Aaradhna’s Cheery “Wake Up”: Hear The New Zealander’s Debut US Single

Carl Williott | April 23, 2013 3:01 pm

Sometimes a song comes out of nowhere from a relatively unknown artist and it just works, thanks to expert production and strong hooks and a well-defined sonic palette, and we have to share it with everyone. The most recent example was Betty Who and her stellar new EP. Today (April 23), we were hit with another surprise gem: Republic Records signee Aaradhna, who has released her debut US single, “Wake Up.”

After one listen it’s immediately apparent why the New Zealand native has gained a solid following back home. The song was inspired by Amy Winehouse‘s Back to Black, and a similarly smoky quality comes through Aaradhna’s vocals, which are paired with a bubbly ’60s girl group beat and a melody imploring us to “Get out of bed / Stop wasting time.” It’s certainly retro, but after a few listens you’ll begin to notice a modern gauze hanging over it all (a style Aaradhna cleverly dubbed Retro/Metro).

Head below to hear the fizzy new track, which you’ll be singing along with by the 3:00 mark.

Aaradhna — “Wake Up”

What do you think of Aaradhna’s American debut? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter or Facebook.