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# Park Palais on starting again and finding inspiration in jasmine plants
- URL: https://www.emptyspaces.co.nz/park-palais-on-starting-again-and-finding-inspiration-in-jasmine-plants/
- Published: 2026-10-06T19:55:01.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-06T23:56:00.000Z
- Author: Nick Raven
- Tags: Interview

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. The project kicks off with *October Again*, an appropriately named track inspired by growth and resilience via a metaphorical muse... Jasmine plants.

There is a new single arriving each month and an EP on the way. Park Palais got stuck in to cover off getting started again, making music at home and what makes a song stick.

### Park Palais is a brand new project and listeners may not be familiar with your previous work. What can you tell us about your journey to this point?

I’ve been playing music since I was around 8, starting with learning guitar and singing, and later the trumpet and drums. I started writing in my teens, and joined a band at University of Canterbury called Mako Road, releasing a couple of EPs and an album. We were lucky enough to tour around New Zealand and Australia and play some great festivals. When the band came to an end I took a couple of years away from music, which gave me some space to redefine why I create and develop my songwriting.

### Suitably named, the new single October Again is timely. What exactly inspired the track?

The lyrics stemmed from object writing about my jasmine plants. They became a metaphor for growth and resilience, and the song grew from there.

### You did all the writing and production work yourself. How do you approach this process?

For the EP I had an ideas phase where I did daily object writing and recorded a new drum beat each morning. I find object writing a great way of getting into flow and finding ways to express ideas. From there I record piece by piece - scratch track, drums, bass, guitars, vocals last. Recording at home gives me flexibility to change things, re-record parts and follow ideas as they develop.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/32/5b326593-f15d-4829-868d-c5cdac164009/content/images/2026/10/Park-Palais----Park-Palais-3-.jpg)

### What makes a great song stand out for you?

I think a great song sits in the middle of immediate and delayed payoff - it catches your attention where you first hear it, and keeps giving you little rewards as you return to it, through depth to the lyrics and musicianship.

### The NZ scene is packed with talent right now. Who are some of your favourite local artists?

Heaps! Muroki, Troy Kingi, O & The Mo, Jasmine Mary, Pool House, LEISURE, Casual Healing, Wet Denim, Paige, Borderline, star, RIIKI REID, Rita Mae, UMO, to name a few

### There's an EP on the horizon, what can we expect to see from you in the months to come?

I’ll be dropping a new single each month along with some visual content, so stay tuned! 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/32/5b326593-f15d-4829-868d-c5cdac164009/content/images/2026/10/Park-Palais----Park-Palais-1-.jpg)

*October Again is set to be released on Friday October 8th. Pre-save the track* [*here*](https://onerpm.link/151005347579?ref=emptyspaces.co.nz)*.*

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