Ladi6: The Soulful Voice of New Zealand Hip Hop and R&B
Ladi6 is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, and rapper whose music blends soul, hip hop, and R&B with electronic production. Hailing from Christchurch, her major achievement includes the 2011 album The Liberation Of..., which achieved gold certification in New Zealand and won several Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards.
Early career
Born Karoline Tamati in 1982, her musical journey began in the Christchurch underground scene. She first gained attention as a member of the hip hop group Sheelahroc in the late 1990s and early 2000s, which laid the foundation for her future solo work.
Her official solo debut came with the 2008 album Time Is Not Much, released on the local label Question Music. This project established her distinct vocal style and thoughtful lyrical approach within the Aotearoa music landscape.
Breakthrough
Ladi6's commercial and critical breakthrough arrived in 2011 with her second studio album, The Liberation Of.... Released on the independent label Question Music in New Zealand and through Every Song/Island Records in Australia, the album was a major success.
It debuted at number 4 on the New Zealand Albums Chart and was certified gold. The album's success was crowned by winning the prestigious Vodafone New Zealand Music Award for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album in 2012.
Key tracks
Like Water — This smooth, jazzy single from her debut album became an early fan favorite and a staple of her live performances.
Walk Right Up — The lead single from The Liberation Of..., this track featuring Scribe and Parks showcased her crossover appeal and received heavy radio play.
Bang Bang — A standout track from her breakthrough album, it exemplifies her blend of soulful vocals with crisp, electronic hip hop beats.
Ikarus — From the 2014 album Automatic, this song demonstrated her artistic growth and more experimental production style.
Diamonds — A later single that continued to refine her signature sound, blending introspective lyrics with atmospheric R&B.
Following her breakthrough, Ladi6 continued to evolve with the 2014 album Automatic, which incorporated more live instrumentation and won another Tui for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album. Her collaborations are notable, including work with fellow New Zealand artists like Shapeshifter, Scribe, and SJD, as well as international acts such as Fat Freddy's Drop.
She has performed at major festivals across New Zealand and Australia, solidifying her reputation as a powerful live performer. Her music consistently explores themes of personal and social liberation, set against a backdrop of soul and electronic beats.
Fans of Ladi6's fusion of soul and hip hop should also explore Theia, who brings a bold, pop-infused energy to the New Zealand R&B scene. The smooth, jazz-influenced sounds of Anika Moa share a similar heartfelt vocal delivery. For more genre-blending electronic soul, check out Lorenz Labone. The innovative production and vocal style of Estere also resonate with Ladi6's experimental approach.
Ladi6's catalog is a regular feature on independent music radio stations and dedicated alternative R&B streams across New Zealand and internationally. Her tracks, particularly from the gold-certified The Liberation Of..., receive consistent airplay on stations specializing in Pacific and soul music.
Listeners can discover the soulful hip hop and R&B of Ladi6 through the radio stations featured on onairium.com. Tune in to our curated stations to hear her key tracks and explore the sound of New Zealand's vibrant urban music scene.
