December 6, 2024 • 7 mins
Up and coming Tāmaki Makaurau band Corrella returns with their new album, Skeletons.
The 11-track collection is filled with soulful roots reggae, with touches of funk, gospel, pop, soul, and even a bit of country. The band rose to prominence in 2023 with their single ‘Blue Eyed Māori’, which holds the record for most weeks ever spent at the top of the NZ Singles Chart.
Estelle Clifford joined Francesca Rudkin to give her thoughts on Skeletons.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame podcast
from News Talks at Me, So Homemack.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Reading, home man dreaming, Let you find your own way
back to me, because there's only you. You, You are you,
(00:37):
You are there is you You.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I am loving the vocals here. This is all there is.
This is a new song by Corella. It is off
their brand new album they've just released, Skeletons and tell
Me watch thanks of it.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We're joined by Estelle Clifford. Good morning, Da Francesca.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
Isn't it just a beautiful as jealous of people who
can just stram the guitar so beautifully and then the
wire across it, You're like, oh, just falling in love
with those vocals and him as he sings, and Corella
are really really good at that kind of thing, that simple,
beautiful melody, and then suddenly all those layers you hear
(01:18):
underneath it with a percussion, like the whole this whole
album has got really great production, and then some are
really you know, that paired that kind of beautiful singing,
and then suddenly you've got like the full horn.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Section there all go yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Bringing in that first of all vibe and I think
when you can sing that's the bird a like, that's
the bit that's going to capture everybody. If you've got
great vocals, then I reckon you're gonna draw people into
your to your album what you've got going on.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Absolutely well, that totally got me there. Yeah, But I
think that's also great to know because I think we
people might be more familiar with some of the more upbeat,
full on tracks.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Absolutely yeah, And they're on this album, Skeletons covers all
of that, and it starts with that. You know, you've
got those big, huge summer big horn section and then
the big percussion comes in and all the voices singing
at once. So they've got that reggae dub soul funk
kind of thing going on where you can party and
(02:15):
dance along. But I sort of think they've also got
this awesome set in their album where you know those
bits where everyone just needs to take a little bit
of a quiet moment and love each other.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Hey, tell me a little bit about these guys. I'm
not usually familiar with them.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, So Peepee, pharo Rawer and Tenaware they actually met
in the Royal New Zealand a navy, so they're Navy people.
I think Tenaware, if I'm correct, is still in the Navy.
So they actually started doing like a band that did
pub covers. So if you can master that and get
(02:48):
everyone on the dance floor, I reckon it's a great
place to start. But they went to one of the
One Love festivals, and I think that was the draw
card for them, where they're like, actually, we could probably
start writing and creating our own music and get up
on that stage. Like a cool background to have doing
those bands that go in through the pubs and stuff
and make everyone happy. But then to start believing in
(03:11):
yourself and writing your own music and your own stories.
That was the instigator I think for them at the
One Love Festival, and then pretty much over the last
three years they have just been working, working, working, working
to really solidify what their sound is. They won a
couple of awards at the old Tedler Music Awards. Was
(03:33):
that last year. I think it was a wasn't it Yeah, Yeah,
So they won for one of their big singles, blue
Eyed Mardy beautiful song and really great and also with
that slight Mardi Humor, and then also one of the
Breakthrough Artist Awards, So that sort of helps write catapult you.
And I've heard a few interviews with them where they're like, well,
(03:54):
this is the bit to remind you that all that
hard mahi, all that hard work does pay off because
suddenly you're starting to get recognition for what you do.
But it also gives you that fizz to be like, yeah,
let's keep working and creating more. And I think what
they're done with this album is really played and discovered
more of what their sound can be. I mean, they're
all extremely talented musicians, so they can probably do whatever
(04:17):
they want to be fair, but really sticking with that cool,
summer festival, fun, upbeat kind of vibe. There's a bit
of probably a political social commentary in some of the songs.
One's called Cookie. I was listening to it being like, wow,
Cookie's really getting his beans, and then I realized they're
talking about Captain Cook, so we've all got our version
(04:40):
of history and how to tell that story. But it's
a really really catchy song and I liked it, but
I think there's, yeah, it's an interesting one to listen
to it. There's also a song called two Chure, and
I figure that if someone can sing I'm too sexy,
then why can't you sing I'm too chuur, I'm to chur.
