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# Wet Denim are taking their place among Aotearoa’s new wave of guitar music
- URL: https://www.emptyspaces.co.nz/wet-denim-are-taking-their-place-among-aotearoas-new-wave-of-guitar-music/
- Published: 2026-09-16T05:05:12.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-16T05:05:12.000Z
- Author: Nick Raven
- Tags: Interview

Aotearoa’s live music scene is packed with bands finding bigger audiences, and Wet Denim are right in the middle of it. The Wellington group have spent the past few years building a reputation through their live shows and sharp, guitar driven songwriting. With EP *Water For Dogs* out tomorrow, the band lift the lid on a new chapter, one that they describe as their being nuanced and expansive. We caught up with Wet Denim to talk about the shift happening in New Zealand music, recording through the night, and their forthcoming new material...

### You guys are part of a new wave of NZ bands that are generating traction with mainstream audiences. Why do you think we are seeing this shift right now?

People are always searching for new music, and I think there happens to be a lot of epic new bands coming through. With social media, you don’t need connections or a big budget to get your music out there, so it’s becoming easier and easier for people to discover the next thing.

### No doubt, Aotearoa is packed with talent. Who are your local favourite artists at the moment?

**Dillon Jo** from Wellington are releasing hard hitting and vulnerable rock music.  
**Frank on Tap** \- We’ve got their 2025 album ‘At Sixes and Sevens’ on repeat always. **Debt Club** \- Their songwriting and instrumentation feels so fresh, a must see live band. **Jakob** \- A great post rock band, real masterclass in atmosphere and dynamics. To name a few!

### Tell us more about your new single Mirrors - what inspired the track and how did you go about recording it?

This was the song that ended a lengthy writer's block. Mirrors follows the cliche that the grass is always greener - you’re looking for external validation, even if it’s not what you really need. We recorded Mirrors in Wellington earlier this year, over the week we laid down our EP Water For Dogs (landing Sept 17th!) We kept the sound and process as real and grounded as possible, recording together through the night and fully embracing the creative process with all its ups, downs and happy accidents that give a record its personality. We had a great time, put it that  
way!

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/5b/32/5b326593-f15d-4829-868d-c5cdac164009/content/images/2026/09/Wet-Denim-Water-for-Dogs-Lead.-.jpg)

### What was it like collaborating with Ben O’Leary, whose work with Drax Project has become synonymous with a polished, pop-centric sound?

Ben is great to work with. While Drax are a pop / R&B band, Ben is a real fan of all kinds of music, so his taste and skills were invaluable across the process of bringing ‘Water For Dogs’ to life. His pop sensibility held ideas in check, he knew when to keep things snappy and concise, but also indulge in a moment.

### With so much incredible music around, how do you stay relevant and present in the scene?

I think staying true to your creative vision leads to a strong presence, whereas putting more emphasis on chasing the relevance of the moment - like leaning into trends that don’t necessarily reflect your art - makes it harder for people to connect in an authentic way. To sum it up I’d say we stay true to what we love to make, while staying open to new ideas and making the most of being around an insane amount of bands and talent that exists in Aotearoa. Giving your all in the live setting also is also something we have always felt is really important.  
In this age of instant gratification, and content overload, now more than ever people want to experience something tangible. We love playing live and sharing that energy with people.

### What can fans expect from you in this new Water for Dogs era?

We are beyond stoked to be getting this project out into the world - fans can expect our most nuanced and expansive music yet. Keep an eye out as we expand the WFD universe in every sense over the coming months.

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