Music
Aotearoa music group LEAO have won the 2026 APRA Silver Scroll Award for LALELEI, becoming the first act to win the prestigious songwriting award with a song written entirely in Gagana Samoa. The award was presented at the 61st annual APRA Silver Scroll Awards at Tāmaki Makaurau’s Kiri Te
Interview
Sophie-Maude is making the most of her 20s. Her recently released single, Be Something, is all about making it count. The track was inspired by summer flings, traveling, and people who stay with us long after they’re gone. The video appropriately captures this vibe, following four friends on
Music
Putting on a music festival is not an easy undertaking. Three years ago a group of mates in their early 20s did just that. The event pulled 350 attendees in what was essentially a new years party with a bunch of bands. But the organisers had the ambition and the
Daily use of Spotify has fallen among New Zealand audiences, while new research from NZ On Air suggests there remains a significant appetite for local music – provided listeners can find it. The findings come from the 2026 Where Are the Audiences? report, conducted by Verian for NZ On Air. The
Kia ora and welcome to my personal newsletter to Empty Spaces readers. No frills here. In the following I'll include my favourite content from the website, as well as anything topical that's on my mind (be warned!). I'll write these every now and then
Many artists are aware of the change in landscape brought about by digital media and how it has pushed the majority of creatives to do a lot more than just make art. There is a growing demand for artists to not only stay relevant through what they create, but also
Nobody told me when I was starting out about the highest cost of being an indie artist in New Zealand. It's the hushed secret told behind closed doors. The opinion you dilute with an extra hot espresso and an inner mantra of "she'll be '
AUCKLAND, NZ - Independent music platform Empty Spaces has announced a new subscription model designed to strengthen support for local music journalism while creating a more connected and sustainable ecosystem for artists and industry. The Industry tier, priced at NZ$40 per month, is built for publicists, promotors, managers and labels
A new international study has found New Zealanders dream of becoming a DJ more than any other job. The research, carried out by Remitly, analysed Google search data across more than 140 countries, tracking how often people searched “how to be a [job]” to uncover the careers people are most
Fresh tracks, and the stories that matter in Aotearoa’s evolving scene.
A$AP Rocky will return to New Zealand for the first time in eight years, bringing his Don’t Be Dumb World Tour to Auckland’s Spark Arena on Saturday 12 December. The show, presented by Mai FM and promoted by Live Nation, will feature tracks from Rocky’s fourth
Silky smooth beats, undeniable hooks and clean feel-good production. For a self-confessed pop nerd, the latest track from Auckland based DJ/producer/artist romiin is quite simply what dreams are made of. Already with a reputation for slick R&B jams, one at a time see'
A few weeks back the Rockquest national finals took place. Now for anyone who didn't grow up playing music in high school, rockquest is Aotearoa's country-wide band competition for secondary school students. Each year hundreds of bands, duo's and solo artists enter with
Louis Baker is notorious for writing heart-wrenching, soul-stirring ballads, with his own blend of jazz, funk and R&B. His latest album, Trouble, bears these same hallmarks and somehow takes the listener even deeper. Released today, Trouble sees Louis confronting himself, reflecting on two years of personal
Epakist have a larger-than-life rock ’n’ roll sound. It’s fantastic fuel for a workout. They released an EP two years back and, more recently, an enticing new track, Domehead, written about (unnamed?) self-serving politicians. As we approach the election later this month, the song feels particularly
He cut his teeth in music playing in Mako Road. Then the band came to an end and so began a period away from music. But he's back at it again with new reasons to create - Park Palais represents a fresh start for songwriter and producer Rhian Ward.
London has become a rite of passage for many Kiwis. Some love it so much they put down roots. For Dec Ramsay it's been nearly ten years. But that doesn’t mean they've forgotten where they're originally from. Growing up in Ngamotu, New Plymouth
Sometimes the greatest talent can be found behind the scenes. For years, HOPE supported across various projects - lending her voice as a backing artist. In 2025 she started spreading her wings as an artist in her own right. And today, her latest single dropped, further cementing her as one to
Niki Kennedy is about to release her new album The Space In Between. The record captures a two year period of writing and self-production, underpinned by questions of identity and culture. Born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau and now based in Toronto, Kennedy has established a sound around roots
Jenny Mitchell has spent more than a decade writing songs. Originally from Gore and now based in Melbourne, she has become one of the most recognisable names in the Aotearoa country scene, earning an Aotearoa Music Award and four Australian Golden Guitar nominations along the way. Her new single, Mr
Societal expectations have been a recurring theme across our articles in recent weeks. Creation is a nifty craft that takes the experience of living down unique pathways. As such, it is my experience that a lot of musicians fall outside conventional realms of 'how you should be' - it
Monolith Pleasure Cult may not yet be household name. But the project has a history that really stands out. Previously releasing music as Sal Valentine, the artist also had stint as drummer for iconic NZ group The Beths. With a track record of this calibre, the music carries a level
