Ready to Ride

Hori Shaw grew up in Ōpōtiki on the East Coast. After a life-changing accident left him relearning how to walk, music became his voice. This led to a breakout in 2024 with multiple Aotearoa #1s. Te Wehi, from a rural Bay of Plenty background, built his career from his bedroom while running a fencing business, learning to produce music and drawing inspiration from artists like Kora, L.A.B., and Chris Stapleton. Two self-made artists, both carrying the same East Coast grit, both finding their audiences the hard way.

"Ready to Ride" brought them together in July 2025. Rooted deeply in whenua and whakapapa, the waiata weaves te reo Māori and English through a roots-reggae groove. The native bush, the birds, the land as home. Thematically it's about sacrifice and provision: the early mornings, the long hours away from family, the work done so children can prosper. It's a song about being a parent, a provider, a survivor, and grounded in the specific reality of rural East Coast life.

It spent 11 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Aotearoa Singles Chart, an extraordinary run. The song is nominated for Single of the Year at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards, where both artists are also finalists for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.