L.A.B. Explained

L.A.B.
Origin:Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Current Members:
  • Brad Kora
  • Stuart Kora
  • Joel Shadbolt
  • Stan Walker
  • Ara Adams-Tamatea
  • Miharo Gregory
Website:loop.co.nz/artists/lab
Label:Loop

L.A.B. is a New Zealand reggae band formed in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty in 2016.[1] Its founding members are Brad Kora (backing vocals and drums) and Stuart Kora (backing vocals, keyboard and guitar) of the band Kora. They soon engaged Joel Shadbolt on lead vocals and guitar, Ara Adams-Tamatea, formerly of Katchafire, as bassist, and Miharo Gregory as keyboardist.[2] The band mostly composes reggae music, with a mix of electronic, blues, rock and funk music.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Their song "In the Air" topped the New Zealand Singles Chart in March 2020.[8] At the end of the year, it was ranked as New Zealand's best-performing single of 2020.[9] It stayed in the top 10 for 73 weeks, longer than any other single, and at 9× platinum is New Zealand's all-time best-selling single. "Why Oh Why" also topped the New Zealand chart in December 2020.[10] By mid-2021, "Why Oh Why" had gained popularity at Island Reggae radio stations across Hawaii.

In July 2020, the band announced their first summer show date for January 2021 with The Black Seeds, Mako Road, Bailey Wiley and Anna Coddington in support.[11]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
NZ
[12] 		AUS
[13]
L.A.B. 8 —
L.A.B. II
  • Released: 21 December 2018
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
12 —
L.A.B. III
  • Released: 6 December 2019
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
5 —
  • RMNZ: 4× Platinum[16]
L.A.B. IV
  • Released: 18 December 2020
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1 49
  • RMNZ: 3× Platinum[17]
L.A.B. V
  • Released: 17 December 2021
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
1 —
L.A.B. VI
  • Released: 23 February 2024[19] [20]
  • Label: Loop Recordings
1 —

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
NZ
Introducing L.A.B.
  • Released: 13 October 2023
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: LP, digital download, streaming
1
  • RMNZ: Platinum

Remix albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
NZ
L.A.B in Dub
  • Released: 21 October 2022
  • Label: Loop Recordings
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
25

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
NZ
"Jimmy Boy"2017— L.A.B.
"Starry Eyes"—
"Ain't No Use"—
"Umulash"—
"Controller"20183
  • RMNZ: 8× Platinum[22]
"Midnight Summer"— L.A.B. II
"Free Fall in a Dream"—
"Baby Will You Let Me"[23] 2019—
"Personify"— L.A.B. III
"In the Air"1
"My Brother"202035L.A.B. IV
"Why Oh Why"1
  • RMNZ: 5× Platinum[26]
"Yes I Do"202113
  • RMNZ: 2× Platinum[27]
"Mr Reggae"3
  • RMNZ: 3× Platinum[28]
L.A.B. V
"Under the Sun"12
  • RMNZ: 2× Platinum[29]
"Real Ones"[30]
2022—
"Take It Away"13
  • RMNZ: 2× Platinum[31]
L.A.B. VI
"Casanova"202330
"Oh No (Pt. 2)"[33] —
"Ocean Demon"[34] 2024—
"Follow"[35] —

Other charted songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
NZ
"Rocketship"2018— L.A.B. II
"Fashion Dread"—
"Hands Up"—
"I Don't Wanna Know"—
"For the Love of Jane"2019— L.A.B. III
"Shadows"—
"Running"—
"Shoot on You"—
"Natural"20205L.A.B. IV
"No Roots"6
"Boy King"—
"Can You Be the One"2021—L.A.B. V
"Oh Honey"—
"Give Me That Feeling"2024—L.A.B. VI
"Follow"—
"Crazy Dream"—
"Mr Rave Rider"—

