PRE-SAVE
Single & video out June 19

Progressive dub collective SUB-TRIBE return with ‘Te Waka’, the first single from their forthcoming Mana EP and their first release with Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa.

Featuring Casual Healing, the acclaimed solo project of Māori composer and multi-instrumentalist Nikau Te Huki, ‘Te Waka’ blends roots reggae, dub, and contemporary Māori influences into a song centred around identity, connection, and collective journey.

‘Te Waka’ explores the idea that we are all passengers on the same waka, navigating life together while carrying the responsibility to honour the past and help create a better future for generations to come.

The release is accompanied by a music video filmed on location in Northland, Aotearoa and Tahiti, expanding the song’s themes through imagery grounded in whenua, movement, and cultural connection.

“On a personal level, it represents a reconnection to ancestry, language, and identity. As Māori artists living and creating in Australia, the song is also a reminder that no matter where we are in the world, we remain connected to our roots and carry the legacy of our ancestors with us,” says SUB-TRIBE

Since forming in 2017, SUB-TRIBE have built a loyal following across Australia and Aotearoa through a catalogue of independent releases and festival appearances, combining reggae, dub, bass music, and Māori storytelling into a sound uniquely their own. ‘Te Waka’ marks the beginning of the group's next chapter and sets the tone for the forthcoming Mana EP.