(05:02):
It's so good, Like there's those beautiful Kiwi colloquialisms. It's
just beautiful that you find on this album. And it
made me laugh and smile, and I'm like, that's a
wonderful thing that music can do as well as celebrating,
you know, a really upbeat kind of vibe about someone.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Still, this is the second album, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
It is, so you've seen quite a step up. Do
you think between that first and the second album?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
I think someone, Do you know what I think it
is is confidence in what you're writing. That's often the
change that I think happens to people across their albums.
They start with something and it's beautiful and it's nice.
But I think that evolution and the hard work is going. Actually,
we can push that further. We can add more layers here,
we can use our vocals differently, we can write our
(05:48):
stories from our perspective, and that's what people follow artists for,
right to hear their version of something doesn't necessarily have
to be your version of something. But we can all
learn from there and grow, and I think as artists
that's really nice to hear them have that confidence to
do that too.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Why does the the whole reggae thing sort of resonate
so much in New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
It's really interesting because we have a real do you know.
I think we just all actually really love singer, brass
and horn section. It's pretty sexy when someone's up there
with the trump today. Maybe there's a bit of that.
I think it has a positive, fun sound. I think
culturally it's something that we can really embrace. We all
obviously like to shake our booty a little bit.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, just suits the vibe.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
It does, I think. And it also you know a
lot of our musicians do have a background in jazz
and soul, and I think that's part of an evolution
of that music working together. Good musicianship, right, absolutely, because
those are the foundations to being able to play any chord,
being able to push your vocals, play with your voice,
play with your instruments. Those foundations, you know, then open
(06:56):
you up to stuff and there's kind of you know,
on this album, there is that reggae thing. They've gone
a bit pop. Sometimes there's a bit of rock, and
I think again, if you've got those foundations, that kind
of work together. Also, there's just something beautiful about positive,
happy sounding music.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Wrap it up for me? What we're going to rate
the sumber.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Oh this was so hard for me, Francesca. This is
the hardest burd of anyone of you who as opposed
to talking everybody up supporting Lab across this summer tour
nine shows. I think you're gonna love this album. I'm
just gonna go with a ten out of ten for
beautiful sounds and voices amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Thank you so much, Estelle. I always love Estelle's positivity
around these things.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
We're going to play a little bit more from Corella
after the break.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
It is eight to twelve.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tame podcast
from News Talks at Me, So Homemack.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Reading, home man dreaming, Let you find your own way
back to me, because there's only you. You, You are you,
(00:37):
You are there is you You.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I am loving the vocals here. This is all there is.
This is a new song by Corella. It is off
their brand new album they've just released, Skeletons and tell
Me watch thanks of it.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
We're joined by Estelle Clifford. Good morning, Da Francesca.
Speaker 5 (00:58):
Isn't it just a beautiful as jealous of people who
can just stram the guitar so beautifully and then the
wire across it, You're like, oh, just falling in love
with those vocals and him as he sings, and Corella
are really really good at that kind of thing, that simple,
beautiful melody, and then suddenly all those layers you hear
(01:18):
underneath it with a percussion, like the whole this whole
album has got really great production, and then some are
really you know, that paired that kind of beautiful singing,
and then suddenly you've got like the full horn.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Section there all go yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Bringing in that first of all vibe and I think
when you can sing that's the bird a like, that's
the bit that's going to capture everybody. If you've got
great vocals, then I reckon you're gonna draw people into
your to your album what you've got going on.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Absolutely well, that totally got me there. Yeah, But I
think that's also great to know because I think we
people might be more familiar with some of the more upbeat,
full on tracks.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Absolutely yeah, And they're on this album, Skeletons covers all
of that, and it starts with that. You know, you've
got those big, huge summer big horn section and then
the big percussion comes in and all the voices singing
at once. So they've got that reggae dub soul funk
kind of thing going on where you can party and
(02:15):
dance along. But I sort of think they've also got
this awesome set in their album where you know those
bits where everyone just needs to take a little bit
of a quiet moment and love each other.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Hey, tell me a little bit about these guys. I'm
not usually familiar with them.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
Yeah, So Peepee, pharo Rawer and Tenaware they actually met
in the Royal New Zealand a navy, so they're Navy people.
I think Tenaware, if I'm correct, is still in the Navy.
