The song was released on Spotify, received airplay on New Zealand radio,[1] and reached number 58 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2018.

[2] In a press release, the song was described as "indie-slack fun with a little R'n'B swing".

The new version, retitled "Kua Kore He Kupu / Soaked", featured lyrics reinterpreted by scholar Tīmoti Kāretu.

[4] This version reached number five on the New Zealand artists' singles chart.

[5] "Soaked" was called a "slick, funk-fuelled pop number" by Pilerats,[6] while The Music Network described it as "an R'n'B drenched slice of alt-pop that accentuates the young singer's soulful vocals".