Music Industry News

Auckland-based neo-soul artist Taylah introduces a new chapter with ‘Loved’, her first solo single for Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa, from her forthcoming self-titled EP, TAYLAH, out Friday November 6.

Listen HERE / Pre-save EP HERE

Stripped back and intimate, ‘Loved’ places Taylah’s vocal at the centre of an acoustic arrangement shaped by neo-soul influences. Moving between English and te reo Māori, the song explores the desire to give and receive love with certainty, encouragement, and uplift.

At its heart is the simple refrain: “This is how I want to be loved / This is how I need to be loved”. As the song unfolds, that sentiment carries into te reo Māori through simple, evocative imagery. ‘Loved’ is ultimately about knowing what you need from a relationship and having the confidence to express it clearly.

The official audio for ‘Loved’ arrives as part of a project which began with Taylah previewing songs from her new EP through an acoustic session series. The original live version of ‘Loved’ saw Taylah performing a version of the track among works by Messini Palace, Raukikini, Stacey Moana Smith, Lissy & Rudi, Feona Pula and Hikurangi Edwards. The finished version of ‘Loved’ was recorded at Parachute Studios, where the entire new EP was captured in less than two days.

‘Loved’ also marked an important personal milestone: the first song Taylah wrote that incorporated lyrics in te reo Māori. The process brought her back to an earlier conversation with her aunty about feeling uncertain of her place using the language in her own music.

“I remember telling my Aunty years ago, ‘I don’t feel worthy to sing in te reo Māori,’ and she nearly tore my head off. She told me I needed to cut that out right now. To now be able to confidently release my first song with lyrics in te reo Māori feels like I’m telling myself that I am worthy. Thanks, Aunty.”

The single is the first taste of Taylah’s forthcoming self-titled EP, TAYLAH, arriving Friday November 6, ahead of a Aotearoa tour beginning Saturday November 7.

Taylah Aotearoa tour dates:
Saturday November 7 – Ayrburn, Queenstown (Supporting L.A.B and Sir Dave Dobbyn)
Thursday November 12 – Oneonesix, Whangārei
Friday November 13 – Turner Centre Theatre Bar, Kerikeri
Saturday November 14 – Movespace, Auckland

Buy tickets here

Check out all things Taylah
Of Ngāpuhi descent, Taylah is an emerging Aotearoa artist whose soul-drenched voice and direct songwriting draw from neo-soul, blues and contemporary R&B. She first appeared on Loop as part of the cast of Fly My Pretties’ ELEMENTAL, contributing three original songs, including ‘Red Flags’. Her forthcoming solo material marks the beginning of a new chapter with the label.

Taylah’s new EP follows a developing series of intimate live acoustic videos created in collaboration with leading contemporary artists from Aotearoa. Sitting at the intersection of music, visual art and culture, the series brings together contemporary Māori creative voices, exploring the relationship between song and visual art.