In the midst of summer 2012, multi-platinum New Zealand Maori singer/songwriter Awa was deep inside his new EP HEARTBEAT. Floored over by the long days and warm nights, he found himself in his words, “The happiest and most inspired I'd been in a long time”. As such he chose to play tribute to this with seven naturalistic new songs written around the themes of, as he puts it, “Love, Aotearoa and enjoying life.”

Coming off the back of his New Zealand Top 40 certified debut EP NATIVE INTEL (sung in Maori and English), substantial radio success in Hawaii over the last twelve months, three Maori Music Awards and the APRA Maioha Award for his song ‘Matahīapo’, Awa was primed. Alongside the working with local bands Soljah, Sonz of Zion and Jupiter Project, as well as Japanese producer Robert De Boron and Hawaiian groups Nesian NINE and The Jimmy Weeks Project, and performing with his live band Legacy, his self-belief and creativity was at an all-time high.

Over eight months of home studio recording sessions and reflection, HEARTBEAT came together, song by song, collaboration by collaboration. Working with Kiwi legend Che Fu (‘Papatuanuku’), rising Hawaiian diva Anuhea (‘Perfect Day’), grimy voiced Hamilton rapper JB (‘Love You Better’), Nesian Mystik super producer David Atai, beatmakers Kase and Ali Toto and reggae stalwarts House of Shem (‘Back in my Life’ & ‘Home’), as well as musicians Phil Crown, Thabani Gapara, Heath “Haka Boogie” Manukau and Dylan Elise, he's crafted a distinctively Nesian hybrid of RnB, Reggae, Dancehall Ragga and hip-hop, all delivered straight from the heart.

Mixed and mastered by Simon Holloway, HEARTBEAT will initially be available in a limited edition CD run and digitally on iTunes.

Launching HEARTBEAT with a performance at the top level of The Kingslander on the 17th of May, presale tickets will come with a signed copy of the EP, limited numbers of which will be available on the night.