Notes and References

  1. Web site: L.A.B . 2022-10-28 . L.A.B . en.
  2. Web site: L.A.B . Loop Recordings Aotearoa.
  3. Web site: New Zealand's L.A.B. keen to keep experimenting. Drever. Andrew. 2019-12-05. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2020-02-26.
  4. Web site: Nelson has bumper summer entertainment season. Stuff. en. 2020-02-26.
  5. Web site: L.A.B. . www.muzic.net.nz. 2020-02-26.
  6. News: Kristin Macfarlane. When creatives connect on all levels, L.A.B magic is made. 2018-03-15. NZ Herald. 2020-02-26. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
  7. Web site: L.A.B – The New Kings of Kiwi Reggae. Critic - Te Arohi. 2020-02-26.
  8. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 9 March 2020. 7 March 2020.
  9. Web site: End of Year Charts 2020. Recorded Music NZ. 31 December 2020.
  10. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114171024/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4988. dead. 14 January 2021. Recorded Music NZ. 14 December 2020. 31 December 2020.
  11. Web site: 2020-07-06. L.A.B. to play 'one-off special show' in Taranaki. 2020-07-10. Stuff. en.
  12. Web site: Discography L.A.B.. charts.nz. Hung Medien. 2 April 2022.
  13. Web site: Discography L.A.B.. australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. 2 April 2022.
  14. New Zealand. L.A.B.. L.A.B.. album. true. 2022-07-15. newchart. 2024-11-20. 18 July 2022.
  15. New Zealand. L.A.B.. L.A.B. II. album. 2021-04-02. newchart. 2024-11-20. 5 April 2021.
  16. New Zealand. L.A.B.. L.A.B. III. album. true. 2023-02-03. newchart. 2024-11-20. 6 February 2023.
  17. New Zealand. L.A.B.. L.A.B. IV. album. true. 2023-04-28. newchart. 2024-11-20. 1 May 2023.
  18. New Zealand. L.A.B.. L.A.B. V. album. true. 2022-08-19. newchart. 2024-11-20. 22 August 2022.
  19. Web site: "It's a buzz": L.A.B vocalist on their new single 'Casanova' . . Jack . Tame . Jack Tame . 23 September 2023 . 16 October 2023.
  20. News: L.A.B make history after award win repeat . 10 November 2022 . teaomaori.news . Stefan . Dimitrof . 3 January 2023.
  21. New Zealand. album. 2024-11-15. newchart. 19 November 2024.
  22. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Controller. single. true. 2023-09-01. newchart. 2024-11-20. 4 September 2023.
  23. Web site: L.A.B. Drop Video for Baby Will You Let Me . 23 May 2019 . Loop . 7 January 2023.
  24. New Zealand. L.A.B.. In the Air. single. true. 2024-01-19. newchart. 2024-11-20. 16 October 2023.
  25. Australia. single. 2021. 4 February 2022.
  26. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Why Oh Why. single. true. 2023-03-10. newchart. 2024-11-20. 13 March 2023.
  27. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Yes I Do. true. single. 2022-07-29. newchart. 2024-11-20. 1 August 2022.
  28. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Mr Reggae. single. true. 2023-06-09. newchart. 2024-11-20. 12 June 2023.
  29. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Under the Sun. single. true. 2024-02-09. newchart. 2024-11-20. 12 February 2024.
  30. News: L.A.B & Kings Release 'Real Ones' w/ Remix From QUIX . 1 April 2022 . muzic.net.nz . 4 January 2023.
  31. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Take It Away. single. true. 2024-01-26. newchart. 2024-11-20. 29 January 2024.
  32. New Zealand. L.A.B.. Casanova. single. 2024-02-09. newchart. 2024-11-20. 12 February 2024.
  33. Web site: L.A.B Release Funky Single, 'Oh No (Pt. 2)', From Upcoming New Album . 15 December 2023 . . 20 December 2023.
  34. L.A.B Announce New Album, Share New Single 'Ocean Demon'. Rolling Stone. 26 January 2024. 1 February 2024.
  35. Web site: L.A.B Welcomes Summer with New Single ‘Follow’ . Rolling Stone Australia. 27 September 2024. 28 September 2024.
  36. Web site: Top 20 NZ Singles. Recorded Music NZ. 2 November 2020. 2 April 2022.
  37. Web site: Top 20 NZ Singles. Recorded Music NZ. 15 February 2021. 2 April 2022.

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