Blue Eyed Māori

"Blue Eyed Māori" wasn't meant to be a hit. Released quietly in July 2023 from Corrella's debut album, it had no obvious commercial formula; a laid-back roots reggae track about mixed-race children born during the New Zealand Wars, inspired also by the lead singer's own goddaughter. The trumpet solo was played by Christian Mausia. It felt like an album track, not a single.

Then it just kept growing. It became the sleeper hit of 2023, one of the most played songs on NZ radio and one of the most streamed. By the time May 2024 arrived, it had been at #1 for more than 30 weeks. It would go on to spend over 50 weeks at number one on the Official NZ Top 20 Singles chart, the all-time record for most weeks at number one.

The band behind it is equally unlikely. Corrella is made up of members of the Royal New Zealand Navy. They named their debut album after the address of the naval base where they used to practice. Many of their songs draw on experiences from overseas tours. "Blue Eyed Māori" draws on something deeper. The song's two inspirations are multi-racial children born during the New Zealand Wars in the 19th century, and lead songwriter Te Naawe Tupe's goddaughter.

It was awarded Breakthrough Single of the Year at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards. By then, the record books had already been rewritten.