First XV (album)

First XV is a compilation album released by New Zealand band Sons of Zion in October 2022, as their final release through Sony Music New Zealand. The album compiles songs from their albums Universal Love (2013), Vantage Point (2018), and other singles by the band released between 2014 and 2022.

First XV
Compilation album by
Sons of Zion
Released28 October 2022 (2022-10-28)
Genre
Length53:46
LabelSony Music New Zealand
Producer
  • Matthew Sadgrove
  • Sons of Zion
  • Samuel Eriwata
  • Devin Abrams
  • Leo Coghini
  • Joel Latimer
  • Riapo Panapa
Sons of Zion chronology
Vantage Point
(2018)		 First XV
(2022)
Singles from First XV
  1. "Come Home"
    Released: 14 June 2019
  2. "Road Trip"
    Released: 15 November 2019
  3. "Crazy"
    Released: 27 November 2020
  4. "Love on the Run"
    Released: 4 June 2021
  5. "Come to Bed"
    Released: 29 July 2022

Production

The band began recording their fourth studio album to follow up Vantage Point (2018) in 2019 in Los Angeles, which they planned to release in early 2020.[1] While the album never eventuated, the group began releasing singles from 2019, starting with "Come Home" (2019), "Road Trip" (2019) and "Break Up Song" (2020).

First XV compiles music released by Sons of Zion over the 15 years they were signed to Sony Music New Zealand.[2] The album features four songs from the band's 2013 album Universal Love, three songs from their 2018 album Vantage Point, and eight singles not found on any of the band's albums: "Stuck on Stupid" (2014), "Fill Me Up" (2015), "I'm Ready" (2019), "Road Trip" (2019), "Crazy" (2020), "Love on the Run" (2021) and "Come to Bed" (2022).

Release and promotion

Sons of Zion released "Come Home" in June 2019, following up from their hit song "Drift Away" from the album Vantage Point (2018).[3][4] This was followed by "Road Trip" in November,[5] and "Break Up Song" in September 2020,[6] a song that was not featured on First XV. Both "Come Home" and "Road Trip" were hit songs in New Zealand, both receiving gold certifications from Recorded Music NZ.[7][8] The band ended 2020 with the single "Crazy", which features a music video shot by band member Riapo Panapa in Los Angeles.[9]

The band's June 2021 single "Love on the Run" was a commercial success in New Zealand. The song's music video was the most watched in New Zealand by a New Zealand artist for 2021,[10] and was awarded the radio airplay song of the year at the 2021 Waiata Māori Music Awards.[11] The band also released a Māori language version of the sung under the name "He Aroha Hinemoa" during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori in September 2021,[12] which was also a commercial success.[13] becoming one of the most successful songs sung in Māori for 2021 and 2022.[14][15]

Three months before the release of the album, the band released the single "Come to Bed".[16] A month after the release of First XV, Sons of Zion released their first music as independent musicians in 15 years, with the single "One Night".[17]

Track listing
First XV track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Drift Away"Matthew Sadgrove3:00
2."Love on the Run" (featuring Jackson Owens)
  • Sadgrove
  • Riapo Panapa
2:57
3."Be My Lady" (featuring Pieter T & Jah Maoli)
  • Curtis Wiringi
  • Joel Latimer
  • Kiapo Hanakahi
  • Pieter Tuhoro
  • Panapa
  • Samuel Eriwata
4:12
4."Stuck on Stupid" (featuring Israel Starr)
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
  • Eriwara
3:30
5."Come Home"
  • Sadgrove
  • Seth Haapu
3:15
6."Is That Enough" (featuring Aaradhna)
  • Aaradna Patel
  • Sammy Johnson
4:02
7."Road Trip"Sadgrove3:09
8."Fill Me Up"
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
  • Eriwata
3:57
9."Leave with Me"
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
  • Eriwata
3:42
10."Tell Her"Panapa4:17
11."Universal Love"Jonson4:44
12."Superman" (featuring Tomorrow People)
  • Avina Kelekolio
  • Latimer
  • Tuhoro
  • Panapa
  • Eriwata
3:18
13."I'm Ready"
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
3:40
14."Crazy"
  • Latimer
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
  • Eriwata
3:07
15."Come to Bed"
  • Latimer
  • Sadgrove
  • Panapa
  • Eriwata
2:58
Total length:53:46

