Ōtautahi six-piece 1 Drop Nation have dropped their exciting self-titled debut album, and it’s guaranteed to set Aotearoa music fans up for a great summer!
From start to finish, this epic 11-track debut will transport you and take you on an awesome journey. Starting with a moving, rumbling intro ‘Waerea’, which calls on ancestors and clears the path as anticipation is built through the sound of a beating heart and being asked if we’re ‘ready’ - before kicking into gear with hit after hit of homegrown roots, funk, reggae and conscious feel-good vibes.
“We’re so proud of all the mahi that has gone into making this album,” says lead singer Kanei Johnson. “We are so honoured to have such an amazing engineer in Dr Lee Prebble at Surgery Studios and our man Josh Llewellyn at Downbeat Mastering is an absolute legend.”
Even though the album was recorded over the course of a year, this project has been 10 years in the making. Over that time, they’ve been making fans and building excitement through playing festivals, completing a national tour, supporting some of Aotearoa’s finest acts and, most recently, releasing hit singles ‘Runaway’, ‘The Children’ and ‘Groove Show’.
“Finally having a body of work to share with our whānau, friends and the world has us puuumped. It’s our wives/partners/tamariki and whānau who all support us on this journey - they’re the heartbeat that keeps us going and we appreciate them all so much.”
Band Members include Marc (drums), Dru (bass, backing vocals), Derin (keyboards, backing vocals / Nga Tai Ki Torere), Paerau (guitar / Ngāi Tahu, Te Arawa, Ngā Puhi), Burke (guitar / Ngā Puhi, Te Ātiawa) and Kanei (lead vocals / Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu).
Now that this long-awaited debut album is in the world, the group are ready to perform it live at shows and festivals like this year's ZM Electric Avenue. They’ve even started working on album number 2 - with the studio booked for early 2023 - so tune in and stay tuned to 1 Drop Nation.