Watch Arahi's Video For New Single 'We've Seen Better Days'

Memories may walk past us, especially as we fail to focus on the beauty of the present. Tāmaki Makaurau-based songwriter Arahi (Rongomaiwahine) makes an auspicious return with new single and video 'We’ve Seen Better Days', the 2023 Silver Scroll Award finalist's first solo release since 2022's Revelator EP. Recorded at home and at The Lab with Jol Mulholland, the song's accompanying visuals capture Arahi walking along central city streets in twilight, grasping at threads of a glorified past while letting the significance of the present fade from view. Colour starts to seep on screen as memories flood in, with Liv Tennet acting as his old flame in the Sports Team produced clip made with support from NZ On Air— directed by Annabel Kean and filmed / edited by Callum Devlin.

Arahi stated his song draws inspiration from Warren Maxwell's presentation of the 2023 Independent Spirit Award to Paul Huggins (Rough Peel Music) at the Taite Music Prize ceremony — diagnosed with glioblastoma / cancer, Huggins passed away just two months later. Maxwell’s speech moved the audience when he mentioned "we've seen better days".  This moment resonated with Arahi, whose song shifts between two timelines that intersect in emotional weight. 'We’ve Seen Better Days' is the start of upcoming activity for Arahi, who is also one half of Pony Baby with Jazmine Mary, who are playing at Tāmaki’s The Wine Cellar on 24th July with Fables (Jess Bailey). Dive into the freshest solo work of the multi-talent below…

"I’d not long moved to Auckland when I found myself at the Taite Prize. I watched as Warren Maxwell was announced to present Paul Huggins with the Independent Spirit Award. Warren begins reminiscing before ending by saying, ‘We’ve seen better days’. It was a moment felt around the room and it stuck with me.

It is common to reminisce fondly on the past only once you’re granted the perspective of time — but even once this is realised it is still rare to surrender yourself to the idea that perhaps the ‘good old days’ are here in front of you, each day. This is the song of someone who is clinging on to ‘better days’ not realising they are in fact missing them here and now."

‘We’ve Seen Better Days’ is out now on major streaming platforms.