New Zealand artist Casual Healing (Nikau Te Huki) has dropped his latest single this week, with many more still on the horizon.
Te Huki has already made a name for himself after the strong debut of his laid back, surf-rock reggae style on Driftwood that made waves last year.
Despite the initial success, he’s refused to settle into one sound. “Hypersensitive” features Te Huki and Maori musician, MĀ, confidently diving into hip hop, soul and Middle Eastern influences, creating an intoxicating track that is sure to get heads bopping.
An accompanying music video for the song directed by Wellington local, Mason Rudd, sees Te Huki doubling down on his fun-loving yet funky approach to his music.
Te Huki self-produced the song, like Driftwood, with the aim of tying together Maori culture and modern music with the goal of sending getting listeners to open up to their emotions.
“When the world around us is too overwhelming, we numb ourselves,” said Te Huki. “We harden our hearts so we can block out the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and feelings that make us FEEL”.
“We gotta feel all the feels.”
The single follows the release of “Water the Good Seed” and “Aroha”, both collaborations with other New Zealand artists and will feature on the first of a series of EPs released by Te Huki as he starts a new chapter of his career.
The project, titled “Ahi”, is inspired by the four fundamental elements of Te Taiao (the natural world), the land, water, climate and living beings, with each track playing part in the broader story with it’s own individual style.
Casual Healing’s “Hypersensitive” is out now.
