocals led by Joel Shadbolt (L.A.B) and Pipiwharauroa and Ngawaiwera Campbell (Corrella), the waiata embraces the feeling of unity and togetherness which Te Matatini brings, with the track being started in Te Whanganui-a-Tara / Wellington, before being completed in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland.

Speaking about the project, Corrella’s Pipiwharauroa Campbell says - “This song was written as a dedication that Te Matatini belongs to everyone here in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad, and that all are welcome.It touches on the stories we tell using kapa haka and the feeling you get from watching and being at Te Matatini, and we ask that all come and share in this.

“This song is a little bit different to other Te Matatini songs with it being predominantly in English, even though we have the utmost respect for the Māori language. This was to convey that even if you don’t speak Te Reo Māori, you still belong. We also pay homage to where Te Matatini is being held this year - under Taranaki maunga. Te kahui maunga, kahue tupua kahue wairau.''

Speaking about working on the project, L.A.B frontman Joel Shadbolt says - “We went into the studio in September to work on the waiata, and working with the Corrella team was an awesome experience. We really wanted to capture the vibe and unity that Te Matatini brings to Aotearoa, and We Belong is the result. Te Matatini is something that we as New Zealanders are incredibly proud of, and hopefully this waiata can help bring a taste of Te Matatini to people across Aotearoa and the world.”

Tā Herewini Parata, Chair of Te Matatini says - “It’s exciting to have Corrella and L.A.B collaborate on the official waiata for Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga, He Kāhui Tupua, He Kāhui Wairua 2025. The waiata We Belong is about Kotahitanga (unity) and champions a place for us all in Aotearoa including a place for te reo Māori and traditional Māori performing arts. Te Matatini is where we belong.”

Capturing the summery and reggae-inspired feel expected from both Corrella and L.A.B, the waiata is set to be the soundtrack to Te Matatini, an event which will be attended by over 70,000, and broadcast worldwide to an audience of over 2.5 million. The festival is being held in 2025 from February 25 – March 1.

The track not only embraces and celebrates Te Matatini, but serves as a taste of New Zealand culture to the rest of the world.

Currently on tour across New Zealand and Australia, this special release comes after a busy 2024 which saw both Corrella and L.A.B perform shows across the world, and release new albums, both of which featured in Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums of 2024 (L.A.B #12, Corrella #46).

Catch L.A.B and Corrella live in Whangārei this Saturday January 25 at Semenoff Stadium, alongside Stan Walker, Aaradhna and AJA. Limited tickets still available HERE.

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