Letoa Releases ‘Rage Quit (Melo Remix)’
Letoaalii Hughes, professionally known as Letoa, is a 22 year old Samoan Australian artist based in New Zealand, an award winning artist, and an early pioneer of the Aesthetic Rap movement. In 2026, Letoa was awarded the Arch Angel Independence Award at the Pacific Music Awards, recognising his work as an independent artist building a global career while remaining connected to his Pacific roots. Blending heritage, innovation, and independence, his sound pushes beyond borders while staying deeply rooted in Pacific identity.
Born in Suva, Fiji, to a Samoan German mother and an Australian Armenian father, Letoa was raised in a musically rich family, with ties to the iconic Keil Isles Band. His upbringing spanned Brisbane and Samoa, where freestyle sessions, family radio, and early creative experimentation shaped his artistic voice.
At just 16, he performed his first headline show in Samoa with his collective OSKK. After moving to Auckland in 2019, his music gained global traction during the 2020 lockdown, reaching audiences across the USA, Europe, and beyond. His debut EP Glocstarr V1, featuring breakout track Ice Cold, positioned him as a defining voice in his lane.
Fully independent, Letoa has built a sustainable career, toured internationally, and shared stages with underground heavyweights while supporting tours across New Zealand and Australia. His single Chiropractor earned a nomination at the Rolling Stone New Zealand Awards, further establishing his presence within the region’s evolving music landscape.
With over 300 million streams, Letoa represents a new generation of artists creating globally while staying grounded in culture, independence, and identity.
Leading the release is Rage Quit (Melo Remix), a reimagining of Letoa’s high energy collaboration with longtime friend and creative partner Lames, now featuring Auckland artist MELODOWNZ. The remix adds a new dimension to the original record while keeping its core energy intact, bringing together three distinct voices across a track built for pure momentum.
For Letoa, the collaboration carries a deeper significance. Having looked up to MELODOWNZ during his early days as an artist, sharing a record with him now represents a full circle moment and a major milestone in his journey. Following their recent collaboration on Daily Bread from MELODOWNZ’s album Bron, Rage Quit (Melo Remix) marks another step in their growing creative relationship.
The remix retains the punchy drums, infectious bounce, and Memphis phonk and trap influence that drive the original. Letoa and Lames’ performances remain untouched, preserving the chemistry at the heart of the track, while MELODOWNZ brings a fresh presence that adds another layer to its relentless energy.
Rather than simply revisiting the original, the remix expands on what made Rage Quit stand out in the first place. Letoa’s dynamic delivery, Lames’ laid back approach, and MELODOWNZ’s distinct style create a new dynamic without losing the identity of the record.
Accompanying the remix is a cinematic black and white music video directed by Christian Munokoa, with cinematography split between Matavai Taulangau and Jack Rottier. Rottier captures Lames’ portion in Los Angeles, while Taulangau shoots the remaining footage in Auckland, bringing together two locations while maintaining a consistent visual identity. The video was edited by Tung Bui, who previously worked with Letoa on the Medusa music video, with photography by Maria Philp.
Moving between gothic architecture, gritty urban locations, and clean, stripped back backgrounds, the visual uses sharp cinematic cuts and contrasting environments to mirror the energy of the remix. The black and white treatment ties the different locations together, creating a unified aesthetic while giving each artist their own visual space within the film.
Rage Quit (Melo Remix) is ultimately both an evolution of the original and a milestone for Letoa, bringing together longtime creative chemistry, new collaboration, and a full circle moment with an artist who played a role in inspiring his journey.
