Sons of Zion
OriginPakuranga, Auckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active2007–present
LabelsSony Music New Zealand
MembersSamuel Eriwata, Rio Panapa, Joel Latimer, Matt Sadgrove, Ross Nansen, Caleb Haapu[1]
Past membersDylan Stewart, Tawhiri Littlejohn, Harlem McKenzie, Phil Peters, Curtis Wiringi, Marika Hodgson, Zane Graham, Les Watene, Thabani Gapara, Christian Mausia[2][3]

Sons of Zion is a six-member New Zealand reggae band who formed in 2007 in Pakuranga, Auckland. They became widely famous in New Zealand in early 2018, due to the popularity of their single "Drift Away".[2][1]

Biography

Band members Sam Eriwata and Joel Latimer grew up together in Auckland. They formed a youth band together when they attended Edgewater College in Pakuranga.[2] The trio met Rio Panapa, originally from Rotorua, through joint church services where bands from different chapters of their church performed.[2] Eventually Panapa moved to Auckland and joined Samuel Eriwata's youth band.[2]

The original line-up featured Rio Panapa as lead vocalist and guitarist, Samuel Eriwata on drums, Joel Latimer on keyboards and Dylan Stewart, a bassist who moved from Whangārei to Auckland to join the band.[2] The band won a competition to be the opening act at the Soundsplash Festival 2007 in Raglan, and hurriedly recorded an extended play so that they could release it at the festival.[2] Panapa had difficulties with the range of some of the songs during these sessions, so Eriwata also became a vocalist for the band.[2] The band later added Tawhiri Littlejohn as a permanent drummer as Eriwata took over more of the vocal duties, and Harlem McKenzie as a lead guitarist.[2]

In October 2009, the band released their self-titled debut album, and spent the next few years extensively touring New Zealand and Australia.[2] The band's singles "Good Love" (2012) and "Tell Her" (2013) received major radio airplay in New Zealand,[2] becoming their first songs to chart in New Zealand. Their second album Universal Love was a major hit, reaching number three in New Zealand.[4] At the 2014 Waiata Māori Music Awards, the video for the band's collaboration with Tomorrow People won the best video award.[2] Later that year, the band covered "Sensitive to a Smile" alongside other local reggae musicians such as Katchafire and Tomorrow People as a charity single to combat child abuse.[2]

The band's 2015 single "Stuck on Stupid" became popular internationally online,[2] especially in locations such as Hawaii where it was a local radio hit.[1] By 2015, the band's line-up had solidified as Eriwata, Panapa, Latimer, bassist Matt Sadgrove, Caleb Haapu of the band L40, and Ross Nansen of the Levites.[2] In the next few years, the band's popularity online was cemented by the includion of their songs such as "I'm Ready", "Fill Me Up" and "Now" featuring on major Australasian reggae Spotify playlists. In 2017, the band produced the Te Reo song "Wairua" by Maimoa, which became a viral hit.[2]

By 2017, the band began to experiment with genres outside of reggae, such as their collaboration "Is That Enough" with Aaradhna.[2] For the band's third album Vantage Point (2018), all members decided to quit their day-jobs to focus entirely on the band.[2] The first single from the album, "Drift Away", became a break-away hit for the group.[2][1] The album was a success, becoming Platinum certified in New Zealand.[5] The band toured internationally to promote the album.[6]

In 2020, Panapa became the host of the Māori Television show Lifted.[2]

Artistry

Sons of Zion write, produce and mix all of their music. In 2017, the band created their own recording studio, No Filter Studios in Auckland.[1]

Personal lives

Samuel Eriwata's father is Richard Eriwata,[2] a musician who became famous in the 1980s as a member of the musical theatre television show 12 Bar Rhythm 'n Shoes. Caleb Haapu's brother is singer-songwriter Seth Haapu.[2]

Eriwata, Latimer, Stewart and Littlejohn are of Ngāpuhi descent, while Panapa's background includes Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Waikato Tainui.[2]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
NZ
[7]		 NZ
Artist
[8]
Sons of Zion
  • Released: October 2009[2][9]
  • Label: Sony Music New Zealand
  • Format: CD, digital download
 ——
Universal Love 33
Vantage Point
  • Released: 11 May 2018
  • Label: Sony
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 182
"—" denotes an album that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
NZ
[7]		 NZ
Artist
[8]
First XV
  • Released: 28 October 2022
  • Label: Sony
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 93

Extended plays

Title EP details Peak chart positions
NZ
Artist
[11]
Sons of Zion
  • Released: 2007[12]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD
 —
The Jukebox Suite
  • Released: 28 July 2017
  • Label: Sony
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 9
"—" denotes an extended play that did not chart.

