Album Download: AUD $15.20

Founding members of The Kumpnee, Josh Gage and Ronnie Lavender have been steadily building up a base of fans in Australia and New Zealand over the past few years and have recently been joined by Gino Hawkins, Stevie Taylor and Huia Ratapu to make up the core of this smooth 5-piece live band.

Their sound can be described as a blend of unpredictable urban funk, rap and soulful harmony. Think Outkast thrown into a cauldron mixed with a dash of Gnarls Barkley and a sprinkle of The Black Eyed Peas. They draw on their life experience growing up in New Zealand and living in Australia, creating lyrical flows that people can relate to, combining it with electro synth and live instrumentation, wrapped in layers of melodic harmonies and groove that make you want to move.

Their debut release of their album – 'The Kumpnee Ball' is a journey in which the boys have taken, from songs like 'That Girl' and the affects that the female species have on them to songs like 'It Doesn't Matter' inspired by doing whatever it takes for you to succeed and get through a slump you may be in. Other songs like 'No One Special' and their first single 'Under a Spell' bring out the harmonies that make you want to sing while 'Tight Jeans' and 'She Don't Love Me' bring the foundation of the group together with its hip hop feel. This album can only be described as a blend of melodic tunes mixed with gritty hip hop. One thing you can expect from this album is to expect the unexpected.

THE KUMPNEE SITE