High energy gig from KORA bros

A team of talented New Zealand musos have combined forces to form new power house group L.A.B, set to hit Kapiti with a high energy performance this weekend.

Comprised of the popular KORA brothers Brad, Francis and Stu Kora and their father Tai Kora, L.A.B includes the talents of fast emerging singer and jazz guitarist Joel Shadbolt and Kyle Popham (K.P) of industry favourite Sunshine Sound System.

L.A.B adds to a busy music career for the KORA brothers, who played weekend-to-weekend music festivals and gigs throughout New Zealand and across the world over the past eight years.

Now focused on the release of L.A.B's upcoming debut EP, group founder Brad is excited to introduce local audiences to its high-energy electronic, hard rock, soul and blues sound.

"The name L.A.B came around when my brother Laughton and I were sitting in studio with Kim Dot Com, thinking about how we wanted to express that we are musical surgeons creating something from nothing," said Brad, whose 2004 co-released KORA EP Volume achieved platinum status and sold over 10,000 copies.

On a fresh path since October last year, Brad and his fellow L.A.B members will perform in Raumati Beach this Saturday from 8pm, at Boundary Tap and Kitchen, courtesy of Kapiti's The PaePae Soundsytem.

"I'm looking forward to returning to Kapiti this month, which I love because it reminds me a lot of my hometown, Whakatane.

"It is a chilled place with good people."

With their weekends already booked up from October through to February next year, L.A.B's raw sound is not far off from the hard-hitting beats that saw KORA's 2007 self-titled debut album, and second Light Years album, receive double platinum and reach number one and two on the New Zealand Top 40 charts.

Brad said while he had a blast completing five European tours and two tours around Asia with KORA, creatively, he found himself drawn towards something different.

"The boys were working on some big television, film and musical projects, but I wanted to venture more towards the house music style, because my passion lies in good house, funk, metal, and drum 'n bass."

After finding L.A.B's lead singer Joel through social media, who has "major groove, musical feel, and serious taste", the brothers began focusing on developing songs comprised of "funk, blues and a couple of good head nodding tracks".

Currently working alongside executive producer Lewis McCallum in preparation for the four-track E.P release, L.A.B has been described by New Zealand festival organisers as the next big thing.

"Going from small town Maori brothers from Whakatane to full-time touring musicians has been a hell of a ride," Brad said.

"Our main goal now is to get the EP out by November, and then hit the summer festival circuits."

L.A.B is playing from 8pm until late at Boundary Tap and Kitchen, Raumati Beach.
The R18 event will feature support from local heavy weight DJ Prank Sinatra and special guests. $20 presale tickets are available from the venue.