Culture
Almost everyone knows about the controversy surrounding AI use to create music. Some have embraced it, even right at the top of the food chain. But for most, especially artists and those of us who give a shit about creative integrity, the concept as a whole is quite revolting. Everyday
Interview
Lacquered Black aren't about typical grunge sob songs. The Auckland band are building a sound around the kind of live energy that leaves a room speechless. They're working towards their first recorded releases, and are keeping things as old school as possible - tracking in a live
Interview
JessB is truly a force of nature. The Aotearoa artist has spent the past seven years experiencing culture around the world, sharing stages with renown global icons and digging deep into the origins of hip hop. More recently, she's been releasing new music. Multiple singles, each unique in
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.
Pōneke hip hop groovers, Raw Collective have dropped another smooth track stacked with chill vibes. The eight piece band are building to an upcoming album release and if this latest song is anything to go by, listeners are in for a treat. Featuring Iharaira Starr, Tables Turn moves through off-
Waiheke Island is a hub of creative activity and it's no different when it comes to music. Local artist Sophie Aston has released a number of captivating songs to date including the uplifting yet vulnerable Stardust, just earlier this year. Her latest offering, Indigo is dynamic and expansive.
For Evie Bamford, perfection has never been the point. Her new EP embraces the warmth, texture and small imperfections that come from musicians playing together, bringing her background in jazz and classical music into a rich indie sound. The build up to the EP won support from the Student Radio
For GiGi Crayford (aka HINE), music is a way to connect and find belonging. Her recent EP, KA MUA KA MURI, was created over a three-year journey reconnecting with te reo Māori. Raised in a creative whānau with strong jazz lineage, HINE grew up seeing artistic expression as a
Making ends meet as an independent artist is no walk in the park - especially in 2026. The system has done us dirty. Once upon a time musicians were gods, hailed for our creativity and celebrated for our contribution to culture. And the world fell in line. Our work was sold
Local Dunedin heroes IVY have never shied away from expressing their opinion. They've recently released a track called ‘Gutter’ that takes aim at the frustration, disillusionment and anger surrounding a system that can leave people feeling powerless and controlled. With their distinct alt rock sound, IVY have become
Oni Kidman has always been around music. Raised in a creative family, she grew up surrounded by instruments, songwriting and opportunities to perform. Over the years she developed a love for the craft that has carried into her own work as an artist. Now, with her new EP If These
A lot of music released today is so meticulously crafted and intentional. More often than not created for user-appeal, accessibility and platform optimisation. These objectives bare their teeth in the form of the perfect gated snare, a song 3mins 28 seconds in length and a thrice repeated chorus with
Rhythm & Alps has announced its 2026 lineup, with a strong contingent of Aotearoa artists joining international headline acts for two days of music in Cardrona Valley. The festival takes place on December 30 and 31, with BENEE, Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shapeshifter, NO CIGAR, Borderline, Powder Chutes, Where'
Since departing Aotearoa for Los Angles over ten ago, Leroy Clampitt has become one of the iconic producers and songwriters in modern pop music. Justin Bieber, Madison Beer, Sabrina Carpenter and Lily Allen to name but a few... Leroy has worked with them all. Now he's created an
Louis Baker announces a nationwide tour throughout October and November, alongside the release of his new full-length studio album on October 9th. A singer-songwriter and producer, Louis Baker is a Wellingtonian at heart who has thrived in both local and international music spaces. His previous works have made
For as long as I can remember, I've had a massive amount of respect for Estère. Her art is innovative and authentic, a unique expression of life like no other. Somewhere in the vicinity of soul, hip hop and electronic grooves, or as she calls it - electric blue
