Casual Healing (aka Nikau Te Huki) is spreading the love this Valentine’s.
The Wellington artist’s latest release “Aroha” is a smooth, R&B-tinged ballad featuring a heartfelt verse from local rapper Kenzie From Welly.
“The song came out of a fight I had with my wahine,” Te Huki shares. “It got me thinking, why do we always take our sh*t out on the people we love the most? Time to make a change. The guitar came first, then the drums. The beat felt like early 2000’s RnB which was exactly what i needed to feel connected and pour out my hopeful heart.”
“Aroha” is the second single from Ahi, the first of four self-produced EPs Te Huki plans to release this year. Each project represents one of the fundamental elements of Te Taiao (the natural world). It follows “Water the Good Seed”, the EP’s first single, which was featured in Rolling Stone AU/NZ‘s weekly new music roundup.
Casual Healing is on the rise—his 2024 debut album, Driftwood, was named one of the best New Zealand albums of the year by Rolling Stone AU/NZ.
“There’s also a strong sense of home and family in these songs, and they capture the journey of a young man finding his place in life: “I’m coming home / I’m coming home,”he softly sings in standout track “Aotearoa”. “Land of the long white cloud / I want to feel your mist / In this empty space,” the Wellington-based artist yearns.
“Casual Healing has a bright future ahead of him in New Zealand music. ”
Casual Healing’s “Aroha” feat. Kenzie From Welly is out now.
