Aotearoa, New Zealand’s rising R&B/soul sensation Reiki Ruawai continues to ride the wave with his new single ‘All I Need’. Listen to ‘All I Need’ HERE.
To celebrate the release, Reiki is also embarking on a two-date tour, playing in Auckland on Thursday April 25 at the Wine Cellar and at The Yard in Raglan on Friday April 26. Tickets for both shows are on sale at 9am Monday March 18 at www.undertheradar.co.nz
Oozing with Reiki’s laid-back, soulful signature style with pop undertones, ‘All I Need’ builds around a tribal shuffle beat, with layers of heavenly backing vocals and hypnotic synths.
‘All I Need’ was written at APRA New Zealand’s Songhubs curated by critically acclaimed NZ-born, London-based songwriter and producer Jordan Rakei, which Reiki was selected to take part in. The young Raglan native says he spent time “geeking out” at the fact that he was getting to work with Jordan - one of his favourite artists.
Reiki adds that ‘All I Need’ began life as a much poppier demo but in the studio working with producer and engineer Joel Jones, they found themselves taking a slightly more experimental route. “We took ages trying to find some random noises and ended up finding a sample of a Putatara (conch shell) - that’s what ended up giving that tribal feel,” he says.
It’s what gives ‘All I Need’ its refreshingly unique quality and also aptly sums up that feeling of there being no place like home. Reiki explains that on the day he wrote the track on Songhubs with Jordan, Alistair Ross, and Francesca Emily Chesney Colwill; he told the others he was really longing to get back to his hometown - the world famous surfing town on the North Island’s Waikato coast.
“I mentioned that I needed a day back in Raglan where I could head down to the skatepark with a beer and hang with friends - just be with each other, skating and having fun.”
The same sentiment is captured in the video for ‘All I Need’, which serves as the perfect visual backdrop. Filmed by Luke Penny in Riverhead near Auckland, it’s a simple one-take shot as the sun sets.
Watch the video HERE.
“The video gives off more of the energy of the song,” says Reiki. “I wanted to feel like myself and be myself - as natural as I could be. Doing the one-take captures that.”
Listen to ‘All I Need’ HERE / Watch the video HERE
Catch Reiki Ruawai live:
Thursday April 25 - Wine Cellar, Auckland
Friday April 26 - The Yard, Raglan
Tickets on sale 9am Monday March 18 at www.undertheradar.co.nz