Singer Rio Panapa will ditch band for Sons of Zion return to Rotorua

Sons of Zion will bring their fusion of rock, dub, R'n'B, with a reggae foundation, to the Lava Bar next month. Photo/File

Sons of Zion vocalist Rio Panapa will be ditching the band and staying with whanau when they play in Rotorua next month.

Panapa says his mum's home cooking and clothes-washing skills take him home every time.

"The food is always better at home and my dirty laundry I take back is always clean and folded when I leave - it's awesome," he laughed.

Back on the road this winter for a nationwide tour that takes in both the North and South Islands, Sons of Zion will bring their fusion of rock, dub, R'n'B, with a reggae foundation, to the Lava Bar on September 1.

The six-piece band have just released their latest EP, The Jukebox Suite, which will be introduced to audiences as part of the 12-date tour.

"We've just toured Australia, we kick off our New Zealand tour on August 25 and then follow that with a four-show tour in Hawaii," Panapa said. "It's full on but still hard to beat that time on stage."

Born and raised in Rotorua, Panapa and his family shifted to Auckland in 2003 but his parents are back living locally and looking after his nan.

"I'm close to my parents and to my nan so I'm actually back here a lot."

Describing himself as a Ford block kid, Panapa attributes his upbringing to his ongoing involvement with fundraising for causes.

"I guess if you are aware of a need then you're more inclined to want to help."

Panapa was one of two brains behind the Reggae All Stars Sensitive to a Smile project that raised money for Mana Ririki, a charitable organisation advocating for Maori children and violence-free parenting, set up in 2007 after the death of Nia Glassie.

He also organised the Music is Love charity concert that raised over $100,000 to help Te Puea Marae.

Since the release of their debut album, Universal Love, in 2013, Sons of Zion have carved a successful path with more than 12 million streams on Spotify, over 10 million views on YouTube and a 100,000 plus following on social media.

They play to sellout crowds in New Zealand and sellout ex-pat crowds in Australia.

"Our sound is very Kiwi so for a lot of New Zealanders living in Oz, we are a piece of home. They want to chat and often tell us they're stoked we made an effort."

Likewise in Hawaii. "They're Polynesians, just like us, and we enjoy going over there."