Amanaki’s new EP “Embers” comes out this week. For the occasion, we asked the band to tell us about each track.
Money Man
This was our first single we dropped with the support of NZ On Air. This track is about calling out all those people that flex their wallet before their heart and that life isn’t just about chucking cash around, “Use your heart. Use your brain. Less hand outs. So let your love out!” The track also calls them out for being machines in disguise and to show they have feelings, something machines can’t do.
Freedom
This track is about breaking free and finding freedom from the negative thoughts that can often take over our inner self. This track also features our long time friend Liam Hand from Parasitic Infestation with his powerful vocals filling out the breakdown and offering a whole new depth to our normal vocal range. The track has an upbeat chorus with the lyrics “There is light beyond this place that find yourself, There is a way out of here!” being a message of hope to those in this situation.
Embers
This track features our long time friend Mazbou Q dropping some spoken word. Today he is known for his amazing rap career however, he started his musical career in the hardcore scene many years ago. This track is about how musicians put their absolute everything into making music and our left with nothing unless they monetise their art, “Your creations emanate from the light of your heart and you heart is part of you so what are you worth if they can’t be monetised”
Habits
We as a race are creatures of habit. Not all these habits are positive and I am sure everyone can admit to at least one negative habit they have. This song is about breaking those negative habits and taking back control, “It’s The battle within you, the fight to remain in control. Don’t let it consume you, break the habits within you“.
Hypocrite Pt.2
The was our second single we dropped. We released the original Hypocrite track on our debut release back in 2018. “You spit your lies, you ain’t got no pride And when you see inside you’ll regret everything you ever did, now spit those lies”, this track continues that aggression to calling out hypocrites and their actions. Like the original back in 2018, Hypocrite pt.2 has similar two-step beats and a heaving hitting call out breakdown.
If Only We Had
This track features our vocalist Jareds wife, Ellen. She sings a repeating line of “if only we had…” referring to how people will always have hands out asking for more before being thankful for what we have. “Were given everything and yet we ask more. Living selfish lives, forever ungrateful”, this song is a wake up call to change the script of “if only we had…” to “I’m grateful I have…”.
Consequences
Our third and final single from Embers is Consequences. This track is about making sure people understand that their actions cause reactions and they should always “Think before you speak. Think before you do.” Its easy to go through life and make our own decisions and realise the implications of these and the effect these decisions can have on people and the world around us.