March 21, 2019

13th Floor New Song Of The Day: Lou’ana – Eye To Eye

Former Hipstamatics vocalist steps out on her own with debut single Eye To Eye.

Not only has Lou’ana got a new single for us to hear, but there is a striking new video to go with it and tour dates! Here’s the record company blurb with more details:

March 21, 2019: Coinciding with the Full Moon, kiwi artist LOU’ANA makes her debut with the haunting ‘Eye to Eye’, accompanied by powerful visuals, crafted by visionary Director, Anna Duckworth (Tami Neilson, Randa, Doprah). The video was shot by Nina Wells and produced by Morgan Leigh Stewart.

Combining intersectional feminism, black girl magick through movement and visual spells, the captivating video takes inspirational cues from the Netflix show, The OA, as well as the way ‘spells’ are presented on shows such as The Magician.

The video’s director, Duckworth comments on the shoot, which was guided by a strong group of wāhine toa: “It was amazing working with such a heavily female team for this concept. We had a female producer, director, cinematographer, choreographer and all female talent. With themes of female strength and depictions of powerful magical women it felt important that this was being made from the perspective of women. A film set is such a traditionally masculine environment, so that dedication to making sure there are plenty of women on the crew really brings in a different energy and is super rad for creativity and collaboration.”

The encapsulating, magick-inspired choreography was created by luminary choreographer, Jane Strickland.

Having carved a place for herself within Auckland’s vibrant music community over the past 6 years as a proud, second generation Samoan New Zealander, Lou’ana’s voice carries the stature of an old soul; a cosmic cocktail of sweet and soulful, with an added gritty, blues edge that references the golden age of Etta James, Emmylou Harris to the rawness of Stevie Nicks and Amy Winehouse. Her heart and soul translates through sound, in that unexplainable alchemy that happens when music meets word.

Lou’ana has performed all around New Zealand as part of the inimitable funk troup Hipstamatics, playing a multitude of festivals across the country including some of their favourite haunts such as Hipstamatics’ “birth place”, Grand Central in Ponsonby. The spell-binding artist also performs as part of Two Many Chiefs, and has supported a number of New Zealand jazz acts including Andrew Faleatua at Samoana Jazz Festival and the 2015 Pacific Music Awards, as well as providing live vocals for kiwi electronic outfit Sola Rosa.

Lou’ana kicks off 2019 with multiple New Zealand tour dates, and headlines the Waiheke Jazz Festival through April 19-22.