Ardon is back! What I love about diversity is that it’s so… well, diverse. He’s Māori, he’s queer, he owes us all a beer! Ardon is a lyrically expressive individual with the flamboyance to pull off the musical statement he’s aiming to make.

Plastic is essentially a big “f*** you” to anyone who judges those who choose body enhancements for themselves. I once saw the wonderfully naughty Miriam Margolyes on Graham Norton, and she told a tale of how she came to realise that addressing someone who identifies as non-binary as “they” or “them” isn’t hurting you – at all – but could easily be giving them a sense of validity and worth, in a world in which they are often (in fact, regularly) denigrated and abused. It’s on the You Tubes, and Miriam expresses it far better than I could, so look it up.

Anyway, this is in the same vein. If a person has more self-esteem and worth than they otherwise would have, by paying for enhancement surgery, then there’s a person who is going to be a more effective and positive member of society than they could be if they were so cowed or embarrassed (whether justified or not) that they couldn’t let themselves out. I think this is along the lines of what Ardon is saying here.

He’s enlisted fellow Māori artist Krisy Erin, the first wahine rapper to be on the line-up to 2024’s One Love. Between them they take us on this journey, collectively flipping the bird to convention and conformity to a deep mix of dark hip-hop and a touch of trance-like house. Ardon breathes his baritone through the mic, putting the listener in mind of the flow of legendary multi-genre artist Madonna during her Vogue era. It’s dark, feels like it should come across as subdued, but is in fact a quality flow, mid-tempo and something that works beautifully.

This track would absolutely kill it as the soundtrack to fashion show after fashion show. I can see those divas swaggering down the catwalk, smirking and fey. Yeah. This would be perfect for them. Definitely one for the floor at the right sort of late night club on K-Road or Cuba Street. It’s a dark track, but it’s got some serious chops. The twin rap approach highlights Krisy‘s sense of timing (Ardon‘s too) and this one should be a night-time regular on Mai FM, 99bFM and those others who will play the less mainstream numbers.

This isn’t a genre I go out of my way to listen to, but the mix, master and overall production is excellent. It’s got a message I totally agree with and am happy to find is being released. Ardon England is a talented lyricist and can perform the things he writes in a compelling, counter-conformist way. Krisy Erin is a great call for a duet, because she can deliver with chops and flair too. For anyone who likes this genre, or likes the sound of what I’ve put here, then pop on Spotty Fly and give it a listen. No vid yet, but I hope we get one.

Ardon England featuring Krisy Erin: Plastic. Go get some lipo!