| "Take It Away" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by L.A.B. | ||||
| from the album L.A.B. VI | ||||
| Released | 9 December 2022 [1] | |||
| Genre | pop, reggae | |||
| Length | 3:32 | |||
| Label | Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| L.A.B. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Take It Away" on YouTube | ||||
"Take It Away" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. VI in December 2022.
"Take It Away" is a reggae-inspired pop song with elements of rock music. [2] The song, along with the rest of the material for the band's album L.A.B. VI was written and recorded in mid-2022. [3] The song was recorded in a single take. [2]
"Take It Away" was released as the lead single from the band's album L.A.B. VI on 9 December 2022. [2] Over the 2022/2023 New Zealand summer, the band performed concerts in Tauranga, Hastings, Whangārei and Christchurch, [2] followed by an Australian tour in April and May. [4]
The song was compiled onto the band's 2023 album Introducing L.A.B. , originally produced as a sampler for their debut European performances. [5]
"Take It Away" won the best single award at the 2023 Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards. [6]
| Chart (2022) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [7] | 13 |
| Chart (2023) | Position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [8] | 23 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ) [9] | 2× Platinum | 60,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Shapeshifter are a live drum and bass act from New Zealand. They are known for their live shows and blend of heavy soul with drum and bass. They have made appearances at Glastonbury, The Big Chill, Big Day Out, Parklife plus sold-out performances across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
When the Cat's Away were a New Zealand female vocal group, supergroup and covers band formed in 1985. They are best known for their cover of the Blue Mink assimilationist song "Melting Pot", which became a New Zealand number one hit for them in 1988. In 2021, the band members were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame.
Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters, Ji Fraser, Chris Mac, Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga and Eli Paewai (drums).
Karmin was an American pop duo consisting of Amy Renee Noonan and Nick Noonan. Starting as a novelty act that released covers on YouTube, they signed in 2011 with Epic Records. In May 2012, Karmin released their debut EP Hello, which spawned the singles "Brokenhearted" and "Hello", and received mixed reviews. Rolling Stone named Karmin's lead singer Amy as the winner of "Women Who Rock" 2012 contests. In March 2014, the duo released their debut album, Pulses. The album's lead single, "Acapella", charted in the top 10 in Australia and New Zealand, and went Gold in the United States. They left Epic Records in the middle of 2014 and have since released music independently. Their second album Leo Rising was released on September 9, 2016.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra are a New Zealand psychedelic rock band formed in Auckland, primarily composed of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Ruban Nielson, and bassist Jacob Portrait. The band is based in Portland, Oregon. Nielson started the band in 2009, initially as a solo project. The band's first album was released in 2011 on Fat Possum Records; four subsequent studio albums have been released on Jagjaguwar, the most recent being V (2023).
Ocean Alley is an Australian alternative psychedelic rock band from the Northern Beaches. The band is made up of Baden Donegal, Angus Goodwin, Lach Galbraith, Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass) and Tom O'Brien (drums). Their style of music has been described as "cruisey psych, rock and reggae fusion".
Drax Project is a New Zealand pop and R&B band that formed in Te Aro, Wellington in 2014. Recording a mix of jazz, R&B and pop music, the band came to prominence in 2017 with the single "Woke Up Late", which was certified triple platinum by RIANZ while the 2019 version featuring Hailee Steinfeld was certified triple platinum in Australia.
The Beths are a New Zealand indie rock band, formed in Auckland in 2014. The group principally consists of lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck. Meeting at the University of Auckland, the band signed to Carpark Records in 2018, where they have released the albums Future Me Hates Me (2018), Jump Rope Gazers (2020), and Expert in a Dying Field (2022). They have toured internationally with Death Cab for Cutie, The National, and received praise from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
Stella Rose Bennett, better known as Benee and formerly Bene, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter from Auckland. In both 2019 and 2020, she consecutively won Single of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Pop Artist at the New Zealand Music Awards. Benee initially gained local prominence with her singles "Glitter" and "Soaked", before her 2019 single "Supalonely" saw international popularity following its success on the video-sharing platforms TikTok and YouTube. Benee subsequently released her debut album, Hey U X, in November 2020.
Spacey Jane are an Australian indie rock band formed in Fremantle in 2016. The group consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Caleb Harper, lead guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, drummer Kieran Lama and bass guitarist Peppa Lane, who replaced original bassist Amelia Murray in 2019.
L.A.B. is a New Zealand reggae band formed in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty in 2016. Its founding members are Brad Kora and Stuart Kora of the band Kora. They soon engaged Joel Shadbolt on lead vocals and guitar, Ara Adams-Tamatea, formerly of Katchafire, as bassist, and Miharo Gregory as keyboardist. The band mostly composes reggae music, with a mix of electronic, blues, rock and funk music.
"In the Air" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. III in November 2019. The song topped the charts in New Zealand, becoming the most successful single of 2020 in the country.
Troy Kingi is a New Zealand musician and actor from Northland, first receiving media attention when he appeared in the 2013 film Mt. Zion. Kingi is a multi-instrumentalist, is known for his 10/10/10 project: the plan to release 10 albums in 10 genres across 10 years.
"All She Wrote" is a song by New Zealand band Six60, released as a single in February 2021, during their Six60 Saturdays tour. The song was a hit for the band, reaching number one in New Zealand.
L.A.B. V is the fifth studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2021. Featuring the singles "Mr Reggae" and "Under the Sun", the album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number one on the New Zealand Albums Chart, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Album of the Year.
"Mr. Reggae" is a song by Hawaiian musician Billy Kaui of the band Country Comfort, released on his debut album Billy Kaui in 1977. The song was a hit for New Zealand band L.A.B. after they released as the lead single from their album L.A.B. V in November 2021, reaching number three in New Zealand, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Single of the Year.
Rob Ruha, is a New Zealand musician from Wharekahika, Gisborne District. He debuted as a solo musician in 2013, and is known for his singles sung in te Reo Māori, including "Kalega" (2017), "Ka Mānu" (2019), "35" with Ka Hao (2021), and "Taera" (2021). Ruha worked as the music director for the Māori language version of the Walt Disney Pictures films Moana and The Lion King.
Coterie is a four-member Australian-New Zealand band. Formed from four brothers who were born in New Zealand and grew up in Perth, Western Australia, the band received recognition for the 2021 single "Cool It Down", which was a hit in New Zealand.
"Why Oh Why" is a roots reggae song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. IV in December 2020. The song was a success, debuting at number one in New Zealand, and winning the Aotearoa Music Award for Single of the Year.
"Someone to Be Around" is a song by New Zealand band Six60. Originally released on their limited-release extended play Six60 in 2008, the song was performed live on the group's 2013 iTunes Session EP. The song was added to the 10th anniversary of their debut album Six60 in 2021, and became the most played song of New Zealand origin on New Zealand airwaves in 2022.