October 26, 2025 • 9 mins
Auckland-based Samoan artist Lou'ana Whitney Pereira, who performs under her first name, chats to Andrew Dickens about her upcoming album titled 'Disco Witch'.
The album was divided into two parts titled 'AS ABOVE' and 'SO BELOW'. The latter was released in June but the release of 'AS ABOVE' this week will complete the album.
Lou'ana is a trained jazz singer obtaining a Bachelor of Jazz Performance from the New Zealand School of Music.
She won the 2021 Best Pacific Female Artist Award with her debut album 'Moonlight Madness'.
Lou'ana's album 'Disco Witch' will be released on October 31.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed Be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, we have a special guest in the studio, the
One Now. The One's a rising Kia Pacific pop stars.
She's already wrapped up over two million Spotify streams, so
people love her music and her sound is well, she'll
talk about it soon, but it's kind of bluesy and
funky and a little bit of disco in there. And
that's interesting because her new album is actually called Disco,
which her debut album was Moonlight Madness one of the
(00:49):
best Pacific female artists back in twenty twenty one. And
now the new album's coming out October thirty first, and
the Wana is in studios. Hello, so lovely to meet you.
I've heard all about you, but I've never met you before.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
This is such a pleasure. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
First time I heard about you was when a mat
of mine who happens to program music for radio stations,
went to see Gladys Knight and the Pips. He's a
big soul freak. Yeah great, and he just came back
and he said there was some woman who was playing beforehand.
I think she's a local. Yeah, and she was amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
That's the best news because I love the coast and
it was an amazing gig. So yeah, you never know
who's in the crowd, right, Did glad Us talk to you?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
No?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I wish she was in and out such a pro
and yeah, I think they just wanted to get her
in and out.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Now there was the Civic, was it not? It was
what a hell of a venue.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, and it was a full house as well.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Was that intimidating It was?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, But I guess the thing is when these things
come into your lap, you've got to take advantage of them.
Definitely Teddy Swims as well.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
You've played with, Yeah, exactly who else? Those are the
main big ones? Is Yeah? Yeah, amazing and both full house,
sold out shows, so a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So you started off as a jazz vocalist, you trained
as a jazz vocalist. Do you go to UNI on
that or what I did?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I went to jazz school.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
The Bear also did that. They did the band and
then they abandoned jazz and they started playing sort of
old pop. Yeah, so you've done the same or is
jazz still in new music?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I think jazz is always going to be a part
of the influence of my music. I think just my
love for the music to be alive and things to
be improvised and for people to just be reacting to
each other. I think I just will always love that
life in music.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But you've added more to the to the jazz, You've
added the blues.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You've added the funk, yeah yeah, and the disco yeah exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah. Well it's all really sould based music. It all
just comes from the soul, and so that's what I
really love about music, and that's what I always try to,
you know, tap into.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And where'd you come from? Where's your home base?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Home bas is here in Samma Kamakota. I was born here.
My grandparents lived here in the sixties from Samoae, and
my parents were both born here, So this is this
is home.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Absolutely, yeah, yeah absolutely. When do music come into your
life to the point now where you're going full boar.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, forever. It's always been in my life. My family
love music, they're into music, and I just had to
kind of continue it and dedicate my life to music. Really.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So you had an album in twenty twenty one, and
of course stuff has now gone on Spotify, YouTube, all
that sort of stuff. So people, you get two million
streams on Spotify. Now a lot of people talk about
Spotify being the death of music because you get no money.
But at the same time, two million people have heard you. Yeah,
has that been good for you?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Of course it's two million people who have yeah, listened
to my music. To me, that just shows how much
my music resonates and makes me want to just keep going.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
That's really it. And to make a living, you therefore
kind of have to do live gigs.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh yeah, And that's kind of what I'm all about,
is the live music.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I would love to get out there more, but you know,
as we know, it's a very expensive endeavor. But you
just go do a few different things musically, you know,
to make a living.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
And I think it might be your time as well,
because I feel that jazz influenced vocalists are coming into
the four these days. I'm talking about Olivia Deans for instance,
who's coming to New Zealand next year. You should play
support for him.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
That would be amazing. All right, was out there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
And Ray of course, who's like big band Jairs. So
real music is coming back.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, the real craft and vocals and music. Yeah, definitely,
definitely also seeing that. So that's really exciting and I
love that people are really tuning into that because yeah,
we need it. We love music. Music brings us joy.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So a new album at the end of the month. Yes,
and it's called Disco, which disco So it's pound them beats, Oh.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, hypnotic beats yep, Euphoric moments and get you dancing right.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And hopefully you'll get another two million streams and more
people will come to your gigs because you're doing a
tour as well.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I will be, yes, I will be I will be
doing a tour.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes, you don't know the dates.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, I know the dates. I announced it next week.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
But yeah, okay, well we just broke the embargo there, ladies.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Hey, there you go.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Here's the good thing that they're going to hear you
and you're to sing for us, and then they're going
to buy the tickets. Yes, and then they're going to
see you at all these little venues that you will
announce next week exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I feel like you guys have just got head start
and you know the secret now, So tune.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
In news Talk to be first with the news. Luana
is touring. Luana has a new album out October thirty first.
