Lady Shaka – E Tu (Remixes) Artwork

Lady Shaka – E Tu (Remixes)

In celebration of herdebut release single ‘E Tu’, multidisciplinary Afro Pasifika trailblazer Lady Shaka today presents E Tu (Remixes), a four-track remix EP fit with international reworks from KARAN!Caru and Angel XLISTEN HERE.

Pushing the original further into a club-ready territory, Lady Shaka today secures four brand new reworks that lend originality to the track’s ability to be skillfully shaped and deconstructed. On the process behind the EP, Lady Shaka shares, “It is always a beautiful thing to see how others interpret your music and create something that is completely different. It has been an honour working with Karan! Caru and Angel X. I cannot wait to see dance floors packed to each of their remixes. Ngā mihi nunui kia koutou!”

Alongside the energetic-funk preview released last month by Brazilian-based KARAN!Lady Shaka enlists Aotearoa/New Zealand-based Caru for two relentless, no frills takes – the rhythmic, atmospheric club tool ‘Caru Club Mix’ and ‘Caru Dub’, a UKG roller with a bassline that samples Lady Shaka’s iconic Boiler Room NZ set from 2021. On the remixes, Caru shares, “Lady Shaka was a huge inspiration for me when I was starting to DJ and produce dance music, so I was very honoured when she asked if I would like to remix her debut single. I had so many ideas for what direction I wanted to take my remix, so I ended up making two different versions, produced with different contexts in mind..When ‘E Tu’ came out, it really felt like a gift to the local DJ community, and I tried to approach my remixes in the same way – an attempt to facilitate those special moments of connection between dancers/listeners here in Aotearoa. I hope you enjoy! Ngā mihi nui”

“Caru is one of the most exciting indigenous artists coming out of Aotearoa and this remix is a testament to that!” shares Lady Shaka“It is important to me to work with Māori musicians and to see the different perspectives we have as Māori when it comes to our songs and our sounds. Caru is a leader who is walking his own path to create spaces for Māori who are currently on or wanting to begin their journey with music. This remix brings a new vibe, a different feeling that in all celebrates Māori excellence. You’re mean as my friend! It was important to me that the journey of music on this EP begun and ended with a Māori artist. Ko koe tēnā e hoa!”

Finally, US-based Angel X serves up an intricate, percussive mix that accentuates the vocals led in the original. On building the track, Angel X reveals, “I recently met Lady Shaka in Taipei, Taiwan where we were both booked to DJ at Glow Ball Festival this past June. From the minute we met in the lobby at the hotel upon checking in, I felt a connection with her. We spent a few days hanging out together and on one of those nights, we went to dinner where she asked if I would do a remix to her upcoming single E TU. I said of course b!+€#, anything for you ;)”. Lady Shaka continuesWhat an honour to have the legend, the icon, the ballroom mother Angel X on my track. As someone who has been in and out of the Ballroom scene, it was only right to honour my queer black and brown community with the sounds that have created safe and loving spaces for our community. Angel X is an incredible artist and has been in the scene for such a longtime. It is a blessing to work with such an icon!”

E Tu’ is the perfect introduction to Lady Shaka’s artistry – an extension of her Afro Pasifika heritage – an anthem harnessing the collective force of dance music to share a message of Indigenous resistance. Garnering major support locally and globally with outlets including DJ Mag, Resident Advisor, Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Sniffers and more, the track also received extensive radio support across BBC Radio 1George FM, Foundation FM, NTS Radio, RTR FM, FBi Radio and triple j, who praised 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.”

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. A live show commandeur, her sound has shared stages with Honey DijonYung 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.

E Tu (Remixes) is out now, buy/stream it here.

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