TOI Pays Tribute To ANZACs With Raw And Reflective New Waiata, ‘Lest We Forget’

With ANZAC Day fast approaching, TOI is paying a powerful and moving tribute to those who have served and died in war and peacekeeping operations, with the release of a new song, ‘Lest We Forget’ on April 25.

‘Lest We Forget’ is a raw and reflective waiata about remembrance and sacrifice, which has been sitting in the band’s song vault for seven years, waiting for the right time for release.

“We wrote it after attending ANZAC Day service at the National War Memorial,” says the band’s frontman, Conway Jeune.

“Being there in person, hearing the Last Post, and standing in silence with everyone, that's a huge energy. It made us think deeply about the people who went to war, especially those who never made it home.”

“The song is a tribute to all the ANZACs and soldiers who’ve served, but it was especially inspired by the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the memorial. The inscription on it ‘An Unknown New Zealand Warrior – He Toa Matangaro No Aotearoa’ really stuck with us. There’s something powerful about honouring someone whose name we’ll never know, but whose sacrifice still means so much,” he adds.

In keeping with TOI’s signature sound, ‘Lest We Forget’ fuses reggae, roots and dub and takes the listener on a journey from quiet reflection to the overwhelming sounds of conflict.

“The final section hits hard, reflecting on the harsh reality and emotional weight of what’s being remembered,” says Conway.

Lyrically, it’s a stark reminder of the human experience of war. “The fear, the brotherhood, the grief - a reflection of the emotional cost of conflict and a tribute to those who carried that burden.”

‘Lest We Forget’ is accompanied by striking artwork done by TOI’s ex bass player Makura Tomoana, who also co-wrote the song when it was recorded seven years ago. “The artwork carries that same wairua as the song. It’s subtle but powerful, and speaks to remembrance, legacy, and identity.”

Adding to the song’s poignancy, is the fact that several of the band members have grandparents who served in the Māori Battalion.

“We’re proud of our roots, and we try to bring that sense of history and meaning into our music. ‘Lest We Forget’ is our way of acknowledging where we come from, and using our sound to keep those stories alive,” says Conway.

‘Lest We Forget’ is the first release from TOI since last year’s release of their highly anticipated album WAVES, which was a top 20 album in New Zealand and featured the singles ‘Essence’, ‘Wired’ and ‘Get To Know You’. The band also added its voice to Aotearoa’s 2024 Paris Olympic campaign with the song ‘Ain’t Just Dreaming’ featuring Olympians Ellesse Andrews and Max Brown.

‘Lest We Forget’ will be available across DSPs on Friday April 25.

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