New Zealand reggae-dub collective Kora continue a busy year releasing singles with their newest song, the space-funk soul and gleaming disco-R&B of 'Gone'.
Add emotional lyrics detailing an individual's broken heart as they attempt to salvage a faltering relationship to the timeless keys, acoustic guitars, groovy drums, and mellow bass, and 'Gone' sounds equally modern as it does nostalgic."The inspiration for this song is simply life. The highs and lows of love and loss have been sung about since the beginning of time, but how we come out the other side is the journey that makes us stronger," Kora says.
'Gone' follows previous 2022 singles 'All We Need' (which was also released in te reo Māori titled 'Kia Arohatia Tatou'), 'Champion feat. KP' and 'Taraketi'.
'Gone' was recorded by the band and mixed by Scott Banks (Snavs, Bruno Martini) at Studio DMI in Tauranga.
"'Gone' is a jam we worked on during lockdown, sending stems backwards and forward between us from Papamoa to Queenstown, the North Island to the South," shares the band.
"The video kept being pushed back by lockdowns and travel restrictions, and then when those ended there was no snow, so it's been a patient process realising our vision on this one."
The video was directed by cinematographer Heath Patterson and filmed in beautiful Queenstown.
The band's bassist, keys player Dan McGruer showcases in the video that there can be rhythm with the blues, and there is nothing wrong with dancing your sorrows away while you look to new horizons for the next mountain to climb.
"The video is filmed in my backyard, a special place and a home to the band, where the song was written and recorded; a spiritual journey to find your groove and soul after a painful break-up."
Here, the band share 5 fun facts about themselves.
1: 'Politician' was written in the year 2000 with the band's best pal, MC Killa Puha.
2: Darren and Dan are also in Shapeshifter, Fran is in MMQ (The Modern Māori Quartet), Stu and Richie are in L.A.B., while Marika plays with Troy Kingi, Hollie Smith and many more. Karlos is studying te reo Māori at a tertiary level, and on his way to becoming bilingual.
3: Kora's first festival show was in the timeslot between Trinity Roots and Fat Freddy's Drop.
4: Kora band members all live in different cities and towns of New Zealand.
5: The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team aka The Red Arrows performed over a Kora show in England once.