So they actually started doing like a band that did
pub covers. So if you can master that and get
(02:48):
everyone on the dance floor, I reckon it's a great
place to start. But they went to one of the
One Love festivals, and I think that was the draw
card for them, where they're like, actually, we could probably
start writing and creating our own music and get up
on that stage. Like a cool background to have doing
those bands that go in through the pubs and stuff
and make everyone happy. But then to start believing in
(03:11):
yourself and writing your own music and your own stories.
That was the instigator I think for them at the
One Love Festival, and then pretty much over the last
three years they have just been working, working, working, working
to really solidify what their sound is. They won a
couple of awards at the old Tedler Music Awards. Was
(03:33):
that last year. I think it was a wasn't it Yeah, Yeah,
So they won for one of their big singles, blue
Eyed Mardy beautiful song and really great and also with
that slight Mardi Humor, and then also one of the
Breakthrough Artist Awards, So that sort of helps write catapult you.
And I've heard a few interviews with them where they're like, well,
(03:54):
this is the bit to remind you that all that
hard mahi, all that hard work does pay off because
suddenly you're starting to get recognition for what you do.
But it also gives you that fizz to be like, yeah,
let's keep working and creating more. And I think what
they're done with this album is really played and discovered
more of what their sound can be. I mean, they're
all extremely talented musicians, so they can probably do whatever
(04:17):
they want to be fair, but really sticking with that cool,
summer festival, fun, upbeat kind of vibe. There's a bit
of probably a political social commentary in some of the songs.
One's called Cookie. I was listening to it being like, wow,
Cookie's really getting his beans, and then I realized they're
talking about Captain Cook, so we've all got our version
(04:40):
of history and how to tell that story. But it's
a really really catchy song and I liked it, but
I think there's, yeah, it's an interesting one to listen
to it. There's also a song called two Chure, and
I figure that if someone can sing I'm too sexy,
then why can't you sing I'm too chuur, I'm to chur.
(05:02):
It's so good, Like there's those beautiful Kiwi colloquialisms. It's
just beautiful that you find on this album. And it
made me laugh and smile, and I'm like, that's a
wonderful thing that music can do as well as celebrating,
you know, a really upbeat kind of vibe about someone.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Still, this is the second album, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
It is, so you've seen quite a step up. Do
you think between that first and the second album?
Speaker 5 (05:25):
I think someone, Do you know what I think it
is is confidence in what you're writing. That's often the
change that I think happens to people across their albums.
They start with something and it's beautiful and it's nice.
But I think that evolution and the hard work is going. Actually,
we can push that further. We can add more layers here,
we can use our vocals differently, we can write our
(05:48):
stories from our perspective, and that's what people follow artists for,
right to hear their version of something doesn't necessarily have
to be your version of something. But we can all
learn from there and grow, and I think as artists
that's really nice to hear them have that confidence to
do that too.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Why does the the whole reggae thing sort of resonate
so much in New Zealand.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
It's really interesting because we have a real do you know.
I think we just all actually really love singer, brass
and horn section. It's pretty sexy when someone's up there
with the trump today. Maybe there's a bit of that.
I think it has a positive, fun sound. I think
culturally it's something that we can really embrace. We all
obviously like to shake our booty a little bit.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, just suits the vibe.
Speaker 5 (06:33):
It does, I think. And it also you know a
lot of our musicians do have a background in jazz
and soul, and I think that's part of an evolution
of that music working together. Good musicianship, right, absolutely, because
those are the foundations to being able to play any chord,
being able to push your vocals, play with your voice,
play with your instruments. Those foundations, you know, then open
(06:56):
you up to stuff and there's kind of you know,
on this album, there is that reggae thing. They've gone
a bit pop. Sometimes there's a bit of rock, and
I think again, if you've got those foundations, that kind
of work together. Also, there's just something beautiful about positive,
happy sounding music.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Wrap it up for me? What we're going to rate
the sumber.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Oh this was so hard for me, Francesca. This is
the hardest burd of anyone of you who as opposed
to talking everybody up supporting Lab across this summer tour
nine shows. I think you're gonna love this album. I'm
just gonna go with a ten out of ten for
beautiful sounds and voices amazing.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Thank you so much, Estelle. I always love Estelle's positivity
around these things.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
We're going to play a little bit more from Corella
after the break.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
It is eight to twelve.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live
to News Talks ed B from nine am Saturday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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