It's called Disco Witch, and we'll hear a song from
it right after the break. If that's all right with you,
I would love to share that our very special guest
is the one who has a new album out of
the end of the month. It's called disco Witch. In
the end of the month, of course, is just moments away.
So I cannot wait for it. And you're going to
(05:42):
sing for us. I am forgot what we've got.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Heartbeat my single that came out a few weeks ago. Enjoy,
may you to choice.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
It's such this guy to be with the devine bliss
away homogamic clouds. Shine up, find that cool of crown.
Glit the caves out on the floor hypnotized by this scooball.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Get your back half.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Off the wall, shine up, find that cool of crown.
Feel the hobby with me, muse it second, kiss me inhih,
feel the hobby with me, muse it sicking, kiss me
(06:50):
in the high. She bursts it out without her care.
She sur fired the abolancing flame. I tell you seals.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Back all in herrizon shin h Find that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Go in the crown.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Everybody's sway and left toway knowing, start up, being hurting,
night shining bright and this gonna light fire high side
through space and time. Feel the harpy with me music
(07:35):
secking kiss me and l high Feel the Harpy with
me music secn keeps me in light high.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Harm.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I can feel it, and can't you feel let too?
And can you feel that too? Ha bet a happy harpy?
I can't feel it? And can you feel a let to?
And can you feel that too?
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Oh, stay with me? Love is Ruby were hell you
stay with me? Oh ooh ooh stay here me. Love
is Ruby were Here? Stay me.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Pleasees oh, Magenzylowns, Magenta clowns pleasees oh.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Emma Na is far from.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Dead, Happy happy from disco witch by Luana our Mad
October City. First. That is a very well used electric guitar.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Oh yes, she's very loud to tell telecaster offender got
a name? Oh I don't, but you know one day?
Do you want to name it?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Peach?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Peach?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I love that This is a peach colored and it's
a beautiful guitar. It looks very old and it sounds
really good. The one to thank you so much. Look
at you go to Snight Teddy Swims and now News
Talks av You're on the up and up and the
new album disco Witch out October thirty first, and and
a tour maybe, and thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Today, My pleasure, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And I've been playing that album all weekend and I've
got it on vinyl and the vinyl is colored. It's
called Magenta Court and the word magentas and the album
all the way through and can I just say the
album's great, thumps away, sounds good, sounds like a holiday.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from news Talk zed Be
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well, we have a special guest in the studio, the
One Now. The One's a rising Kia Pacific pop stars.
She's already wrapped up over two million Spotify streams, so
people love her music and her sound is well, she'll
talk about it soon, but it's kind of bluesy and
funky and a little bit of disco in there. And
that's interesting because her new album is actually called Disco,
which her debut album was Moonlight Madness one of the
(00:49):
best Pacific female artists back in twenty twenty one. And
now the new album's coming out October thirty first, and
the Wana is in studios. Hello, so lovely to meet you.
I've heard all about you, but I've never met you before.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
This is such a pleasure. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
First time I heard about you was when a mat
of mine who happens to program music for radio stations,
went to see Gladys Knight and the Pips. He's a
big soul freak. Yeah great, and he just came back
and he said there was some woman who was playing beforehand.
I think she's a local. Yeah, and she was amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
That's the best news because I love the coast and
it was an amazing gig. So yeah, you never know
who's in the crowd, right, Did glad Us talk to you?
Speaker 4 (01:26):
No?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
I wish she was in and out such a pro
and yeah, I think they just wanted to get her
in and out.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Now there was the Civic, was it not? It was
what a hell of a venue.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
Yeah, and it was a full house as well.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Was that intimidating It was?
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, But I guess the thing is when these things
come into your lap, you've got to take advantage of them.
Definitely Teddy Swims as well.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
You've played with, Yeah, exactly who else? Those are the
main big ones? Is Yeah? Yeah, amazing and both full house,
sold out shows, so a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
So you started off as a jazz vocalist, you trained
as a jazz vocalist. Do you go to UNI on
that or what I did?
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I went to jazz school.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
The Bear also did that. They did the band and
then they abandoned jazz and they started playing sort of
old pop. Yeah, so you've done the same or is
jazz still in new music?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
I think jazz is always going to be a part
of the influence of my music. I think just my
love for the music to be alive and things to
be improvised and for people to just be reacting to
each other. I think I just will always love that
life in music.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
But you've added more to the to the jazz, You've
added the blues.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
You've added the funk, yeah yeah, and the disco yeah exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah. Well it's all really sould based music. It all
just comes from the soul, and so that's what I
really love about music, and that's what I always try to,
you know, tap into.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
And where'd you come from? Where's your home base?
