LEAO
Pacific Neo-Psychedelia / Samoan Surf Rock
Formed from a Pacific heart, LEAO is a Samoan musical project led by guitarist/vocalist David Feauai-Afaese, joined by bassist Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, steel guitarist Levi Gemmell, and drummer Larsen Tito-Taylor. With a deep adoration for Pacific musical reference points and a desire to explore new sonic ground, LEAO synthesises non-traditional tonalities with a fa‘asamoa spirit, creating what some have called “niu wave” and “Pacific neo-psychedelia.”
A creative enigma and phenomenal live act since the release of their critically acclaimed debut GHOST ROADS in 2019, LEAO has continued to expand its vision with the 2024 single TAEAO / MEA UMA - a sparkling glimpse into a significant body of alternative Pacific music currently in development. The group is now actively working towards the release of a new full-length album, deepening their bold contribution to contemporary Pacific sound.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:
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Performed with Neil Finn for 2025 NZ Art Foundation Gala
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Live-to-Air with Flo for NTS Radio, March 2025
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"Musika Malie" Sync for Next Goal Wins (dir. Taika Waititi); Tinā (dir. Miki Magasiva)
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Opened for Tinariwen 2024 NZ Tour
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"TAEAO" reached Number 1 in Radioscope Alt Charts, August 2024
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Creative New Zealand 2023 Emerging Artist Award
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"PUA MALIU" achieved Gold Rotation on 95BFM 2020
"Calling it Sāmoan indie-rock doesn’t quite do it justice. It is contemporary music equally steeped in history"
- NZ Herald, Tinariwen Concert Review, 2024
"sublime melding of the traditional and the contemporary"
- The Rolling Stones Magazine AU, 2024
"drawing deeply on fa’asamoa, Samoan music and language to compose unusually gorgeous hauntological pop tunes."
- The Wire UK, 2020
