Multifaceted DJ, producer, and interdisciplinary artist Lady Shaka today expands her production roots with ‘Good Times’ featuring Rubi Du, out via NLV Records.

A deeply intentional release, ‘Good Times’ is a clear view of Lady Shaka’s creative motivations set around her rich heritage that encompasses Samoan, Tokelauan, Mā’ohi (Tahitian), Māori, and Cape Verdean roots. Joining forces with Rubi Du, a Roots and Dancehall artist known to audiences in Aotearoa through her former project SilvaMC, Lady Shaka celebrates sounds of the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific by incorporating soukous guitar riffs, marimbas, steel pans and  traditional Pate and Pahu drums, set against Rubi Du’s unique soca-calypso Samoan lyricism to command ‘siva mai’ (come and dance), ‘ata mai’ (smile) and ‘bend your back gyal’.

Of the new single, Lady Shaka reveals, “​​‘Good Times’ is an ode to Afro Pacific Islanders and the fusion of ancestral and diasporic sounds that come from both Black and Pacific Island music. For me the track all started from a single Congolese soukous guitar riff sample and within 1 day I had created the basis of a new diasporic sound that I knew was made for Rubi Du.

“Rubi Du is an incredible artist of Jamaican and Samoan descent who has been in the Aotearoa Reggae and Hip Hop scene for a very long time. I have always been such a huge fan growing up dancing to her music and am honoured to finally create a track with my Aunty. This song is about having a good time and celebrating our islander pride from the Caribbean to Cape Verde and the Pacific Islands. As someone who is of Cape Verdean and Māori/Pasifika heritage this is my gift to my community. In the words of Rubi Du ‘it’s giving black moana’. Cheeeehoooo!”

An established trailblazer with a sonic selection that represents both her queer identity and her connection to the moana and the diasporas she belongs to, within the last 12 months Lady Shaka’s creative output continues to escalate. From shows at Strawberry Fields Festival, Pitch Music Festival, All Points East (alongside RAYE, Tyla, FKA Twigs), Body Movements, Rinse FM, Lollapalooza Berlin, Warehouse Project, she’s toured with Kehlani and Jess B, performed at the MET Museum NYC, graced the cover of Mixmag ANZ and also programmed a stage of Maori artists at Glastonbury – the first in the festival’s history.

Lady Shaka’s debut release ‘E Tu’ received praise across DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Sniffers and extensive radio support across BBC Radio 1, George FM, Foundation FM, NTS Radio, RTR FM, FBi Radio and triple j, who commended her as a “global music icon who has been captivating dance floors around the world with her turbo blends of club forward bangers, bombastic remixes and Indigenous sounds”. With a deep consideration for community and authenticity, her work harnesses the collective force of dance music to share a message of Indigenous resistance.

‘Good Times’ featuring Rubi Du is out now, buy/stream it here.