Riiki Reid (Ngāti Porou) turns up the heat with her glowing new single ‘Sauna’ out now.‍

The release comes after a successful night last night at the Aotearoa Music Awards in Auckland where Riiki took home Te Taumata o te Horapa, Radio Airplay Record Of The Year for her 2025 hit ‘Over Romantic’. This award is presented to the local artist with the most played song at New Zealand radio. Riiki is the first female to win the award in 11 years and only the fourth since its inception in 2004. Riiki also performed the song live at the ceremony, showcasing her impressive vocals and expertly choreographed set complete with dance troupe.

'Sauna' is Riiki’s first release of 2026 and as an independent artist. The song serves as an engine of acceptance and release after a challenging year. “I lost my father, my house flooded, I went through a breakup and parted ways with my major label” shares Riiki.

After taking time to focus on the people and things that are important to her, Riiki began writing ‘Sauna’ as a way to start afresh before taking the idea to co-writer Robby De Sa. The result is a song shaped by that process of recalibration; letting things go, “sweating it out” and moving forward.

"I made a deal with myself that I wouldn’t wallow anymore and that I would do everything I could to focus on the things that recharge me, energise me and allow me to live my happiest life so that in return, I could really show up for the people I care about, show up for my craft and do my best effort to add something positive to the world."- Riiki Reid

Her most recent EP Drench (October 2025) dived head first into the soundtrack of an Aotearoa summer with ‘Over Romantic’ spending 8 weeks at #1 on the Official Top 20 Aotearoa Singles Chart. This momentum saw follow up singles including ‘Indulgent (Fruit)’, ‘Candy’ and the gold-certified ‘High Heights’ set the foundation for Riiki’s signature sun-kissed sound.

‘Sauna’ takes that established sound and heats it up a notch, wrapping listeners in the light and warmth of a new season of Riiki Reid

“I hope this song reminds people that they deserve to find all the happiness in the world, not to take life too seriously, to appreciate the journey and to be the change they want to see in the world.” - Riiki Reid

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'Sauna' is out now! Stream it here here

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