Summer may be long gone in Aotearoa, but LEAO are doing their best to bring it back.
LEAO is a Samoan musical project made up of David Feauai-Afaese (vocals/guitar), Navakatoa Tekela-Pule (bass), Levi Gemmell (steel guitar), and Rāhana Tito-Taylor (drums).
They describe their sound as ‘niu wave’, or ‘Pacific neo psychedelia’, melding “non-traditional tonalities with a fa’asamoa spirit.”
New single “LALELEI” is one of their best releases yet, building nicely (albeit belatedly) on their groovy 2024 double drop, “TAEAO” / “MEA UMA”.
LEAO’s new single is, at heart, a loving dedication to ‘aiga ma atunu’u’, or ‘family and homeland’, and the band aimed for a blissful throwback sound.
“The intent behind ‘LALELEI’ initially was to write something closer to older classic Samoan pop songs,” Feauai-Afaese explains. “A lot of old Samoan classics from the late-70’s and throughout the 80’s took inspiration from American popular music of the time such as soft-rock, funk, soul, and R&B, thus compositionally we had a strong idea of what to reference sonically.
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“Lyrically, there’s nothing more iconic in Samoan songwriting than writing a song dedicated to Samoa. ‘LALELEI’ is a tribute to Samoa and to all the Samoan bands that contributed to what we know Samoan pop music today.”
The Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-based band’s music has always proudly celebrated their Pacific heritage, and “LAELELEI” is no different.
“I’m proud to be Samoan and the ‘fa’asamoa’ (‘the Samoan Way’) deeply lenses how I see and interact with the world,” Feauai-Afaese says. “However, it’s been so long since I’ve been back to Samoa and it’s not lost on me that my conceptualisation of Samoa as someone in the diaspora, is unique to how Samoans in Samoa imagine Samoa and themselves.
“That said, I think it’s what makes a project like LEAO so meaningful, in both it’s intention and makeup, because the conversation about Samoaness and the ‘fa’asamoa’ is invigorated and opened, rather than existing as a monolith.”
“LALELEI” sets the scene nicely for the arrival of LEAO’s forthcoming album, THE SAMOA TAPES.
Before then, the band are showcasing their music overseas, including an appearance at Great Escape Festival in England alongside an excellent crew of Aotearoa acts. While in that part of the world, LEAO will also tour with Tinariwen throughout Scandinavia.
LEAO’s “LALELEI” is out now via Noa Records.
