The Adults
Two recording projects led by Jon Toogood.
The name "The Adults" has been used for two distinct recording projects, both led by Jon Toogood, the frontman of the New Zealand band Shihad.
The first version of The Adults was a New Zealand rock supergroup. It began as a solo project for Toogood and featured a lineup of well-known local musicians, including Shayne Carter, Julia Deans, Anika Moa, Tiki Taane, and Ladi6. Their self-titled album came out in 2011 and reached number four on the New Zealand album charts. It was nominated for Best Group at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards, and the single "Brother" made the long list for the 2012 APRA Silver Scroll award. In June 2012, the group performed with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra at CBS Arena in Christchurch. A special edition of the album, including live tracks from that concert, was released later that year.
The second iteration of The Adults was the 2018 album *Haja*. Toogood had not planned to use the name while making the record, but it was adopted to secure Warner Music’s involvement after the recordings were finished. The project took four years to create and was inspired by Toogood’s 2014 wedding in Khartoum, Sudan, to his wife Dana Salih. The traditional three-day ceremony featured a style called Aghani al-banat, or "girls' music," performed only by women—drummers, singers, and spectators—with the bride dancing on the final day. Toogood was captivated by the sound, comparing it to a new MIA track and finding it subversive under Islamic laws. He told the performers he wanted to record with them, and a year later he returned to Sudan. The album *Haja* was built from iPhone recordings made in Sudan in 2015 (formal studio sessions had not worked), combined with basslines from Toogood and vocals from New Zealand hip hop artists such as Chelsea Jade, Raiza Biza, and Aaradhna. Toogood mostly invited female collaborators to match the spirit of Aghani al-banat, and he originally did not plan to sing on the album, but Warner Music negotiations led to his vocals on two tracks. *Haja* reached number 14 on the New Zealand album charts. In 2018, Toogood wrote an academic paper about the project, titled *Haja: Incorporating Aghani Al-Banat into a Western Popular Music Recording Project*, as part of his Master of Fine Arts studies.
- field
- Music
- nationality
- New Zealand
- known_for
- Two distinct recording projects under one name, blending rock and Sudanese wedding music with hip hop
- first_album_release
- 2011
- second_album_release
- 2018
Quick Facts
- Origin
- New Zealand
- Genre
- Rock, pop, electronica, Aghani al-banat, Hip hop
- Years Active
- 2010–12, 2018
- Label
- Warner Music NZ
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The first iteration of the Adults began as a solo project of Jon Toogood's and involved many established New Zealand musicians, including Shayne Carter, Julia Deans, Anika Moa, Tiki Taane and Ladi6. Their self-titled album was released in 2011, reached number four in the New Zealand album charts, and was nominated for Best Group at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards. In June 2012 the group performed a concert with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and a special edition of the album with live tracks from that concert was released in November 2012.
The second iteration of the Adults was created over four years and released in 2018 as Haja. The name was used to secure the participation of Warner Music after the recordings were made; Toogood had not had the name in mind during the project's development. The album blended Aghani Al-Banat, a Sudanese style performed at weddings, with New Zealand hip hop. Toogood fir
Reader's Guide
The Adults represent a unique case in popular music: a name applied to two sonically and personnel-wise distinct projects, linked only by the involvement of Jon Toogood. The first project was a conventional rock supergroup that achieved commercial and critical success in New Zealand, while the second was a cross-cultural experiment that introduced a Sudanese wedding music tradition to a Western audience. The Haja album, in particular, is notable for its incorporation of Aghani Al-Banat, a style usually performed only live and by women, into a recorded Western popular music context. Toogood's academic paper on the project, written as part of his Master of Fine Arts, further underscores the scholarly dimension of this work. The Adults thus serve as an example of how a single artist can use a collaborative name to explore vastly different musical territories, from local rock to global fusion.
Did You Know?
- The Adults name was used for two completely different sets of musicians, with only Jon Toogood common to both.
- The 2018 album Haja was named after the project only after recordings were made, to secure Warner Music's participation.
- Toogood first encountered Aghani Al-Banat at his own wedding in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2014.
- The Haja album was created using iPhone recordings made in Sudan in 2015, as formal recording sessions yielded nothing usable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is The Adults?
The Adults is the name shared by two separate recording projects fronted by Jon Toogood, best known as the singer of the New Zealand rock band Shihad. Both iterations bring together a roster of prominent local musicians under one banner.
Which musicians have been part of The Adults?
The original lineup featured well-known New Zealand artists including Shayne Carter, Julia Deans, Anika Moa, Tiki Taane, and Ladi6, all joining Toogood's initial solo concept.
What albums has The Adults released?
The group put out a self-titled debut in 2011 that climbed to number four on the New Zealand album chart, followed by a second record in 2018.
What kind of music does The Adults make?
The project blends rock with elements of Sudanese wedding music and hip-hop, giving it a distinctly eclectic sound compared to Toogood's work with Shihad.
Has The Adults won or been nominated for any awards?
The 2011 album earned a Best Group nomination at the 2012 New Zealand Music Awards, and the single 'Brother' made the long list for a 2012 award category.
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