Wellington’s rising R&B/reggae trio A.R.T has joined forces with internationally recognized Pacific music heavyweight Sammy Johnson (affectionately known to fans as Sammy J) for their soulful new single, “Make Me Believe.” The track dropped as the latest installment of the group’s highly successful, ongoing First Thursdays monthly release campaign.
The collaboration is a genuine full-circle moment for the members of A.R.T. Years ago, while they were still just school-aged singers discovering their passion for music, Johnson visited their school. What started as awe and admiration from afar across a classroom has since evolved over the years into a genuine, real-life friendship and creative partnership—culminating in the artists finally sharing a record together.
Musically, “Make Me Believe” effortlessly blends lovers rock-inspired island reggae with smooth, sultry melodies and the rich, complex harmonies that have fast become A.R.T’s signature. The track plays out as an emotional conversation between two people trying to navigate their past emotional baggage, exploring the deep vulnerability that comes with trying to trust and love again after heavy heartbreak. Lead vocal duties are beautifully split down the middle between Anastasia from A.R.T and Sammy Johnson, anchored by the flawless, layered backing harmonies of Roseta and T-R3X.
The star-studded Pacific collaboration doesn’t stop with the vocals. “Make Me Believe” was produced by the powerhouse team The Ikonics, with the live, crisp studio drums recorded all the way over in Hawaii by Elias English (of the award-winning reggae band Maoli). The track’s polished final polish was handled by mixing and mastering engineer EDYONTHEBEAT.
The massive drop follows hot on the heels of A.R.T’s highly successful Australian and New Zealand tour supporting Josh Tatofi, further cementing the group’s unstoppable momentum across the global Pacific music landscape.
“Make Me Believe” is available to stream across all digital platforms now. Fans can check out the official lyric video and listen to the track directly via the band’s official portal at precise.fm/believe.
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