L.A.B. III

L.A.B. III
Studio album by
L.A.B.
Released6 December 2019 (2019-12-06)
Genre
Length41:01
LabelLoop Recordings
ProducerBrad Kora
L.A.B. chronology
L.A.B. II
(2018) 		L.A.B. III
(2019) 		L.A.B. IV
(2020)
Singles from L.A.B. III
  1. "Personify"
    Released: 13 September 2019
  2. "In the Air"
    Released: 22 November 2019

L.A.B. III is the third studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2019. Featuring the singles "Personify" and "In the Air". "In the Air" was a breakthrough hit for the band, becoming the top single of 2020 in New Zealand.

Production

L.A.B. III is the first album to feature Miharo Gregory as a member of the band.[1] The album was recorded in 2019 at Lee Prebble's home studio, the Surgery, in Wellington, where the band would stay while they worked on the album.[2]

Release and promotion

The album's first single "Personify" was released on 13 September 2019,[3][4] followed by the album's announcement in early November.[5] The album's second single, "In the Air", was released on 22 November.[6][7] "In the Air" grew in popularity in New Zealand through 2020, reaching number one in March 2020;[8] the first time an independently released single has reached number one in New Zealand since Flight of the Conchords' "Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That)" (2012).[9]

Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, the band cancelled their Australia/New Zealand tour.[9][10] After the end of the first round of COVID-19 restrictions, the band performed two wide-scale concerts in July 2020: a sold-out Spark Arena in Auckland,[11] followed by a performance at Hamilton's Claudelands Arena.[12] The band initially announced a performance at the Powerstation in Auckland, however as demand was so high, the concert was relocated to the Auckland Town Hall, and eventually Spark Arena.[10]

A music video was released for the album track "For the Love of Jane" in November 2020. The video featured Paris Evans and Anna Robinson, the two actors who were featured in the band's hit single "In the Air" (2020), as a reprise for their love story.[13] After the release of the video, the song began charting in New Zealand,[14] and was certified platinum in 2021.[15]

Track listing

L.A.B. III track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Personify"
  • B. Kora
  • L.A.B
4:23
2."In the Air"
  • B. Kora
  • L.A.B
4:13
3."All I Know"B. Kora4:43
4."Alright"Laughton Kora3:06
5."What the Hell"B. Kora3:45
6."Running"B. Kora3:44
7."For the Love of Jane"B. Kora4:54
8."Shoot on You"
  • B. Kora
  • J. Shadbolt
  • S. Kora
3:25
9."Shadows"
  • B. Kora
  • L.A.B.
3:44
10."Heat"
  • A. Adams-Tamatea
  • B. Kora
  • S. Kora
  • J. Shadbolt
5:04
Total length:41:01

Credits and personnel

The album was recorded at the Surgery Studios in Wellington, New Zealand, while strings were recorded at Mmm Studio in Auckland.

  • A. Adams-Tamatea – arrangement (1, 5, 9), bass (1–7, 9–10), co-engineer, co-producer, drum programming (5, 9), songwriting (10)
  • Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – string & horn arrangement (7), violin (7)
  • Mike Gibson – mastering (at Munki Studios)
  • M. Gregory – backing vocals (3–4, 6, 8), keys (2, 4–6, 8–9), piano (1, 3), rhodes (7), synths (1, 3, 10)
  • Joe Harrop – viola (7)
  • Jessica Hindin – violin (7)
  • L.A.B. – arrangement (2–4, 6–8), songwriting (1–2, 9)
  • B. Kora – arrangement (1–2, 9–10), backing vocals (3–4, 6, 8), drums (2–10), lyrics (1–3, 5–10), percussion (3), producer, prophet synth (10), songwriting (1, 3, 5–10), string programming (3–4, 10)
  • Laughton Kora – arrangement (4), lyrics (4), songwriting (4)
  • S. Kora – backing vocals (3–4, 6, 8), bass (8), drums (1), keys (5–6, 8–9), rhythm guitar (1–7, 9–10), songwriting (8, 10), synths (3)
  • Lewis McCallum – horns (7)
  • Dr Lee Prebble – co-producer, head engineer, M520 synth (10)
  • J. Shadbolt – guitars (8), lead guitar (1–3, 5–7, 9–10), lead vocals (1–10), songwriting (8, 10)
  • Lisa Tomlins – backing vocals (2)
  • Rachel Wells – cello (7)

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for L.A.B. III
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[20] 4× Platinum 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for L.A.B. III
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
New Zealand 6 December 2019
Loop Recordings [21]

References

  1. ^ Macfarlane, Kristin (17 October 2020). "L.A.B: Band ready to take on world after sellout crowds, awards and global popularity". Bay of Plenty Times. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  2. ^ Drever, Andrew (5 December 2019). "New Zealand's L.A.B. keen to keep experimenting". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  3. ^ "L.A.B. Return With New Single 'Personify'". Loop. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  4. ^ Kongfooey (17 September 2019). "L.A.B. - Single Review: Personify". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  5. ^ "L.A.B. Announce New Album". muzic.net.nz. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  6. ^ "In The Air - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  7. ^ "L.A.B. 'IN THE AIR'". Base FM. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  8. ^ "L.A.B. - IN THE AIR (SONG)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  9. ^ a b "L.A.B. Bio". Reggarville. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  10. ^ a b McAuley, Matthew (30 September 2020). "For L.A.B, the air is clear". The Spinoff. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  11. ^ "L.A.B - Spark Arena, Auckland - Fri, 03 July 2020". Under the Radar. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  12. ^ "Claudelands celebrates return of arena events with L.A.B". Hamilton City Council. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  13. ^ Densem, Lee (30 November 2020). "INTERVIEW: L.A.B". Burger Fuel. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Top 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Top 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Charts.nz – L.A.B. – L.A.B. III". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2020". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  18. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2021". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  20. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – L.A.B. – L.A.B. III". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  21. ^ "L.A.B. III - the New Album Out Now". New Zealand Music Commission. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2023.