Ladi6 is renowned for her authentic, boundary-pushing sound, drawing deeply from her Moana heritage and personal experiences. Her music speaks to the soul—melding innovation with heartfelt storytelling in a way that has solidified her place as one of Aotearoa’s most influential voices in soul, pop, and electronica.
Following the success of her Hot 20 Aotearoa Top 10 hit Alofa in November 2024, Ladi6 is back with another mesmerizing single from her highly anticipated new record, ‘Le Vā’, set for release on June 1, 2025.
“LightBulb”, dropping May 1st just in time for NZ Music Month, this latest track is a wavy, stripped-back, drumless piece, showcasing Parks’ signature synth-heavy, soulful inflections. It’s a song that explores the emotional complexity of regretful breakups—navigating self-discovery through conflict and longing. Ladi6’s sleek, sultry vocals glide effortlessly over the atmospheric production, delivering a statement of intention that sonically diverges from Alofa while staying rooted in the unmistakable musical synergy of Parks and Bharu.
With Le Vā, her fifth full-length album, Ladi6 embarks on a new sonic journey—pushing her signature style into new dimensions while staying true to the depth and authenticity that fans have come to love.
To celebrate the album’s release, Ladi6 will embark on an 11 date New Zealand tour, beginning with a headline show in Melbourne and a special performance at Vivid Festival in Sydney.
‘Le Vā’ drops June 1st, 2025. Stay tuned.
Early review:
"Untethered from the mid-tempo drums that have underscored much of her catalogue, Ladi6 sings with a graceful melancholy over a rich bed of bubbling lead synths, woozy pads, triumphant stabs, and a g-funk indebted whistle. Sitting between the ‘60s/’70s modular synthesiser experimentation of Wendy Carlos and Mort Garson and the modern ambient/electronic R&B sound of Kelela, FKA Twigs, Solange and their peers, ‘Lightbulb’ feels like a needed moment of pause, a stylistic reset, and a glorious portent of things yet to come." - Martyn Pepperell