Tomorrow People is a seven-piece New Zealand reggae band that formed in 2010. Their debut album One was released on 1 June 2012 under Illegal Musik / Warner Music and debuted at Number One on the New Zealand charts. It was later certified Gold. They have also released an EP called One.5 in 2014, and a full-length album called Bass & Bassinets in 2015. Their EP "BBQ" Reggae was released in January 2018 and debuted at number one in New Zealand.
History
Early years Tomorrow People began as a studio project in 2010 between four friends who were in a previous band together. Avina Kelekolio (production, toasting), Lio Fili (bass, production), Tana Tupai (keys) and Liam Va'ai (vocals) all played together in the covers band Terakey, and in their spare time they recorded some songs at Avina's home studio setup in Wellington. Once they had a handful of original songs, the group uploaded their music to YouTube. The social media public had a listen to "One More Time", "Jammin" and "Sundown Girl" and it was not long before they were asked if they could play some live shows.
As they did not have a live band at the time, Elia Feterika (drums), Analote Faletolu (vocals), Aaron Davey (guitar) and La'i Lepou (keys) were recruited to make up the original line up of Tomorrow People. Their first show was an opening slot for New Zealand roots reggae band Three Houses Down in Masterton.
2012: ONE The band's debut album was entirely written by the original four members. Avina Kelekolio did the overall production while the others contributed ideas in Avina's home studio. Mixing and mastering was all done in-house. The first single to be released was "Feel Alright" featuring Hawaiian band Kolohe Kai and although it was a collaboration, the song was done entirely via sending files and ideas back and forth between New Zealand and Hawaii. The song was one of the first reggae songs to be played on urban radio in New Zealand. A trend which continues to this day. 10 songs from this album were released to radio between 2010 and 2012.
Before the release of the album, original member Liam Va'ai had left the band to focus on other things. Despite being co-credited with majority of the album, he does not appear in any of the band's music videos.
The album ONE stayed in the New Zealand music charts for a span of 52 weeks. It was certified Gold, won a Waiata Music Award and a nomination for Pacific Album of the Year VPMA, and Best Roots Album and the NZVMA. End of year official charts placed the album at #9 across all genres.
2013: ONE.5 In 2013, Tomorrow People released an 8-track EP titled ONE.5. This was to be an extension of the original "ONE" album. With new members on board, they varied their style and incorporated elements of R&B and pop into some of their songs. Hennie Tui contributed his R&B style which can be heard on the songs "So Far" and "All I Wanna Do". The first song to be released was "So Far" and it gave a new direction to the band. The EP also gave spotlight to new vocalists Kenape Saupese (Kensau), Luke Whaanga and Johanna Tepania.
2015: Bass & Bassinets Bass & Bassinets represented a new start and refresh of the band. With only three members remaining from the ONE album, the band varied their approach to songwriting. With new members Hamo Dell, Daniel Sugrue and Marcus Abraham on board, there was a range of different styles being brought to the table. Avina Kelekolio took on the task of production while Tana Tupai was the executive producer with focus on the overall sound. As the band wanted to collaborate more with other musicians, they enlisted the skills of Sammy Johnson, Sons of Zion, Francis Kora, Paua, Lion Rezz, Papa Pablo and The Prxfile for songwriting and collaborations.
2018: "BBQ" Reggae In late 2017, Tomorrow People decided to release their 4th offering exclusively at New Zealand's biggest reggae festival 'One Love'. Consisting of 6 originals and 2 language songs, the EP climbed quickly to No.1 on the NZ Official Top 40 charts. From there, the EP gave the band a Waiata Music Award, five Vodafone Pacific Music Awards, a New Zealand Music 'Tui' and a nomination for Best Roots Artist at the 2018 VNZMA. The effort also earned co-managers Tana Tupai and Avina Kelekolio an MMF Music Managers award for Best Self-Managed Artist. Featuring on the EP is Jamaican artist Conkarah.
2021: 21 In December 2021, Tomorrow People released their third full-length album consisting of 16 tracks. They released these songs throughout the year as part of their "First Fridays" campaign. This 'waterfall release' method was the first of its kind, and it allowed the band to effectively release 12 singles along with 1 album.
