L.A.B welcomes summer with their new single, “Follow.”
Just in time for New Zealand’s daylight saving and the start of warmer days, the track sticks to L.A.B’s signature style: laid-back acoustic melodies matched with frontman Joel Shadbolt’s smooth vocals.
Talking about the song, Shadbolt says, “harmonically and sonically, it takes you on a journey. It’s a track that was dreamed up in the studio, and went through many different versions before settling on the final product that you hear.”
The single comes with a music video shot by Shae Sterling, filmed during the band’s first trip to Hawaii. It shows L.A.B embracing local life, surfing, jamming, and exploring picturesque spots like Kaena Point and Mōli’i Fishpond.
“We shot the video after playing two shows – The Maui Arts Centre and the Waikiki Shell and managed to get some locals on board to help us with the video. We met lots of the people in the video at dinner, and they were so welcoming, it really reminded us of home,” says Shadbolt.
“Follow” caps off a busy year for the all-conquering band, with sold-out shows across New Zealand, Australia, and the U.S. Next up? More time in the studio and a packed tour schedule, including their first return to Australia in nearly two years. You can purchase tickets and find more information for the New Zealand tour here and for the Australian tour here.
Earlier this year, L.A.B dropped L.A.B VI, their latest album. This followed their remarkable feat in last year’s Top 20 New Zealand Albums Chart, where the band had an impressive four albums in the countdown, despite not releasing any new music in 2023.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ praised L.A.B VI for its signature blend of “sunny reggae and pop rock,” highlighting tracks like “Give Me That Feeling” and their 2022 single, “Take Me Away” (winner of Best Single at the 2023 Panhead Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards), which are expected to become festival and wedding circuit favourites by the time summer rolls around.
L.A.B’s “Follow” is out now.
