#Tupa'i Keneti Apa

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REVIEW: Matt Olo-Whaanga, KJ Apa, Timena Apa and  Tupa’i Keneti Apa “Euphoria”

As the world starts to feel like it may be ending, Euphoria is released at the nick of time. With its serene and hypnotizing nature, this song commands you to just stop and listen. Take a load off, kick off your shoes, and maybe find a shady tree to lie under to appreciate the song’s effect.

Nostalgic about a less catastrophic political climate, this song takes me back to a simpler time. Maybe I’m taken back to my childhood, but as I listen to the swaying melody, I’m encapsulated in a moment that I, perhaps, once took for granted. This moment was so blissful and fleeting that I simply didn’t have the time, or the care, to take conscious note of its beauty.

The inspiring lyrics and raw vocals, composed by Timena Apa and performed by Matt Olo-Whaanga, will take you back to THAT moment and remind you of the euphoria you once felt. The melancholy production, produced by KJ Apa and Tupa’i Keneti Apa, will comfort you in the knowledge that this memory has come and gone, and now you are changed. However, the euphoria of these memories stay with you, as the lyrics reveal, 

“Ecstasy remains / A state of mind”

As the instrumental crescendo builds, I am falling deeper into my own nostalgic euphoria. The energy of the song begins to pick up, as if mirroring my own reminiscence, and at the same time, building the frustration that I’m feeling about how the world no longer feels like the same place it once was. 

“How do I stay here / How do I / Make these seconds play a billion times” 

The lyrics penetrate through my very core. How do I stay euphoric in a world full of hate? (The answer, of course, is playing this song on repeat, but that’s beside the point).

In an instrumental climax, my frustration is finally met with a much-needed release of emotion and energy in the form of a screeching electric guitar, played by KJ Apa. A quick side note, as someone who is somewhat of an ambient music connoisseur, I have seldom heard an electric guitar solo of this caliber in any other ambient music song. This was a bold move, but decidedly an excellent choice. This solo is just icing on the cake in an already blissful piece, and a great way to give the song an exciting peak. But I digress.

Get ready to feel some feels, because this song will catapult you into your own psyche, whether you’re ready or not. Don’t be afraid when euphoria begins…

Reviewed by: Laura Hahn

Get connected:

KJ Apa:  Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | CD Baby

Matt Olo-Whaanga: Instagram | Spotify | CD Baby

Timena Apa: Instagram | Twitter

Tupa’i Keneti Apa: Instagram | Spotify

Euphoria: Spotify | iTunes | YouTube | CD Baby