SKILAA is a meeting of two perfect elements: a powerhouse rhythm section for beats and chord progressions (Adam Tobeck on Drums, Michael Howell on Guitar and Tom Dennison on Bass), and a double vocal unit with a blend made in heaven for melodies and harmonies (Chelsea Prastiti, Helen Pahulu). “This is clever, feminist, soulful and exquisitely crafted music which steps past easy genre categorisation which is also catchy, inventive and . . . Check it out for yourself. It's something special” - Graham Reid of Elsewhere Traveling free-wheelingly and kaleidoscope-like through multiple related genres, Annabel Kean from UTR describes their music as ranging “from neo-soul to prog-folk, to perhaps something you can’t quite put your finger on, but you know you like it” All through this exploration, SKILAA keeps a thread running through the music they create; always letting inspiration from the artists and communities that they love come through the writing, whilst also letting something fresh and new grow out of the process of paying reverence to these musics they love. Blending Psychedelic RnB and Hip-Hop with intricate, sometimes ‘balkan-style’ melismatic vocal harmony arrangements, SKILAA’s music is full of folklore imagery, pyrotechnic vocals and ornate grooves, but is also simply just damn good for dancing to! The Auckland-based five-piece started writing together in late 2017 after meeting through Auckland University’s Jazz programme. The initial success of their Fantasy Life EP (including singles ‘Bluffin’ and ‘Way of The World’) secured them as K’Rd’s favourite party-starters, while also seeing them feature at festivals such as ‘Great Sounds Great’, ‘Cupa Dupa’ and ‘Other’s Way’. Their acclaimed 2024 debut LP ‘Tiger In The River’ saw them shortlisted as a finalist for the APRA Silver Scroll, nominated for Best Group at AMA, and awarded Best Group by the SRN.