Announcing 2023 SongHubs Tāmaki Makaurau curated by Jordan Rakei

JORDAN RAKEI (LONDON/NZ)
Songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist

With a string of highly praised releases under his belt and a timeless soulful, jazz, and hip-hop-driven sound, Jordan Rakei, the 29-year-old multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer is a rare talent. Born in a quiet town in New Zealand, Jordan moved to Australia at the age of three, spending most of his childhood in Brisbane. In 2014, his Groove Curse EP garnered strong support from North America and Europe, coaxing Jordan to make the 10,000-mile journey to live in London. He quickly made a name for himself in the UK lending vocals to Disclosure’s 2015 album Caracal. However, it was 2016’s self-released debut album Cloak that proved he was an artist ready and able to make huge waves with his own sound.

He went on to sign with independent label Ninja Tune, releasing his second LP Wallflower in 2017, followed by the single 'Wildfire' a year later. Acclaimed by the likes of The FADER, Evening Standard, and Mixmag, it was voted as the #2 Album of the Year at Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards.

2019 saw Jordan collaborate with his friend Loyle Carner – co-writing and producing the hit singles 'Ottolenghi' and 'Loose Ends' (feat. Jorja Smith). This was followed by Jordan’s sublime third album Origin album and a collaboration with Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award-winning artist and rap legend Common.

In 2019 following previously sold-out US and Australian headline tours, as well as performances at iconic venues and festivals – including Glastonbury, Pitchfork Avant-Garde Block Party, SXSW, two sold-out nights at Ronnie Scott’s, and a DJ set at Fabric (under his Dan Kye alias) – Jordan played a triumphant sold-out stop at London’s Roundhouse and collaborated with his friends Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes on their album What Kinda Music.

LAPSLEY (MERSEYSIDE)
Songwriter, producer

Merseyside raised Holly Fletcher’s debut album Long Way Home was released to critical acclaim on XL in 2016. Singles ‘Hurt Me’ and ‘Falling Short’ confirmed her as one of the most exciting new songwriting talents, whilst DJ Koze’s disco edit of ‘Operator’ produced an instant dancefloor classic. Extensive touring followed as Holly honed her craft as a writer and performer, her first proper gig was at Glastonbury, she’s since gone on to played Coachella, All Points East and countless other festivals. But exhaustion meant she needed a break before follow-up Through Water (2020). Lead single ‘Womxn’ proudly asserted her queer identity and a more assured, upbeat direction whilst Through Water won the Future Water award for its critical engagement with climate issues – Låpsley’s latest record confirms her maturity as a songwriter, storyteller and, above all, as a person.

Holly has returned with a gripping romantic psychodrama with Cautionary Tales of Youth, and along the way she plots the perfect harmony between her austere, downtempo beginnings and a longstanding love of pop. It also reflects her increasingly collaborative approach. Having worked with Sega Bodega and Odesza on their projects. The new record sees Holly join forces with producers such as Jessy Lanza, Paul White, Greg Abrahams and regular collaborator Joe Brown. As a producer herself, the decision to collaborate on this record is one that has pushed it into new and exciting directions not seen before in her discography.

As well as political engagement, queerness and sexuality are central pillars of Holly’s identity and elements of herself she has learned to express more fully in recent years. Today, she helps manage the playroom at queer BDSM-leaning club night Crossbreed, ensuring a safe space for LGBTQ+ members. "That’s my activism", she explains. "It’s a tough job, but to be part of this community and a workforce that’s very diverse is a celebration of what it means to be a queer individual". She brings what she has learned in life to music and her collaborations. "Treat everyone, no matter what, with respect" she says. "In the studio or in spaces like Crossbreed, no matter their experience or status or their gender, show everyone the respect and equal treatment they deserve, and try to tackle subconscious bias".

BEN JACKSON-COOK (LONDON)
Songwriter, producer, music director

Ben discovered his passion for music at a young age, learning classical piano by ear when he was 4 and diving into jazz when he was teen. Knowing a future in production and song writing was his calling, he talked himself into a position of teaboy at the legendary Olympic Studios in Barnes. Working with some of the biggest names in music production (Spike, Youth, Dave Bascombe), he started honing his skills in sessions with artists of the calibre of The Coral and Richard Ashcroft. Knowing he needed to learn as much as possible, Ben enrolled at the University of Bath studying for a degree in commercial music.

On graduation, Ben spent a few years building up a reputation as band member and then musical director, MDing for Foxes, Ella Eyre and Kelvin Jones. However it was when he was introduced to Rory Graham AKA Rag’n’Bone Man in 2015 that his life took a fantastic turn. Again hired as MD to pull the live show together for what would become the globally successful ‘Human’, campaign, over 2017 and 2018 they played some of the most prestigious festivals in the world including Montreux Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, North Sea Jazz, Osheaga and Bonaroo.

Their first collaboration ‘George Has Got A Friend’ was released for Record Store Day in 2018 and available only on vinyl. Ben and Rory continued writing songs and headed to Nashville to collaborate with Jamie Lidell and a host of incredible writers and musicians – Natalie Hemby, Wendy Melvoin and Daru Jones. The result was ‘Life By Misadventure’ and so strong were the writing demos that when legendary producer Mike Elizondo was bought in to guide the production process, Ben production ideas were kept and a coproduction credit was agreed.

Fast forward to the beginning of 2021 and Ben concluded a highly competitive global publishing agreement with Sony. While still very much a part of the Rag’n’Bone story, he is currently focused on cowriting and is currently working with some of the most promising emerging UK talent such as Tom Grennan, Lucy Rose, George Cosby, Lilla Vargen and Mitch Sanders.