Te Karehana Gardiner-Toi’s 2021 debut album as TEEKS introduced a vital new voice in Aotearoa New Zealand’s music scene. And what a voice: Something to Feel showcases the Māori singer-songwriter’s deep and smooth delivery in all the right ways. “Into You” plays like an early Sam Cooke ballad—all cosy romantic closeness—while “Remember Me” is a big, yearning R&B tune and “If You Were Mine” encourages Gardiner-Toi to get a bit funkier. Especially stunning is opener, “Just for Tonight”, a sensual entreaty to “surrender to your heart” that gradually adds dramatic drums, strings and vocal harmonies to its sombre piano spine. Other songs are limited to primarily acoustic guitar, though slow, soft horns sneak into the frame as “Waves” progresses. No matter what the mood or arrangements, these tracks underscore the impressive subtlety and control that Gardiner-Toi possesses as a modern soul artist. He never wobbles or overextends himself, always making a convincing case for the words he sings. It’s no surprise that “Younger” and bonus track “Oil & Water” both cracked the Top 10 in NZ, while Something to Feel topped the local albums chart and saw TEEKS win three Aotearoa Music Awards in the year of its release. Simmering with emotion, it feels timeless and true.