Tomorrow People (band)
# Tomorrow People (band)

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 |
| - | - | - |
| Title | Album details | 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 |
| 2010 | "Sundown Girl" | Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio | ONE |
| 2011 | "One More Time" | Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio | ONE |
| 2011 | "Feel Alright" (featuring Kolohe Kai) | Liam Va'ai / Roman De Peralta | ONE |
| 2011 | "Tonight" | Liam Va'ai / Avina Kelekolio | ONE |
| 2011 | "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 |
| 2012 | "Souljah Feeling" (featuring Chad Chambers) | Luke Whaanga / Chad Chambers | ONE |
| 2012 | "Take It Away" | Kenape Saupese | ONE |
| 2013 | "Irie Music" | Luke Whaanga | ONE |
| 2013 | "Souljah Feeling" (House of Shem Remix) | Luke Whaanga / Chad Chambers / Te Omeka Perkins | Single only |
| 2013 | "You Give Me Something" (Duet Remix) | Johanna Tepania / Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | ONE.5 EP |
| 2013 | "So Far" | Kenape Saupese | ONE.5 EP |
| 2014 | "Fly Away" (featuring Tyna Keelan) | Kenape Saupese | ONE.5 EP |
| 2014 | "Given Up" | Johanna Tepania / Avina Kelekolio | ONE.5 EP |
| 2014 | "Daydreamer" | Luke Whaanga | ONE.5 EP |
| 2014 | "Again & Again" | Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2015 | "No Rush" | Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2015 | "No Rush" (Papa Pablo Remix) | Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2015 | "Get It Back" | Hamo Dell | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2016 | "Independent Girl" | Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2016 | "Train to Nowhere" (featuring Paua) | Marcus Abraham / Jay Whitmore | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2016 | "Writing's On The Wall" (featuring Fran Kora) | Marcus Abraham / Francis Kora | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2016 | "Chance Go By" | Hamo Dell | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2017 | "This Feeling" (featuring Sons of Zion) | Kenape Saupese / Sam Eriwata | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2017 | "Even Though" | Kenape Saupese | Bass & Bassinets |
| 2017 | "Lock Me Up" | Marcus Abraham / Kenape Saupese / Avina Kelekolio | BBQ Reggae |
| 2017 | "Don't Wanna Fight It" | Kenape Saupese / Marcus Abraham | BBQ Reggae |
| 2018 | "Don't Wanna Fight It" (Poly Reo Remix) | Kenape Saupese / Marcus Abraham / Hamo Dell | Single only |
| 2018 | "No Good" | Hamo Dell | BBQ Reggae |
| 2018 | "Kua To Te Ra" (No Good - Te Reo) | Hamo Dell | Single only |
| 2019 | "Where I Stand" (featuring Conkarah) | Kenape Saupese / Conkarah / Avina Kelekolio | BBQ Reggae |
| 2019 | "Fever" (featuring Fiji) | Hamo Dell / George 'Fiji' Veikoso | Single only |
| 2020 | "Fever" - The Island Remixes | Hamo Dell / George 'Fiji' Veikoso / Wayno / Molo Try / Eono / Jaro Local | Fever - The Island Remixes EP |
| 2021 | "Lose Track Of Time" | Te Aranga Savage | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Rere Te Wa" | Te Aranga Savage | Single only |
| 2021 | "Just A Little Bit" | Snow Chase / Avina Kelekolio | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "My Guy" (featuring Wayno) | Te Aranga Savage / Wayne La'ai | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Show Me" | Kenape Saupese | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Don't Worry Baby" | Te Aranga Savage | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Say My Name" | Fredwyn Kisona / Avina Kelekolio | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Your Man" | Fredwyn Kisona | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Vows" | Snow Chase | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Rise Up" | Snow Chase / Fredwyn Kisona | Waiata Anthems Vol. 2 |
| 2021 | "Give It To Me" (featuring Fiji) | Te Aranga Savage / George 'Fiji' Veikoso | Single only - First Fridays |
| 2021 | "Better Off Alone" | Snow Chase | 21 |
| 2021 | "Da da da da da" | Te Aranga Savage | 21 |
| 2021 | "See You One Day" | Fredwyn Kisona | 21 |
| 2021 | "Oku Ra" | Snow Chase | Single only |

### Featured appearances

| Release | Album | Artist | Track |
| - | - | - | - |
| 2013 | Universal Love | Sons of Zion | Superman |
| 2013 | Aotearoa Reggae All Stars (single only) | Various Artists | Sensitive to a Smile |
| 2013 | Be with You – Remix (single only) | Deach | Be with You |
| 2014 | Raggamuffin VIII | Various Artists | Souljah Feeling |
| 2015 | One Love: The Very Best of Aotearoa Reggae | Various Artists | Take It Away |
| 2016 | One Love 2016 | Various Artists | Again & Again |
| 2018 | Love Her Mind (Single) | Israel Starr | Love Her Mind |

## Awards

| Year | Award | Nominated work | Category | Result |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 2012 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "ONE" | Best Roots Reggae Album | Won |
| 2012 | New Zealand Music Awards | "ONE" | Best Roots Album | Nominated |
| 2013 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "ONE" | Best Pacific Group | Won |
| 2013 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "ONE" | Best Pacific Album | Nominated |
| 2013 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "Souljah Feeling (Remix) | Best Music Video | Nominated |
| 2014 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "ONE.5" | Best Urban Roots Album | Nominated |
| 2014 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "Daydreamer" | Best Music Video | Nominated |
| 2014 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "ONE.5" | Best Pacific Group | Nominated |
| 2015 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Again & Again" | Best Pacific Group | Nominated |
| 2016 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Bass & Bassinets" | Best Pacific Group | Nominated |
| 2016 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Bass & Bassinets" | Best Producer | Nominated |
| 2017 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Writings on the Wall" | Best Pacific Group | Nominated |
| 2017 | New Zealand Music Awards | "Lock Me Up" | Best Roots Artist | Nominated |
| 2018 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Lock Me Up" | Best Pacific Group | Won |
| 2018 | Vodafone Pacific Music Awards | "Sa'ili Le Alofa" | Best Language Song | Won |
| 2018 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | Best Roots Reggae | Won |
| 2018 | New Zealand Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | Best Roots Artist | Nominated |
| 2019 | Pacific Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | Best Roots Reggae Artist | Won |
| 2019 | Pacific Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | Best Pacific Group | Won |
| 2019 | Pacific Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | People's Choice | Won |
| 2019 | New Zealand Music Awards | "BBQ Reggae" | Best Pacific Album | Won |
| 2020 | Pacific Music Awards | "Fever" | Best Pacific Group | Won |
| 2021 | Aotearoa Music Awards | First Fridays | Best Roots Reggae Artist | Nominated |
| 2022 | Pacific Music Awards | "21" | Best Pacific Album | Won |
| 2022 | Pacific Music Awards | "21" | Best Pacific Group | Nominated |
| 2022 | Pacific Music Awards | "21" | Best Roots Reggae Artist | Won |
| 2022 | Pacific Music Awards | "21" | Best Producer | Nominated |
| 2022 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "21" | Best Music Video | Nominated |
| 2022 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "21" | Best Group | Nominated |
| 2022 | Waiata Maori Music Awards | "21" | Best Roots Reggae Album | Nominated |
