FRIDAY, 30TH MAY 2025

T. G. Shand returns with hypnotic dream-pop cut 'The Deadpan Break'

Ōtautahi dream-pop artist T. G. Shand makes a striking return with ‘The Deadpan Break’, her first release of the year — a sparse, hypnotic track that slowly builds into a lush, disco-tinged crescendo. “It’s about breaking the deadpan,” says Shand, the solo project of Annemarie Duff (ex-Miniatures), known for her ethereal blend of shoegaze, lo-fi, and dream-pop.

For the first time, Duff steps out of her self-produced world to collaborate with Tom Bell, the renowned producer behind the transformation of Chick’s Hotel into a recording haven. The result is a richer, more expansive sound, elevated further by Cory Champion (drums), Bevan Smith (engineering), and mastering from NYC’s Grammy-winning The Lodge.

Accompanying the track is a layered, abstract animation by Spencer Hall, with creative input from Magda Wojciechowska and Riley Cooper, enhancing the single’s immersive mood.

‘The Deadpan Break’ marks a bold new chapter for T. G. Shand — atmospheric, refined, and deeply felt.