"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.
Released31 July 2018 (2018-07-31)[1][2]
Genrecontemporary R&B[3]
Length4:35
LabelLoop Recordings Aot(ear)oa
Songwriter(s)Brad Kora
Producer(s)Brad Kora
L.A.B. singles chronology
"Umulash"
(2017)
"Controller"
(2018)
"Midnight Summer"
(2018)
Music video
"Controller" on YouTube

Composition

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"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

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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

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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

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  • A. Adams-Tamatea – bass
  • B. Kora – arrangement, drums, lyrics, producer, sampling, songwriting
  • S. Kora – synth
  • J. Shadbolt – vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications and sales for "Controller"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] 8× Platinum 240,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "L.A.B. Bio". Reggarville. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "VIDEO PREMIERE: L.A.B.'s 'Controller' directed by Shae Sterling". Radio New Zealand. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ^ Thompson, Lora (12 December 2017). "L.A.B. - Album Review: L.A.B". muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  4. ^ "L.A.B. - Controller". Mai FM. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  5. ^ Shute, Gareth (15 April 2020). "L.A.B." Audio Culture. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Kiwi music dominates the 2020 Official NZ Music Charts". Radio New Zealand. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Introducing L.A.B." Bandcamp. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ^ Tucker, Dave. "Album Review: L.A.B. – L.A.B." Ambient Light Blog. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. ^ "L.A.B. – Controller". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  10. ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2020". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  11. ^ "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2021". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2022". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  13. ^ "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 November 2023.