35 (song)

"35" is a song by New Zealand youth choir Ka Hao featuring musician Rob Ruha. "35" was the group's first single, and preceded the release of their debut album Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice. The song, performed primarily in Māori, was a sleeper hit, first entering the New Zealand Singles Chart in Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in September 2021 and peaking at number 12 in November. "35", alongside New Zealand band Six60's song "Pepeha" (also released in 2021), are the best performing songs sung in Māori since Stan Walker's "Aotearoa" (2014).

"35"
Single by Ka Hao featuring Rob Ruha
from the album Ka Hao: One Tira, One Voice
Released3 September 2021 (2021-09-03)[1]
GenrePop
Length3:20
LabelInDigiNation Music
Songwriter(s)
  • Te Amorutu Broughton
  • Kaea Hills
  • Dan Martin
  • Whenua Patuwai
  • Rob Ruha
  • Ainsley Tai
Producer(s)Dan Martin
Ka Hao featuring Rob Ruha singles chronology
"35"
(2021)		 "Taka Rawa"
(2021)
Music video
"35" on YouTube

Background and composition

The Ka Hao youth choir formed in 2019, performing concerts for the Tairāwhiti Arts Festival, and in 2020 took part in Mōhau, an album of gospel songs sung in Māori which won the Mana Reo Award at the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards.[2] "35" was the group's debut single.[3]

The title "35" is a reference to State Highway 35, the road that connects the coastal towns of Te Tairāwhiti, connecting the eastern Bay of Plenty to Gisborne.[4] The song was inspired by Rob Ruha's single "Kalega". The group wanted to write an anthem similar to "Kalega", but to represent all of the communities along the east coast.[5]

The song's music video was produced by Abe Mora,[5] and was released on 3 September, coinciding with the single's release.[6] The video features the members of the choir and Rob Ruha wearing sport hoodies that show the state highway's logo,[7] while they watch videos of their own adventures on the east coast of New Zealand.[5]

Chart performance and popularity

The song was released to coincide with Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, and was one of the 27 songs produced for the 2021 Waiata Anthems Week, a project to promote popular music sung in Māori.[8] The song first gained popularity during the week when it was used for a popular dance on TikTok.[9] The song became internationally popular in November 2021,[10] particularly among African American and indigenous communities.[11]

The song entered the New Zealand Singles Chart in September 2021, peaking two months later in November 2021.[12] Between September 2021 and March 2022, the song spent 25 weeks in the top 40.[12] It became the second best performing song of 2021 sung in Te Reo, behind Six60's song "Pepeha".[13] The song was certified gold in New Zealand in November 2021,[14] and platinum by January 2022.[15] Alongside "Pepeha" (which also received a platinum certification),[16] these were the first songs sung in Te Reo to receive a certification since "Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō", the Māori language version of Six60's "Don't Forget Your Roots" in 2020,[17] and Stan Walker's "Aotearoa" in 2015.[18]

Critical reception

The song won the grand prize at the 2022 APRA Awards.[19] The song was performed during the awards ceremony by Stan Walker and Hamo Dell.[20]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[21]

  • Te Amorutu Broughton – lyricist, composer
  • Kaea Hills – lyricist, composer
  • Dan Martin – producer, lyricist, composer
  • Whenua Patuwai – lyricist, composer
  • Rob Ruha – lyricist, composer
  • Ainsley Tai – lyricist, composer

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "35"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[15] Platinum 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. "Tairāwhiti Youth Shine in New Ka Hao SIngle '35'". Te Hiku Media. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  2. "Ka Hao ft. Rob Ruha - 35". Mai FM. 13 October 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  3. Terekia, Taylor-Rose (9 September 2021). "A kōrero with Jhaymeān of Ka Hao: Tira Waiata! OHOOHO #1". Te Mana Ākonga. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  4. "'35' by Ka Hao & Rob Ruha is taking the world by storm". More FM. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  5. Karalus-Glannaz, Ella (December 2021). "Ka Hao: A Less Travelled Road To Success". NZ Musician. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  6. "Ka Hao - 35 (feat. Rob Ruha)". YouTube. 3 September 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  7. Behan, Alex (19 September 2021). "Why waiata reo Māori have never been more popular". Stuff. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  8. "Waiata Anthems: 30 artists join forces to celebrate a bilingual music industry". ZM. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  9. Barton, Monika (23 September 2021). "'A truly wonderful feeling': Te Reo Māori music dominates NZ's official charts". Newshub. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  10. Harawira, Tumamao (19 April 2022). "Ka Hao and Rob Ruha go viral on TikToK". Te Ao Māori News. Māori Television. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  11. Blank, Anton (16 January 2022). "Rob Ruha: The man who helped Tairāwhiti take over TikTok". Stuff. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  12. "35 - Ka Hao feat. Rob Ruha - Top 40 Singles". Muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  13. "Te Reo Māori O Te Rārangi 10 O Runga: End of Year Charts 2021". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  15. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  16. "New Zealand single certifications – Six60 – Pepeha". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  17. "New Zealand single certifications – Six60 – Kia Mau Ki Tō Ūkaipō / Don't Forget Your Roots". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  18. "Top 20 New Zealand Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  19. "The winners: 2022 Silver Scroll Awards announced". Radio New Zealand. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  20. "Ruha takes Highway 35 to Silver Scroll". Waatea News. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  21. "Credits / 35". Tidal. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  22. "KA HAO FEAT. ROB RUHA – 35". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  23. "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  24. "18 October 2021". Official NZ Music Charts. Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
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