Applications Open for Moana Songhubs 2024 Curated by Ladi6
Applications Open for Moana Songhubs 2024 Curated by Ladi6
February 1st, 2024
Moana SongHubs 2024
April 15th – 19th
Roundhead Studios, Auckland
Please note: Applications close at 5pm Wednesday 14th Feb 2024
There are 15 positions available to APRA members based in Aotearoa:
10 positions for songwriters
5 positions for producers
Funded positions:
There are 2 fully funded positions available to APRA NZ members living outside of the Auckland region. This will cover travel and accommodation costs alongside the fee offered to all participants.
Post-SongHubs support:
Thanks to generous support from Creative NZ, successful applicants will have access to financial support following Moana SongHubs to assist in the completion and release of songs written at the retreat.
How does SongHubs work?
SongHubs is a 4-day songwriting program. Each day our curator (Ladi6) will assign you a different group to write a song with. This group will consist of one of our guest writers, a producer, a ‘lead’ songwriter (for whom you’re writing a song), and one other songwriter. These groups will each inhabit a separate studio space for the day.
Each songwriter will get the opportunity to be a ‘lead’ songwriter at least once and will work with different guests during the week.
At the end of each day, all Moana SongHubs participants and guests come together to reflect on the day and listen to each other’s demos.
Curated by NZ’s celebrated queen of hip-hop, Ladi6, our Moana SongHubs 2024 program will also involve an incredible lineup of guests who will guide the participants in this collaborative songwriting experience.
AARADHNA
Possessing an inimitable, and almost genre-defining voice, Aaradhna’s place in Aotearoa R&B royalty is undeniable. Her illustrious career is one marked with connection, artistic innovation and a fierce commitment to authenticity.
Her discography spans iconic tracks from ‘They Don’t Know‘ and ‘Getting Stronger‘ to ‘Forever Love‘ and ‘Brown Girl‘ – all firmly part of the cultural zeitgeist of New Zealand. She has collaborated with a long list of Aotearoa’s most iconic artists, including Savage, Adeaze, David Dallas, Sons of Zion, and more recently US artist Sammy Johnson.
Now, Aaradhna is unveiling her first new material in 7 years. Self-produced and independent, tracks ‘SHE‘, ‘Beautiful Ones‘ and the powerful, self-titled spoken word track “Aaradhna” showcase and celebrate her Samoan and Indian heritage, breaking new ground in her already illustrious career.
BRANDON HARU
Brandon Haru is a multi-instrumentalist and award-winning producer for the likes of Ladi6, Valkyrie, @peace and Niko Walters. Brandon explores and experiments with new forms of musical expression, always looking to the essence of his cultural roots. Brandon’s talent has been recognised globally, with US production legend Timbaland singing praises of the New Zealand producer.
DEVA MAHAL
Beginning from her upbringing in Kaua’i, Hawaii to discovering her voice in New Zealand, it’s there where Deva Mahal solidified her vision of becoming an artist. Deva’s star continued to rise in New York City where in 2018, she released her aptly named debut album, Run Deep, followed by a series of singles released in 2019 by Motéma Music and a couple of acclaimed independent releases through Mahal Clan Productions.
Deva has toured the world, gracing stages of the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Bonnaroo, the Montreal Jazz Festival SXSW Festival (named the “#1 Best New Band at SXSW 2018”) and many more acclaimed international festivals.
Mahal has had the pleasure of collaborating with a number of musicians; Son Little, Allen Stone, Jaleel Bunton of TV on the Radio, Binky Griptite of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and has performed on stage alongside such international legends as Etta James, Björk, Ceelo Green, Angelique Kidjo, Martha Reeves, Percy Sledge, Mavis Staples, Patti Smith, Kris Bowers Bilal, Meshell N’Deogeocello, and The Roots. Mahal has performed live on TV Quotidien, Later… with Jools Holland, and recently an extra special guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
LUCKY LANCE
Lance Fepuleai aka Lucky Lance is a Samoan Artist based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Part of the award-winning hip-hop trio Team Dynamite formed in the late-2000’s alongside Tony Tz and Haz Beats. They’ve collaborated with the who’s who of New Zealand music including Che Fu, @Peace, Laughton Kora, and Bailey Wiley. Their high energy live show saw the group play major festivals including Homegrown and Rhythm & Vines. They have opened for international acts Methodman and Redman, and supported local acts such as Fat Freddy’s Drop and Ladi6.
Lucky Lance is also the founder and creative director behind Sky Pirates, a street wear entity sporting an art gallery that supports local artistic endeavours.
LADI6
As a vocalist, MC and truth-teller, the consistent evolution of Ladi6 has firmly cemented her as New Zealand’s undisputed Queen of Hip-hop/Soul and R&B.
Taking shape in different forms over the years, Ladi6 today is the group project of vocalist Ladi and a trio of accomplished Kiwi producers; her husband Parks, drummer Julien Dyne and keyboardist Brandon Haru – three of New Zealand’s most innovative creators, renowned for pushing the boundaries of electronic soul music.
Born and raised in Christchurch, it was a year-long family move to Tanzania that awoke Ladi’s songwriting and calling to perform. This led to the formation of her first group, the all-female Sheelahroc.
Following a move to Auckland, Ladi’s musical collaboration with Parks evolved further, with the rise of their group Verse Two – a hip-hop/soul band that achieved national success, sold out tours and supported international acts The Roots, De La Soul and 50cent. With a new direction calling, a desire to explore more experimental production and storytelling, the now-household name that is LADI6 began taking shape.
Since, Ladi6 has released treasured albums Time Is Not Much, The Liberation Of (featuring platinum selling single ‘Like Water’ a certified NZ classic), Automatic, a collaboration with Detroit Hip-hop Royalty Waajeed, and the beloved Royal Blue 3000 EP. Ladi has toured across the globe with the likes of Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko, Digable Planets and Fat Freddys Drop, and most notably, supported Gil Scott-Heron on his final UK and Eauropean tour prior to his passing, taing the stage before him at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall.
In 2021, Ladi6 was appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Music, joining both her parents as Queen’s Honour recipients. She was named one of the year’s Arts Foundation Laureates in 2023, receiving the Theresa Gattung Female Arts Practitioners Award. Ladi6 (MNZM) continues to reach new heights, creating a lasting legacy and forging pathways for Moana creatives to strive for excellence and sustainability in the arts.