Music Industry News

Indigi-queer powerhouses Theia and Bobby Sanchez unite on an alternative version of BALDH3AD!, which is out today.

New York-based musician and poet, Bobby Sanchez, delivers a poignant and timely new second verse in Theia’s powerful protest anthem, the original of which premiered on Seattle’s famed radio station KEXP back in September.

“BALDH3AD!’ is my musical assault on the plague of colonisation, which has impacted our people since the 1800s and continues to threaten our language and culture under the current government. It’s an expression of seething anger but also a call to action for my fellow wāhine Māori, rangatahi Māori and indigenous folks worldwide,” says Theia.

Now, on the BALDH3AD! (Remix), Bobby brings her own unique style of rap, poetry and perspective to the song, which amplifies the plight of indigenous folks around the globe.

“Colonizers think they own the whole world
Global warming, but this is a cold world
My people shiny like some gold pearls
Spirit in tact, creator know my soul’s pure
ATAHUALPA dropped the Bible on the ground because he couldn’t hear it”

“These lines talk of one of the first encounters between the Quechua empire and the Spanish colonizers,” explains Bobby.

“It describes an experience when a priest approached the leader at the time, ATAHUALPA, and handed him a bible. ATAHUALPA raised the book up to his ear and dropped it to the ground, I think it was a poetic time in history because it shows the resistance of our people against the colonial forces of religion, something that Theia paints a picture of in this song.”

Theia and Bobby met in 2023 when they performed on the same line-up at a festival in California. When thinking of potential collaborators to add their voice to BALDH3AD!, Theia says she knew Bobby would do justice to the song and the message it delivers.

“I was really moved by Bobby’s performance last year and have listened to many of her songs, like ‘Quechua 101 Land Back Please’ and ‘Revolution Visionary’. Her work in music and beyond is exemplary.”

Bobby adds: “I am very impressed by the way Theia mixes her indigenous identity with her music as well as speaking about the effects that religion played in colonization of indigenous peoples. I think she is making connections through music that is truly unique and I love it. I also think her voice is absolutely amazing and when the offer was made to collab I yelled at my phone ‘no fucking way’.”

Although now based in Los Angeles, Theia will be returning to Aotearoa for The Others Way Festival in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday, November 30. Keep across Theia’s socials for updated live shows and details about the upcoming release of her debut album.

Bobby Sanchez (she/they) is a 29 -year-old poet, musician, model, painter, and personal trainer. Bobby identifies as trans as well as two-spirit in honor of her indigenous ancestry. Her music and artwork cover topics of indigenous identity, environmental issues, LGBTQ+ discrimination and liberation on all fronts. Some of her biggest accomplishments have been participating at the 2018 National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Performing at 2023 NYC Pride, 2024 Oakland Pride and Tulsa Pride, featuring in The July 2024 Issue of National Geographic, and releasing eight EPs since March 2021.

Theia is known for her fearless and formidable anthems, which challenge social injustices. She has been making waves since she first emerged in 2016 and has gone on to earn critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, Clash and Pigeons & Planes. She is also a three-time nominee at the NZ Music Awards. Theia has toured across Australasia and has played at many of NZ’s largest festivals. Now based in LA, Theia has spent the past two northern hemisphere summers touring in the US and Canada. A descendant of the Ngāti Tīpa people from the Waikato-Tainui tribe, she is a fierce proponent for the revitalisation of Māori language and culture. She has also received international attention for her award-winning project TE KAAHU, in which she writes, records and performs solely in te reo Māori.

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