Muroki

For Kenyan-British researcher and television presenter, see Mercy Muroki.

Muroki
Muroki performing in 2020
Muroki performing in 2020
Background information
Birth nameMuroki Mbote Wa Githinji
Born2000 or 2001 (age 23–24)[1]
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • bass
Years active2017–present
LabelsOlive Records

Muroki Mbote Wa Githinji (born 2000/2001), known mononymously as Muroki, is a Kenyan-New Zealand reggae musician. A member of the bands Cloak Bay and Masaya, Muroki debuted as a solo musician in 2019. In 2021, Muroki's song "Wavy" became a hit single in New Zealand.

Biography

Muroki grew up in Raglan, New Zealand, and attended Hamilton Boys' High School. At 14 he decided he wanted to become a musician.[2] Together with Lennox Reynolds, the pair formed the group Cloak Bay,[2] releasing their debut extended play Digi Town and the Boogie Boys in 2017. In 2019, Muroki began releasing music as the bassist for the band Masaya.[2]

In 2019, Muroki released his debut solo single "For Better or Worse", which caught the attention of New Zealand musician Benee, who played it during her appearance on Elton John's podcast Rocket Hour.[3] Benee later reached out to Muroki over Instagram, and asked him to perform as a supporting act of her New Zealand tour in late 2020.[4][3] In October 2020, Benee signed Muroki as the first musician on Olive Records, her personal imprint label.[1][5]

In April 2021, Muroki released Dawn, an extended play he had been working on for a year alongside producers Josh Fountain and Djeisan Suskov.[3] The lead single from the EP, "Wavy", became a hit in New Zealand later in the year, and during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori Muroki released a Te Reo version of the song, entitled "Rehurehu".[6]

Muroki released his third EP, "Timezones".[7] Muroki described it as a "black soul record" which "speaks to the rainbow of emotions and experiences that I’ve endured throughout my relationship”.

Discography

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ
Artist
[8]
Dawn
  • Released: 16 April 2021[9]
  • Label: Olive Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 17

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[10] 		NZ
Artist
[11]
"For Better or Worse"[4] 2019 — — Non-album single
"Light Me Up" 2020 — —[A] Dawn
"Wavy"[6] 2021 26 3
"Crossroads"
(featuring Rhys Rich) 		— —[B]
"Surfin"[6] —[C] —[D] Non-album singles
"Still Care"
(featuring Nasaya) 		—[E] —[F]
"Find Me"[19] 2022 —[G] —[H] Heading East
"Simple Pleasures" —[I] —
"Sweet Lime"[23] 2023 —[J] — Non-album singles
"Middle Ground" — —
"Love Cocoon"
(with Benee)[25] 		—[K] — TBA
"Timezones" 2024 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

As lead artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Artist
Hot
[27]
"Answer"[28]
(Flowidus featuring Muroki) 		2022 3 Non-album single

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[29] 		NZ
Artist
[11]
"Rehurehu"[L] 2021 7 17 Non-album single

Guest appearances

Title Year Other artists Album
"All the Time"[6] 2020 Benee Hey U X

Notes

  1. ^ "Light Me Up" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 7 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[12]
  2. ^ "Crossroads" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 20 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[14]
  3. ^ "Surfin" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 8 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[15]
  4. ^ "Surfin" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 1 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[16]
  5. ^ "Still Care" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 27 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[17]
  6. ^ "Still Care" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 9 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[18]
  7. ^ "Find Me" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 8 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[20]
  8. ^ "Find Me" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 1 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[21]
  9. ^ "Simple Pleasures" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 37 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[22]
  10. ^ "Sweet Lime" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 18 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[24]
  11. ^ "Love Cocoon" did not enter the NZ Top 40 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 30 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart.[26]
  12. ^ "Rehurehu" is the Māori language version of "Wavy".[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Adams, Josie (9 October 2020). "Cultured! Musician Muroki on the origins of his sunny, surfy sound". The Spinoff. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "NewTracks New Artist: Muroki". NZ Musician. 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Davis-Rae, Micah (3 May 2021). "Muroki on how an Instagram DM changed his life". Massive Magazine. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b Reid, Hazel (17 October 2020). "In Review: Benee at Spark Arena". Tearaway Magazine. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. ^ Campbell, Amy (11 October 2021). "Cultured! Musician Muroki on the origins of his sunny, surfy sound". GQ Australia. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Doria, Matt (28 September 2021). "Muroki longs for home on bubbly new single 'Surfin'". NME. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  7. ^ Mosk, Mitch (3 July 2024). "Interview: Muroki Traverses Genres and 'Timezones' in His Cheeky, Sexy, & Soulful Third EP". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Official Top 20 NZ Albums". Recorded Music NZ. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Dawn - EP". iTunes. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  10. ^ "Discography Muroki". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  11. ^ a b Peak positions for Muroki's singles on the NZ Artist singles chart:
  12. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  13. ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  15. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  19. ^ McInnes, Laura (16 March 2022). "Muroki shares new dancefloor ready single, 'Find Me'". Sniffers. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Locals Only - Muroki 'Sweet Lime'". ZM. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  24. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  25. ^ "Muroki & BENEE Sing Psychedelic Lullabies On New Collab 'Love Cocoon'". Life without Andy]. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  26. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Hot 20 NZ Singles". Recorded Music NZ. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Answer (feat. Muroki) - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.