EP Review: WINT/HER

Taveets has been steadily releasing singles and EPs since 2019, including 2023’s Balcony Nights EP which could almost be considered album length at seven songs. The Wellington-born and raised Samoan/Futuan artist/rapper has just released his latest HipHop/RnB offering, WINT/HER, the five songs looking at love and relationships from different angles, and in different moods.

For Ya starts off with rich, rounded keys that continue the mellow mood, with the only percussion the snapping of fingers. A nice sense of melody infuses the rhythmic flow of an artist that was clearly born to this style of music. A song sung to a paramour, designed to melt into the heart like warm treacle, and it succeeds in its mission. This isn’t a style of music that I listen to a lot of, but this is super stuff. On I Know Taveets’ voice is strong and present, whilst rolling almost lazily along. There’s quite a beautifully orchestrated soundscape going on behind the vocals. The smoky, catchy chorus will be echoing around your brainpan long after listening.

A stylistically different start to Outta Luck with some subtle and subdued guitar arpeggios, which continue to weave their tasty way through the track. This is a more mournful look at romantic connections, from a darker perspective, ending in a key change that lends depth to the mood. Runnin’ is the first instance of hearing Taveets’ Kiwi accent, which I’m a big fan of. I believe it adds both uniqueness and authenticity when seeking an audience outside New Zealand and shows the artist’s pride and confidence in themselves. Another darker look at love with another hook-laden chorus. To round things up, an upbeat feel to Times, a delicious guitar intro into a huge, bouncing groove. I challenge anyone to try to remain completely still while listening to this track, I’m not convinced it can be done, this is a world-class booty shaker. Taveets yet again more than ably demonstrates his strength as a singer on this smooth-as-creamy-butter chorus.

After listening to this, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see “Netflix and Chill” eventually replaced with “Listen to WINT/HER and Chill”. You heard it here first.