Evie Bamford finds calm resolve with lush indie single Through the Day

After the offbeat charm of her debut Money Bag, Tāmaki Makaurau based songwriter Evie Bamford shares Through the Day, a track that drifts with reflection and slow-burning resolve. Self produced and rich in texture, the song folds indie rock guitars around cello, clarinet and soft vocal harmonies, creating a warm

Tali steps into her EMPRESS ERA, reflecting on survival and strength

Few artists in Aotearoa’s electronic scene carry a story as wide ranging as Tali. From a dairy farm in Taranaki to the heart of the UK drum and bass movement, her path has moved through rave culture, jazz exploration, songwriting, teaching, and international touring. Now she enters a new

Beth Elsden captures the long road to blooming with Losing You Slow

Beth Elsden introduces her debut single Losing You Slow with a sound that sits inside dreamlike synth pop and quiet emotional pull. The track moves through soft melodic phrasing before lifting into escalating vocal hooks, balancing restraint with intention. Her background in musical theatre and choral performance shape the arrangement.

Sophie Aston teaches us to rise from the flames of grief with Stardust

Following the release of her debut ‘Better,’ Waiheke-based singer-songwriter Sophie Aston returns with her latest single, ‘Stardust,’ an uplifting yet vulnerable and reflective exploration of grief and rebirth.  Sophie continues to affirm herself as an established songwriter with this track, using poetic lyricism to weave together symbols of fire, the

Reuben Bonner on risk, discovery, and building the world of Strange Universe

Few people have shaped the path of independent touring in Aotearoa quite like Reuben Bonner. Through his work with Banished Music, Bonner has spent years bringing adventurous international acts to local stages while championing artists from across the country. His latest venture, Strange Universe, expands that vision into a loose

Emme Lentino taps into the healing power of music with new single Because of You

Music often shows up when words fail. For Emme Lentino, it arrived in the middle of grief and became a way forward. Now based in Aotearoa after growing up in Oregon, Lentino releases her new single Because of You as a statement of survival and renewal. The song was written

Jenni Smith turns comparison into a clever pop country confessional with Mirror

What starts as a joke can turn into a question that sticks. For Jenni Smith, that question became her new single Mirror. Growing up, her mum liked to compare her to famous brunettes. Anne Hathaway. Emma Watson. Keira Knightley. It sounded flattering, yet it planted a strange idea. If someone

Live at the Domain sends Auckland back to the pop-punk 2000s

Wintergardens to the left, Sky Tower and palm trees to the right, Live at the Domain brings an electric energy to Tāmaki Makaurau's favourite park on Friday night. Tadpole, one of Aotearoa’s most influential rock bands, and alt-rock royalty Yellowcard have already warmed festival goers, kicking off

Shuv It blur genre lines with thunderous debut LP Erode

Shuv It’s debut album Erode comes in loud and unapologetic. The record pulls from metal, punk and rap, then locks everything into tight, high impact songs built for movement and volume. Guitars cut hard. The bass sits heavy in the mix. Drums land with force. Vocals switch between melody

LUNG strip it back and strike hard with Fog

Fog lands with intent. Raw, thick guitars grind into bass heavy riffs. The drums hit with force, shaping every turn. Grit-silk vocals move cleanly through the noise and provide an uncentered balance of sorts. Chaos fills the room, yet control holds the centre. The songs are tight wound, ready to

Johnny Stevens on change and what's ahead in the next chapter for Highly Suspect

Ahead of their upcoming Live At The Domain performance with Good Charlotte, Yellowcard and Tadpole, Highly Suspect frontman Johnny Stevens answered our questions about growth, movement, and making music that stays close to real life. From Brooklyn rhythms to life on the road, he reflects on how change keeps the

CRYSTAL talks friendship, honesty, and a new era of confidence

Wellington shaped CRYSTAL’s first steps as a songwriter. Auckland forced her to rebuild from scratch. In this conversation, she reflects on learning to back herself, and writing with honesty about friendship, fear, and growing up. As she enters a new chapter with Make It Up To You, CRYSTAL speaks