Credits and personnel
  • Devin Abrams – engineer (14), producer (14)
  • Chris Chetland – mastering engineer (2, 5–6, 8–10, 13, 15)
  • Leo Coghini – producer (14)
  • Samuel Eriwata – engineer (11), producer (3, 6), songwriter (3–4, 8–9, 12, 14–15), vocals (8, 13)
  • Thabani Gapara – horn (2)
  • Kiapo Hanakahi – songwriter (3)
  • Seth Haapu – songwriter (5)
  • Sammy Johnson – songwriter (6, 11)
  • Avina Kelekolio – performer (12), songwriter (12)
  • Joel Latimer – engineer (3), keyboards (8), organ (13), piano (13), producer (3), songwriter (3, 12, 14–15)
  • JAH Maoli – performer (3)
  • Christian Mausia – horn (2)
  • Jackson Owens – performer (2)
  • Riapo Panapa – drums (8, 13), guitar (8, 13), producer (3), songwriter (2–4, 8–10, 12–15), vocals (8, 13)
  • Aaradhna Patel – performer (6), songwriter (6)
  • Matthew Sadgrove – bass (12), engineer, (1–2, 5, 8–9, 13), mixing engineer (1-2, 5–6, 8–9, 13, 15), producer (1, 5–7), songwriter (1–2, 4–5, 7–9, 13–15)
  • Israel Starr – performer (4)
  • Dylan Stewart – bass (8)
  • Hayden Taylor – engineer (3, 11)
  • Tomorrow People – performer (12)
  • Pieter Tuhoro – performer (3), songwriter (3, 12)
  • Sons of Zion – engineer (10, 12, 14), performer, producer (2, 10, 14–15)
  • Curtis Wiringi – songwriter (3)

Charts
Weekly chart performance for First XV
Chart (2022–2023) Peak
position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] 9

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[19] Gold 7,500‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for First XV
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
Various 28 October 2022
  • CD
  • digital download
  • streaming
 Sony Music New Zealand [20][2]

References
  1. Makiha, Kelly (18 October 2019). "Rio Panapa and Sons of Zion record dream album in Los Angeles". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. "First XV". JB Hifi. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. "Come Home - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. "Sons Of Zion Release Catchy, Upbeat New Single 'Come Home'". More FM. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. "Sons of Zion - Road Trip". More FM. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. "Sons Of Zion - Break Up Song". More FM. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  7. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  8. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  9. "Sons Of Zion Release New Single 'Crazy'". Hit Up Ange. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. Rutledge, Daniel (2 December 2021). "Spotify, YouTube, Apple announce most streamed songs in New Zealand in 2021". Newshub. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  11. "Familiar names dominate Waiata Māori Music Awards". Waatea News. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  12. Barton, Monika (3 September 2021). "Six60, Stan Walker, Troy Kingi, Hollie Smith, more release te reo Māori songs for Waiata Athems week". Newshub. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  13. Behan, Alex (19 September 2021). "Why waiata reo Māori have never been more popular". Stuff. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  14. "Te Reo Māori O Te Rārangi 10 O Runga: End of Year Charts 2021". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  15. "Te Reo Māori O Te Rārangi 10 O Runga: End of Year Charts 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  16. "Sons of Zion Release New Single 'Come to Bed' Out Today". New Zealand Music Commission. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  17. Rotorua Daily Post (17 November 2022). "Sons of Zion release new music as independent artists for first time in 15 years". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  18. "Charts.nz – Sons of Zion – First XV". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  19. "New Zealand album certifications – Sons of Zion – First XV". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  20. "First XV". iTunes. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
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