House of
shem
House Of Shem is an Aotearoa (New Zealand) based harmony trio comprised of the late Carl Perkins and his two sons Te Omeka Perkins and Isaiah Perkins – who are each multi instrumentalist and producers.
Formed 2005 in the rural area of Whanganui. The band embodies elements of roots reggae, pacific reggae and traditional maori music with relatable song-writing that connects powerfully with not only New Zealand and Australia audiences, but reggae listeners globally – attracting fans from all areas of the world.
Since bursting onto the music scene with their debut album Keep rising in 2008, House of Shem has released three very successful Albums and built a rapidly growing loyal fan base. Working with Grammy award winning engineers on two albums Errol Brown (Bob Marley, Burning Spear) and James Caruso (Damian Marley, Nas, Stephen Marley), and mixing at Tuff Gong Studios, Jamaica shows how dedicated House of Shem is in presenting quality product to the world.
Having obtained two Platinum and Gold albums, Carl Perkins has also been inducted into the New Zealand Music hall of fame with former band, The Herbs – who were also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for the most inspirational maori polynesian artist’s.
House Of Shem was the first ever Reggae band in Aotearoa (New Zealand) to debut at number one on the day of release for their album ‘Island Vibration’.
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 meaning “Women Are The Strength”, created with the aim to serve as an example for women in the traditionally male dominated world of Hip-Hop.
In 2013, Ladi and Parks decamped to Detroit’s Studio A, where they collaborated with Detroit Hip-Hop royalty, Waajeed, who joined Executive Producer Parks at the helm on LP, Automatic, with lead single “Ikarus” confirming beyond doubt, the versatility of Ladi6 and their un-willingness to rest on what could otherwise be considered rather impressive laurels.
For Ladi6 it has become a vital component in the songwriting process, clearly transporting them to their creative boundaries and beyond, which is evident on 2017’s Royal Blue 3000 EP with disruptive delights like "Guru", and "Royal Blue".With a catalogue that marks a woman whose only comfortable taking risks, the inspiring live show that Ladi6 brings is no exception to this rule. Taking the stage with a decade of world touring under her belt, her ability to connect and uplift her audience is where she thrives as frontwoman. Following tours across NZ, Australia and Europe with the likes of Erykah Badu, Jhene Aiko, Digable Planets and Fat Freddys Drop, it was supporting Gil Scott-Heron on his final UK and European tour prior to his passing - taking the stage before him at London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall - that stands as a career highlight.
PAnia
Despite being in the infant stages of her career, Pania’s vision has always been global. Raised in the cultural melting pot of West Melbourne, the singer took inspiration from her Maori and Indian heritage, fusing it with the fiery desire to achieve bigger and better things. “Growing up surrounded by industrial areas in the West, we were infatuated by the idea of making it out,” she says. “I’ve always just seen more for myself.” In high school, Pania took after her friends and began singing – always in private, because she was too shy for an audience. “It wasn’t until I dropped a demo on SoundCloud that local producers hit me up to work,” she says. “I met a lot of the underground West Melbourne scene through them, and built from that.”
Soon after, Pania realised that her lyrics were connecting with fans on a deeper level, and she knew that she had found her calling. “My music is how I feel when I’m most vulnerable, it’s like a diary to me,” she says. “All the toxic thoughts, the vulnerable ones, the simp nights, the things we all feel but sometimes might be afraid to say.” And while her music is intensely personal, she adds a three-dimensional nature to her songwriting by viewing past situations through a different lens. “Sometimes I like to write from the perspective of someone I’ve been with, or someone I’ve hurt in the past,” she says. “In a weird way, it helps me find clarity.” What results is an intimate journey through Pania’s world, where song is used to explore every corner and crevice, no matter how vulnerable.
Come 2022, Pania is gearing up for the release of her first EP, crafted with homegrown producer Hamley. In the months and years to follow, she’s looking to step things up significantly. “My music could be heard and translated anywhere in the world, I just happen to be from Australia,” she says. “My expression has no limits.”