Discography
Albums Title Album details Peak chart position NZ ONE Released: 1 June 2012 Label: Illegal / Warner Format: CD, digital download 13 tracks + 1 iTunes bonus track Certified Gold 1 ONE.5 Released: 22 November 2013 Label: Illegal / Warner Format: CD, digital download 8 tracks 6 Bass & Bassinets Released: 13 November 2015 Label: Illegal / Warner Format: CD, digital download 13 tracks + 1 iTunes bonus track 1 BBQ Reggae Released: 29 January 2018 Format: CD, digital download 8 tracks 1
Singles released Year Single Vocalist(s) Album 2010 "Jammin" Liam Va'ai ONE "Sundown Girl" Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio 2011 "One More Time" Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio "Feel Alright" Liam Va'ai / Roman De Peralta "Tonight" Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Liam Va'ai / Greer Samuel Illegal Musik – For Christmas EP 2012 "Better Place" Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio ONE "Souljah Feeling" Luke Whaanga / Chad Chambers "Take It Away" Kenape Saupese 2013 "Irie Music" Luke Whaanga "Souljah Feeling" (House of Shem Remix) Luke Whaanga / Chad Chambers / Te Omeka Perkins Single only "You Give Me Something" (Duet Remix) Johanna Tepania / Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio ONE.5 EP "So Far" Kenape Saupese 2014 "Fly Away" Kenape Saupese "Given Up" Johanna Tepania / Avina Kelekolio "Daydreamer" Luke Whaanga "Again & Again" Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio Bass & Bassinets 2015 "No Rush" Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio "No Rush" (Papa Pablo Remix) Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio "Get It Back" Hamo Dell 2016 "Independent Girl" Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio "Train to Nowhere" Marcus Abraham / Jay Whitmore"Writing's On The Wall" (featuring Fran Kora)Marcus Abraham / Francis Kora"Chance Go By"Hamo Dell2017"This Feeling" (featuring Sons of Zion)Kenape Saupese / Sam Eriwata"Even Though"Kenape Saupese"Lock Me Up"Marcus Abraham / Kenape Saupese / Avina KelekolioBBQ Reggae"Don't Wanna Fight It"Kenape Saupese / Marcus Abraham2018"Don't Wanna Fight It" (Poly Reo Remix)Kenape Saupese / Marcus Abraham / Hamo DellSingle only"No Good"Hamo DellBBQ Reggae"Kua To Te Ra" (No Good - Te Reo)Hamo DellSingle only2019"Where I Stand" (featuring Conkarah)Kenape Saupese / Conkarah / Avina KelekolioBBQ Reggae"Fever" (featuring Fiji)Hamo Dell / George 'Fiji' VeikosoSingle only2020"Fever" - The Island RemixesHamo Dell / George 'Fiji' Veikoso / Wayno / Molo Try / Eono / Jaro LocalFever - The Island Remixes EP2021"Lose Track Of Time"Te Aranga SavageSingle only - First Fridays"Rere Te Wa"Te Aranga SavageSingle only"Just A Little Bit"Snow Chase / Avina KelekolioSingle only - First Fridays"My Guy" (featuring Wayno)Te Aranga Savage / Wayne La'aiSingle only - First Fridays"Show Me"Kenape SaupeseSingle only - First Fridays"Don't Worry Baby"Te Aranga SavageSingle only - First Fridays"Say My Name"Fredwyn Kisona / Avina KelekolioSingle only - First Fridays"Your Man"Fredwyn KisonaSingle only - First Fridays"Vows"Snow ChaseSingle only - First Fridays"Rise Up"Snow Chase / Fredwyn KisonaWaiata Anthems Vol. 2"Give It To Me" (featuring Fiji)Te Aranga Savage / George 'Fiji' VeikosoSingle only - First Fridays"Better Off Alone"Snow Chase21"Da da da da da"Te Aranga Savage21"See You One Day"Fredwyn Kisona21"Oku Ra"Snow ChaseSingle only2022"Give In To Me - Remix"(featuring Rex Atirai & Fiji)Te Aranga Savage / Rex Atirai / George 'Fiji' VeikosoSingle only2023"Slow Up" (with Justin Wellington)Justin WellingtonSingle only"A Little Bit More"Fredwyn KisonaSingle only"Best Of My Love"Fredwyn KisonaSingle only"It's You" (with STNDRD & Canaan Ene)STNDRD / Fredwyn KisonaSingle only"Ki Raro" (with Rex Atirai)Rex Atirai / Avina KelekolioSingle only
Featured appearances ReleaseAlbumArtistTrack 2013Universal LoveSons of ZionSupermanAotearoa Reggae All Stars (single only) Various ArtistsSensitive to a SmileBe with You – Remix (single only)DeachBe with You2014Raggamuffin VIIIVarious ArtistsSouljah Feeling2015One Love: The Very Best of Aotearoa ReggaeVarious ArtistsTake It Away2016One Love 2016Various ArtistsAgain & Again2018Love Her Mind (Single)Israel StarrLove Her Mind
Awards YearAwardNominated workCategoryResult2012Waiata Maori Music Awards"ONE"Best Roots Reggae AlbumWon New Zealand Music Awards"ONE"Best Roots AlbumNominated 2013Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"ONE"Best Pacific GroupWon Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"ONE"Best Pacific AlbumNominated Waiata Maori Music Awards"Souljah Feeling (Remix)Best Music VideoNominated 2014Waiata Maori Music Awards"ONE.5"Best Urban Roots AlbumNominated Waiata Maori Music Awards"Daydreamer"Best Music VideoNominated Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"ONE.5"Best Pacific GroupNominated2015Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"Again & Again"Best Pacific GroupNominated2016Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"Bass & Bassinets"Best Pacific GroupNominatedVodafone Pacific Music Awards"Bass & Bassinets"Best ProducerNominated2017Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"Writings on the Wall"Best Pacific GroupNominatedNew Zealand Music Awards"Lock Me Up"Best Roots ArtistNominated2018Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"Lock Me Up"Best Pacific GroupWon Vodafone Pacific Music Awards"Sa'ili Le Alofa"Best Language SongWon Waiata Maori Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"Best Roots ReggaeWon New Zealand Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"Best Roots ArtistNominated 2019Pacific Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"Best Roots Reggae ArtistWon Pacific Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"Best Pacific GroupWon Pacific Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"People's ChoiceWon New Zealand Music Awards"BBQ Reggae"Best Pacific AlbumWon 2020Pacific Music Awards"Fever"Best Pacific GroupWon2021Aotearoa Music AwardsFirst FridaysBest Roots Reggae ArtistNominated2022Pacific Music Awards"21"Best Pacific AlbumWonPacific Music Awards"21"Best Pacific GroupNominatedPacific Music Awards"21"Best Roots Reggae ArtistWonPacific Music Awards"21"Best ProducerNominatedWaiata Maori Music Awards"21"Best Music VideoNominatedWaiata Maori Music Awards"21"Best GroupNominatedWaiata Maori Music Awards"21"Best Roots Reggae AlbumNominated
References