Trailblazing Afro Pasifika DJ Lady Shaka today unveils her first original release, ‘E Tu’ with the announcement of her signing to NLV Records.

‘E Tu’ is a fierce rallying cry of protest. Featuring a flip of Aaria’s ‘Kei A Wai Rā Te Kupu’, Lady Shaka’s reimagination of the buoyant R&B original is bound by high tempo house bounce. As much a celebration of the unity dance communities forge in their gathering as she speaks to the genre’s political origins, ‘E Tu’ is a prime example of how Lady Shaka’s presence in the scene has spread like wildfire globally - addictive in energy and deep with intention.

“The opening lyrics "me nekeneke tāua, e tū" meaning “let's move together and stand up” in Te Reo Māori is a great representation of our current political climate in Aotearoa (New Zealand),” Lady Shaka shares. “With the deprioritising of our language in public spaces, the attempted removal of Māori public services and most importantly the current threat to Māori rights with the attempted removal of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, this song is a call to action for not just Tangata Whenua (people of the land) but also Tangata Tiriti (Non-Māori) to unite together, kia tu kotahi (to stand as one).

“The original sample comes from early 2000's band Aaria and became popular amongst Māori during the integration of the Māori language into film, television and popular music. For a lot of us who grew up in the era of puna reo (language revitalisation schemes) this song was seen as a form of indigenous resistance being that Aaria were pioneers within the Māori pop scene. Their music showed us 'the kohanga generation' that being Māori was special, that being Māori was mean, that being Māori was tūmeke (awesome).”

The moniker of multi-disciplinary artist Shakaiah Perez, Lady Shaka’s musicality is an extension of her ancestry, a member of the Pacific Island, Indigenous Māori and Cape Verdean diaspora raised in Aotearoa (NZ), now residing in London; guided by her connection to the moana (ocean) and queer identity as a fem queen. Raised as a dancer, for Shaka music has always been her vessel to make the “body move, speak, communicate and tell stories,” determined to amplify her communities in every element of her work.

"I started my label NLV Records to showcase diverse and exciting talent," shares label founder and director Nina Las Vegas. "I love working with creative risk-takers, who know what they want, while caring about the community they are part of, ultimately highlighting their culture to the world. Lady Shaka is one of the best. Her sets are joyful, just like her day-to-day energy. I’m so honoured to be releasing her debut music on NLV Records. Her trust in me means the world, especially with ‘E-Tu’, a driving club song deeply rooted in her Indigenous heritage and musical upbringing. Let’s get it!"

A live show commandeur, Shaka seamlessly crafts club experiences that place trap and R&B side by side with disco, house classics and Pasifika anthems uniquely woven amongst bombastic remixes of VengaBoys, Kylie Minogue and Black Eyed Peas. Her sound, defined as “global, bassy, clubby music with our Indigenous sounds” (DJ Mag) has shared stages with Honey Dijon, Yung Singh and Ahadadream while enchanting voguers and fist-pumpers alike across Asia, Australasia, Europe and the UK, Canada and Latin America. Lady Shaka’s mastery of the CDJs captivates from start to finish as a thrilling ride of wonder to where she will guide dancers to next.

Keeping busy with turbo sets across Glastonbury, multiple Boiler Rooms including London and Naarm / Melbourne, Sonar Festival, Beyond The Valley amongst consistent world tours; fans in Jamz Supernova, Jyoty, IAMDDB, NTS, Rinse FM, triple j; brand collaborations with Stella McCartney, Puma, JD Sports, Slamjam, Ed Curtis; recipient of the Creative New Zealand Award at the 2023 Pacific Music Awards amongst recognition from DAZED, DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Billboard Italia, NZ Herald, Lady Shaka’s reputation already precedes her.

As an innovator, Shaka is consistently motivated to challenge, represent and celebrate with a string of history making moments already attributed to her name. In 2019 she founded the only Pacific Island culture showcasing club night Pulotu Underworld which has since spawned a global collective partnering with platforms like Keep Hush, Boiler Room and fundraising for Pacific Island relief.

Her long standing partnership with Boiler Room includes her place as one of the first Pacific Islanders to DJ on the platform ever in their Aotearoa / New Zealand debut - later praised in the channels best of 2021 compilation and in 2022 featured alongside HAAi, Jeff Mills and I.JORDAN in the first spatial audio DJ mixes on Apple Music. Earlier this year Lady Shaka spearheaded the inception and curation of the platform’s Rarotonga / Cook Island event, the first in a series across the Pacific Island region.

Now with the arrival of ‘E Tu’ marking a bold statement of Lady Shaka’s next chapter, she fast approaches irrefutable main-stay status that presents a captivating example of what electronic music can be when culture comes first.