"Controller" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their debut album L.A.B. in mid-2018. After the success of the band's song "In the Air" (2019), the song became a hit in New Zealand.
| "Controller" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by L.A.B. | ||||
| from the album L.A.B. | ||||
| Released | 31 July 2018[1][2] | |||
| Genre | contemporary R&B[3] | |||
| Length | 4:35 | |||
| Label | Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brad Kora | |||
| Producer(s) | Brad Kora | |||
| L.A.B. singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Controller" on YouTube | ||||
Composition edit
"Controller" was one of the first songs the band L.A.B. wrote, inspired by the story of a woman who falls blindly in love with a controlling man.[2][4] The song incorporates 1980s-style pop synths and percussion.[5]
Release edit
The song was released as a single in July 2018, alongside the release of the song's music video, directed by Shae Sterling.[1][2] The song became a hit in 2020 after the release of the band's single "In the Air", becoming the 8th most successful single by a New Zealand artist in 2020.[6]
The song was compiled onto the band's 2023 album Introducing L.A.B., originally produced as a sampler for their debut European performances.[7]
Critical reception edit
Dave Tucker of Ambient Light Blog reviewed the song positively, calling it "[the] perfect single piece of team mastery, combin[ing] a sweet soulful sincerity that I like a lot."[8]
Credits and personnel edit
- A. Adams-Tamatea – bass
- B. Kora – arrangement, drums, lyrics, producer, sampling, songwriting
- S. Kora – synth
- J. Shadbolt – vocals
Charts edit
Weekly charts edit
|
Year-end charts edit
|
Certifications edit
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] | 8× Platinum | 240,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References edit
- ^ a b "L.A.B. Bio". Reggarville. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "VIDEO PREMIERE: L.A.B.'s 'Controller' directed by Shae Sterling". Radio New Zealand. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ Thompson, Lora (12 December 2017). "L.A.B. - Album Review: L.A.B". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "L.A.B. - Controller". Mai FM. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Shute, Gareth (15 April 2020). "L.A.B." Audio Culture. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Kiwi music dominates the 2020 Official NZ Music Charts". Radio New Zealand. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
- ^ "Introducing L.A.B." Bandcamp. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Tucker, Dave. "Album Review: L.A.B. – L.A.B." Ambient Light Blog. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "L.A.B. – Controller". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2020". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
- ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2021". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 November 2023.