L.A.B. V

L.A.B. V is the fifth studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2021. Featuring the singles "Mr Reggae" and "Under the Sun", the album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the New Zealand Albums Chart, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year.

L.A.B. V
Studio album by
L.A.B.
Released17 December 2021 (2021-12-17)
Genre
Length48:39
LabelLoop Recordings
ProducerBrad Kora
L.A.B. chronology
L.A.B. IV
(2020)		 L.A.B. V
(2021)		 L.A.B in Dub
(2022)
Singles from L.A.B. V
  1. "Mr Reggae"
    Released: 26 November 2021
  2. "Under the Sun"
    Released: 17 December 2021
  3. "Real Ones"
    Released: 1 April 2022

Production

The album was written and recorded over a period of six months in mid-2021,[1][2] at Dr Lee Prebble's Surgery Studios in Wellington.[3]

Release and promotion

The album's first single "Mr Reggae", a cover of the 1977 song by Hawaiian musician Billy Kaui,[4][5] was released on 26 November 2021.[6] This was followed by "Under the Sun", which was released as the album's second single on the day the album was released, on 17 December.[7] The album's third single was "Real Ones", a hip-hop song performed with New Zealand musician Kings, which was released a week before the album's vinyl release on 1 April 2022.[8]

The band performed at Rhythm & Alps on 30 December, followed by three large-scale concerts in January, held in New Plymouth, Christchurch and Western Springs in Auckland.[9] The group's concert at Western Springs made them the second New Zealand band in history to headline the venue, after Six60.[3] In March and April 2022, the band toured Australia, performing seven dates, including an appearance at the Byron Bay Bluesfest on 15 April.[9]

Reception

In November 2022, the album was awarded the Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year. This was the second consecutive year where L.A.B. won this award, after L.A.B. IV in 2021.[10]

Track listing
L.A.B. V track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Can You Be the One"B Kora3:23
2."All Night"L.A.B3:01
3."Mr Reggae"Billy Kaui3:04
4."Under the Sun"B Kora4:52
5."Real Ones" (with Kings)Kings3:58
6."Oh Honey"B Kora4:05
7."Like Fire"B Kora3:40
8."Backseat"
  • B Kora
  • L.A.B
5:10
9."I Know"B Kora3:17
10."Proud Man"B Kora5:09
Total length:48:39

Credits and personnel

In addition to L.A.B., strings on the album were performed by The Black Quartet, a group featuring Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper, Peau Halapua and Joe Harrop. The album was recorded at the Surgery Studios in Wellington, New Zealand, while strings were recorded at Mmm Studio in Auckland.

  • A Adams-Tamatea – bass (1–4, 6–10), co-engineer, co-producer, moog bass (5), MPC (7), synths (3, 7)
  • The Black Quartet – strings (1–2, 5–6, 8)
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – string arrangement (1, 5–6, 8), string, flute & horn arrangement (2)
  • Mike Gibson – mastering (at Munki Studios)
  • M Gregory – backing vocals (1, 3, 6–9), FX (3, 9), glockenspiel (1, 6), harpsichord (9), keyboards (1, 8, 10), organ (3–4, 7, 9), piano (2, 4–6), piano solo (3), rhodes (6), synths (7, 10), vocals (2)
  • Jack Harre – trumpet (9–10)
  • Billy Kaui – lyrics, songwriting (3)
  • Kings – arrangement (5), drum programming (5), lyrics (5), rap (5), songwriting (5)
  • B Kora – arrangement (6), backing vocals (1, 6–9), drums (1–4, 6–10), glockenspiel (6), lyrics (1, 4, 6–10), moog (2), percussion (1–4, 6, 8–10), producer, songwriting (1, 4, 6–7, 9–10), vocals (2)
  • S Kora – acoustic guitar (1–2, 4), bubble (3, 9), clavinet (2, 9), backing vocals (1), electric guitar (6, 9–10), keys strings (6), organ (10), piano (3, 9), synths (5, 7), vocals (2)
  • L.A.B. – arrangement (1–5, 7–10), lyrics (2), songwriting (2, 8)
  • Natalie Mentor – artwork
  • Dr Lee Prebble – co-producer, head engineer
  • Reiki Ruawai – guest vocals (3)
  • J Shadbolt – acoustic guitar (1, 3, 8), backing vocals (1, 3–4, 6–10), electric guitar (1–4, 6–10), laps teel guitar (4), lead vocals (1, 4, 6–10), vocals (2–3, 5)
  • Bryn Van Vliet – saxophone (9–10)
  • Kaito Walley – trombone (9–10)
  • Louisa Williamson – flute (8), saxophone (8, 10)

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for L.A.B. V
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] Platinum 15,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release dates and formats for L.A.B. V
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
New Zealand 17 December 2021
Loop Recordings [1][14]
Various 8 April 2022 Vinyl [15]

References
  1. Illingworth, Sarah (16 December 2021). "L.A.B ready to rock the nation with one of summer's biggest tours". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. "L.A.B. - Yes I Do". Mai FM. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. Gibbs, Carly (11 December 2021). "L.A.B - Bay boys to men: Joel Shadbolt opens up about band's success". Bay of Plenty Times. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. Wikaire-Lewis, Mana (17 December 2021). "L.A.B's new album sails through new genres". teaomaori.news. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. "Music". Ka Leo O Hawaiʻi. 6 March 2007.
  6. "L.A.B Return With New Single & Announce New Album". New Zealand Music Commission. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  7. "L.A.B. - Under The Sun". Mai FM. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  8. "L.A.B & Kings Release 'Real Ones' w/ Remix From QUIX". muzic.net.nz. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. "L.A.B - New Album 'L.A.B V' Out Friday". muzic.net.nz. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  10. Dimitrof, Stefan (10 November 2022). "L.A.B make history after award win repeat". teaomaori.news. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  11. "Charts.nz – L.A.B. – L.A.B. V". Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  12. "Top Selling Albums of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. "New Zealand album certifications – L.A.B. – L.A.B. V". Recorded Music NZ.
  14. "L.A.B V". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  15. Dvibes (8 April 2022). "L.A.B release new single, 'Real Ones' ft Aotearoa based artist 'Kings' and an energetic trap remix by 'QUIX'". The Independent Music Insider. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
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