In the Air (L.A.B. song) explained

"In the Air" is a song by New Zealand band L.A.B., released as a single from their album L.A.B. III in November 2019. The song topped the charts in New Zealand, becoming the most successful single of 2020 in the country.

Composition

"In the Air" was recorded in 2019 in Wellington, at the home studio of musician Lee Prebble.^[3] The band collaborative wrote "In the Air", with member Brad Kora providing the song's lyrics. The song is a melodic pop song, featuring smooth guitars and guest vocals by New Zealand singer Lisa Tomlins.^[2]

Release

"In the Air" was released as a single on 22 November 2019, a week before their album L.A.B. III.^{[1] [2]} "In the Air" grew in popularity in New Zealand through 2020, reaching number one in March 2020;^[4] it was the first time an independently released single reached number one in New Zealand since Flight of the Conchords' "Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That)" (2012).^[5] The song became the best-selling single of 2020 in New Zealand.^[6]

A remix EP was released for the song in May 2020, which includes remixes by musicians including Dub FX, whom the band met while touring with Fat Freddy’s Drop in summer 2019/2020, and Tiki Taane, a long-time friend of the bandmembers.^[7] The song was compiled onto the band's 2023 album Introducing L.A.B., originally produced as a sampler for their debut European performances.^[8]

Critical reception

Matthew McAuley of The Spinoff described "In the Air" as "perfectly pitched summer song...sea-scented, very-lightly reggae-tinged groover", likening it to local acts such as the Black Seeds and Breaks Co-Op, as well as the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes" (1979).^[9] At the 2020 Aotearoa Music Awards, the song was nominated for the Aotearoa Music Award for Single of the Year, losing to "Supalonely" by Benee.^[10]

Track listing

Digital download and streaming^[1]

1. "In the Air" – 4:12
2. "In the Air" (Dub FX remix) – 3:42
3. "In the Air" (Tiki Taane in the Dub remix) – 4:10
4. "In the Air" (Scott Tindale remix) – 5:11
5. "In the Air" (Magik J remix) – 5:33

Credits and personnel

• Ara Adams-Tamatea – bass
• Miharo Gregory – keys
• L.A.B. – arrangement, songwriting
• Brad Kora – arrangement, drums, lyrics, producer
• Stuart Kora – rhythm guitar
• Joel Shadbolt – lead guitar, lead vocals
• Lisa Tomlins – backing vocals

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart! scope="col"

Year	Position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11]	2020	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12]	2021	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13]	2022	6
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14]	2023	15

Notes and References

1. Web site: In The Air - Single . . 4 January 2023.
2. News: L.A.B. 'IN THE AIR' . Base FM . 9 December 2019 . 4 January 2023.
3. News: New Zealand's L.A.B. keen to keep experimenting. Andrew . Drever . . 5 December 2019 . 4 January 2023.
4. Web site: L.A.B. - IN THE AIR (SONG) . Hung Medien . 4 January 2023.
5. Web site: L.A.B. Bio . Reggarville . 4 January 2023.
6. News: Joel Shadbolt: L.A.B frontman on their summer stadium tour . 13 September 2022 . . 9 January 2023.
7. Web site: In The Air (Single) . Bandcamp . 4 January 2023.
8. Web site: Introducing L.A.B. . Bandcamp . 4 January 2024.
9. Web site: For L.A.B, the air is clear . 30 September 2020 . Matthew . McAuley . . 9 January 2023.
10. News: 15 November 2020 . Aotearoa Music Awards 2020: Full list of winners . en . Newshub . 16 November 2020.
11. Web site: END OF YEAR CHARTS 2020. NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. 29 January 2022.
12. Web site: END OF YEAR CHARTS 2021. NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. 27 January 2022.
13. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2022. Recorded Music NZ. December 24, 2022. December 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221222222353/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=5467. live.
14. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2023. Recorded Music NZ. 22 December 2023. 20 December 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231220081641/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/index_chart?chart=5732.