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Home bas is here in Samma Kamakota. I was born here.
My grandparents lived here in the sixties from Samoae, and
my parents were both born here, So this is this
is home.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
Absolutely, yeah, yeah absolutely. When do music come into your
life to the point now where you're going full boar.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, forever. It's always been in my life. My family
love music, they're into music, and I just had to
kind of continue it and dedicate my life to music. Really.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So you had an album in twenty twenty one, and
of course stuff has now gone on Spotify, YouTube, all
that sort of stuff. So people, you get two million
streams on Spotify. Now a lot of people talk about
Spotify being the death of music because you get no money.
But at the same time, two million people have heard you. Yeah,
has that been good for you?
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Of course it's two million people who have yeah, listened
to my music. To me, that just shows how much
my music resonates and makes me want to just keep going.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
That's really it. And to make a living, you therefore
kind of have to do live gigs.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Oh yeah, And that's kind of what I'm all about,
is the live music.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I would love to get out there more, but you know,
as we know, it's a very expensive endeavor. But you
just go do a few different things musically, you know,
to make a living.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
And I think it might be your time as well,
because I feel that jazz influenced vocalists are coming into
the four these days. I'm talking about Olivia Deans for instance,
who's coming to New Zealand next year. You should play
support for him.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
That would be amazing. All right, was out there.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
And Ray of course, who's like big band Jairs. So
real music is coming back.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, the real craft and vocals and music. Yeah, definitely,
definitely also seeing that. So that's really exciting and I
love that people are really tuning into that because yeah,
we need it. We love music. Music brings us joy.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So a new album at the end of the month. Yes,
and it's called Disco, which disco So it's pound them beats, Oh.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, hypnotic beats yep, Euphoric moments and get you dancing right.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
And hopefully you'll get another two million streams and more
people will come to your gigs because you're doing a
tour as well.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I will be, yes, I will be I will be
doing a tour.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes, you don't know the dates.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
No, I know the dates. I announced it next week.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
But yeah, okay, well we just broke the embargo there, ladies.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Hey, there you go.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Here's the good thing that they're going to hear you
and you're to sing for us, and then they're going
to buy the tickets. Yes, and then they're going to
see you at all these little venues that you will
announce next week exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
I feel like you guys have just got head start
and you know the secret now, So tune.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
In news Talk to be first with the news. Luana
is touring. Luana has a new album out October thirty first.
It's called Disco Witch, and we'll hear a song from
it right after the break. If that's all right with you,
I would love to share that our very special guest
is the one who has a new album out of
the end of the month. It's called disco Witch. In
the end of the month, of course, is just moments away.
So I cannot wait for it. And you're going to
(05:42):
sing for us. I am forgot what we've got.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Heartbeat my single that came out a few weeks ago. Enjoy,
may you to choice.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
It's such this guy to be with the devine bliss
away homogamic clouds. Shine up, find that cool of crown.
Glit the caves out on the floor hypnotized by this scooball.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Get your back half.
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Off the wall, shine up, find that cool of crown.
Feel the hobby with me, muse it second, kiss me inhih,
feel the hobby with me, muse it sicking, kiss me
(06:50):
in the high. She bursts it out without her care.
She sur fired the abolancing flame. I tell you seals.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Back all in herrizon shin h Find that.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
Go in the crown.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Everybody's sway and left toway knowing, start up, being hurting,
night shining bright and this gonna light fire high side
through space and time. Feel the harpy with me music
(07:35):
secking kiss me and l high Feel the Harpy with
me music secn keeps me in light high.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
Harm.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
I can feel it, and can't you feel let too?
And can you feel that too? Ha bet a happy harpy?
I can't feel it? And can you feel a let to?
And can you feel that too?
Speaker 5 (08:08):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Oh, stay with me? Love is Ruby were hell you
stay with me? Oh ooh ooh stay here me. Love
is Ruby were Here? Stay me.
Speaker 5 (08:28):
Pleasees oh, Magenzylowns, Magenta clowns pleasees oh.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
Emma Na is far from.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Dead, Happy happy from disco witch by Luana our Mad
October City. First. That is a very well used electric guitar.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Oh yes, she's very loud to tell telecaster offender got
a name? Oh I don't, but you know one day?
Do you want to name it?
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Peach?
Speaker 3 (09:04):
Peach?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
I love that This is a peach colored and it's
a beautiful guitar. It looks very old and it sounds
really good. The one to thank you so much. Look
at you go to Snight Teddy Swims and now News
Talks av You're on the up and up and the
new album disco Witch out October thirty first, and and
a tour maybe, and thank you so much for coming in.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
Today, My pleasure, Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
And I've been playing that album all weekend and I've
got it on vinyl and the vinyl is colored. It's
called Magenta Court and the word magentas and the album
all the way through and can I just say the
album's great, thumps away, sounds good, sounds like a holiday.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
For more from News Talks ed B, listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
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