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[7]		 NZ
Artist
[11]
"Waiting Right Here"[13]
(featuring Hazadus)		 2009 —— Sons of Zion
"Be With You"[13] ——
"Good Love"[2] 2012 —7 Universal Love
"Tell Her"[2] 2013 —3
"Superman"
(featuring Tomorrow People)		 175
"The Weekend" ——
"Be My Lady" 2014 —6
"Stuck on Stupid"
(featuring Israel Starr)		 —4 Non-album singles
"I'm Ready" 2015 —4
"Fill Me Up" —9
"Hungover" 2016 —18
"Now"
(featuring Slip-On Stereo)		 —3
"Live It Up" 2017 —— The Jukebox Suite
"Is That Enough"
(featuring Aaradhna)		 —2 The Jukebox Suite / Vantage Point
"Drift Away" 2018 171 Vantage Point
"So Bright"[15] ——
"Leave with Me"[16] —13
"Come Home" 2019 —[upper-alpha 1]3 First XV
"Road Trip" —[upper-alpha 2]10
"Break Up Song" 2020 —[upper-alpha 3]—[upper-alpha 4] Non-album single
"Crazy" —[upper-alpha 5]—[upper-alpha 6] First XV
"Love on the Run"
(featuring Jackson Owens)		 2021 151
"Come to Bed"[26] 2022 —[upper-alpha 7]—[upper-alpha 8]
"One Night"[29] —[upper-alpha 9]10 Non-album single
"Be with You" (2022 version) —[upper-alpha 10]— Sons of Zion (reissue)
"Running" (2022 version) —[upper-alpha 11]—
"Homey Girl" (2022 version) —[upper-alpha 12]—
"On My Way"
(featuring The Green)		 2023 —[upper-alpha 13]20 TBA
"I Want More"
(featuring Tawaz)		 —[upper-alpha 14]20
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[7]		 NZ
Artist
[11]
"Be with You [Remix]"[35]
(Deach featuring Pieter T, Tomorrow People, K.One, Sons of Zion, Fortafy, Tyree, Donell Lewis & MzJ)		 2013 —— Non-album singles
"Sensitive to a Smile"
(among Aotearoa Reggae All Stars)		 21
"This Feeling"
(Tomorrow People featuring Sons of Zion)		 2017 —— Bass & Bassinets
"Help Me Out"
(Kings featuring Sons of Zion)		 2020 176 Raplist
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
Artist
[11]
"Potere Ana / Drift Away"[38] 2019 7 Waiata / Anthems
"He Aroha Hinemoa / Love on the Run"
(featuring Jackson Owens)		 2021 13 Non-album single

Notes

  1. ↑ "Come Home" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 3 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[17]
  2. ↑ "Road Trip" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 7 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[19]
  3. ↑ "Break Up Song" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 18 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[21]
  4. ↑ "Break Up Song" did not enter the NZ Artists Top 20 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 2 on the NZ Artists Hot Singles Chart.[22]
  5. ↑ "Crazy" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 2 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[23]
  6. ↑ "Crazy" did not enter the NZ Artists Top 20 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 1 on the NZ Artists Hot Singles Chart.[24]
  7. ↑ "Come to Bed" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[27]
  8. ↑ "Come to Bed" did not enter the NZ Artists Top 20 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 1 on the NZ Artists Hot Singles Chart.[28]
  9. ↑ "One Night" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 7 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[30]
  10. ↑ "Be with You" (2022 version) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 3 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[32]
  11. ↑ "Running" (2022 version) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 6 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[32]
  12. ↑ "Homey Girl" (2022 version) did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[32]
  13. ↑ "On My Way" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 12 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[33]
  14. ↑ "I Want More" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 16 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[34]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bio". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Shute, Gareth (5 August 2020). "Sons of Zion". Audio Culture. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bio". Sons of Zion. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "Sons of Zion set to sell out in Kapiti". Kapiti News. New Zealand Herald. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 "New Zealand album certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  6. ↑ Black, Taroi (9 May 2018). "Interview with Sons of Zion before world tour". Te Ao Maori. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 4 For most entries: "Discography Sons of Zion". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 Peak positions for Sons of Zion's albums on the NZ Artist albums chart:
  9. ↑ "Sons Of Zion". Spotify. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  10. ↑ "New Zealand album certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Peak positions for Sons of Zion's singles on the NZ Artist singles chart:
  12. ↑ "Sons of Zion". New Zealand Music Commission. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Sweet & Irie and Sons of Zion Announce Joint Forces Tour". New Zealand Music Commission. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  14. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "Sons Of Zion Talk 'Vantage Point', Touring NZ & More". Hit Up Ange. 29 August 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  16. ↑ Backyard Beats (20 November 2018). "Sons of Zion – Leave With Me". Mai FM. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  23. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  25. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  26. ↑ "Sons of Zion Share New Single 'Come to Bed'". Sony Music New Zealand. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  28. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  29. ↑ "Sons of Zion to release new music as independent artists". 1 News. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  30. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  31. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  32. 1 2 3 "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  33. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  34. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  35. ↑ "Be with You (feat. Pieter T, Tomorrow People, K.One, Sons of Zion, Fortafy, Tyree, Donell Lewis & MzJ) [Remix] – Single". iTunes. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  36. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  37. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  38. ↑ "Waiata / Anthems". iTunes. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  39. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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