International alternative rock band Yumi Zouma has delivered another indie rock anthem with their newest single, ‘ Blister ,’ released via Nettwerk . Leaning fully into the thrashy break-beats of drummer Olivia Campion and distorted guitars of Charlie Ryder and Josh Burgess, frontwoman Christie Simpson screams, “Why you gotta do me like that?!”, channeling the likes of Courtney Love, Iggy Pop, and Kathleen Hanna, and crystallising ‘Blister’ as a genuine moment of era-defining, rock-star perfection. ‘ Blister ’ follows up on the success of ‘ Bashville on the Sugar ,’ the band’s unruly first single on Nettwerk, which introduced this fearless new chapter ahead. On ‘Blister,’ Yumi Zouma shares, “We found strength in simplicity, discovering that the more stripped-down we went, the more forceful the impact became. ‘Blister’ surged ahead on the back of our most anthemic riffs, conjuring images in our minds of C4 , Channel Z , prepaid flip-phone text plans, and the Big Day Out main stage under the punishing heat of the hole in the ozone layer.”
Christchurch’s very own rising country-pop star Steffany Beck has released her first song and video of 2025, the rocking ‘n’ rowdy anthem, ‘ Country Strong ’. Steffany says that the inspiration for the lyrics for ‘ Country Strong ’ comes from the phenomenal popularity of country music right now. “Country music has always been cool. But there is a worldwide movement right now and this song embodies it - connecting our country roots to the worldwide modern country music fever,” she explains. The palpable energy of ‘ Country Strong ’ is captured in a slick music video made by Neato Productions . It features members of the Christchurch Western Riding Association and saw Steffany brushing up on her horse wrangling and riding skills and embracing her inner cowgirl. “I had four riding sessions and literally practiced daily for a couple of weeks to improve my lasso skills. I was so determined to look like a natural born cowgirl. The horse, Elle, which I was blessed to ride, was perfect for me. She was a patient, experienced showgirl, who knew how to make a rookie look like a pro,” says Steffany .
Aotearoa-born, Australian-based rockers Bakers Eddy have dropped their latest EP, I’M DOING BETTER, which comes with the lastest single and video 'Hopeless Dreams'. The songs on the EP find Bakers Eddy opening up on their personal experiences of growing up together: “At times we're being more vulnerable than we've ever been before. This year in particular we really opened up to each other… I think that growth within ourselves, and our relationship, found its way into the music,” he adds. And in keeping with Bakers Eddy ’s signature sound, I’M DOING BETTER remains as high energy as ever. Their new raucous pop-punk-infused single ‘ Hopeless Dreams ’ is a case and point. “It's that feeling of fear that you might succumb to life when things get difficult and wind up giving up on your dreams when things feel too hard,” says Ciarann.
Jamaica Moana announces her new EP BUD & DENI to be released on August 1 via Pointer Recordings. Following a first play on triple j Unearthed's TOPS, she releases fierce new single, and ode to Western Sydney, 'LIVIN' OUT WEST'. 'LIVIN' OUT WEST' is the third glimpse into the genre-bending EP. The Sydney-based Māori (Ngāpuhi/Tainui) and Samoan queer rap artist, who also released 'KEEP IT REAL', a reflective slow jam about losing her father at the tender age of 20. Fresh off a blistering triple j BARS appearance , headline shows at Sydney's Phoenix Central Park and Sissy Ball, and a special guest spot in ethereal hip-hop artist DEVAURA's April launch show, it's safe to say that this year belongs to Jamaica Moana. She also has a series of exciting appearances on the horizon, including SXSW Sydney , Dark Mofo, as well as performing in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) on Saturday November 29 for the first time at The Others Way Festival . Pre-Save / Pre-Order the EP BUD & DENI HERE
After a triumphant 2024, in which Tusekah firmly established herself as “one to watch”, the Auckland-based singer and songwriter returns with her first single of the year - the smooth, power anthem, ‘ Always ’. ‘ Always ’ finds Tusekah reflecting on a non-reciprocal relationship. “It was written about a time I realised someone that I cared about did not care about me,” she says. ‘ Always ’ is accompanied by an equally powerful music video, inspired by ‘sonder', which is the realisation that every person, including strangers, has a life as complex and as rich as your own.
After completing an extensive Australian headline tour, New Zealand’s own Bakers Eddy are kicking off a new chapter today with the release of their anthemic new single ‘ Manners Street ’. In the wake of their acclaimed 2022 debut album LOVE BOREDOM BICYCLES , released on Ivy League Records , Bakers Eddy have been headlining shows across the ditch and touring alongside the likes of Maggie Lindemann , Stand Atlantic , WAAX and Grandson . ‘ Manners Street ’ is the first taste of music from their forthcoming EP I’M DOING BETTER , which is set for release mid-year. “‘ Manners Street ’ is almost a tribute to OUR Wellington, the one we grew up in, our experiences, our people and the places,” explain the band. “The four of us spent a long time last year re-connecting with each other and one of the things that came out as a result was this shared feeling of being a little lost in ourselves and who we are. Writing ‘ Manners Street ’ felt like a way to reconnect from far away, not only with our memories but with that part of ourselves that was missing.”
NO CIGAR is on a winning streak with the release of their new indie-rock anthem, ‘Problem’. A blend of jangly guitar and infectious riffs, with a driving beat and laid-back vibe, ‘Problem’ captures the NZ rockers in their element and hints at some exciting plans on the horizon. ‘Problem’ and the band’s December single ‘Chantilly’ were both written on a writing trip to France, providing a raw and intimate window into life on the road and the challenges faced: "If everything you touch turns to ash, should you still pluck the flower when it’s in bloom?" ‘Problem’ finds NO CIGAR in their most cruisy state and is a highly recommended listen when driving, out for a walk, sitting on a bus or train or meeting a friend for a drink. “It’s a versatile song, with a beautiful journey. Much like we had when writing it,” says the band. Expect a video for ‘Problem’ in the coming weeks, with the band teasing A Clockwork Orange influences. Keep your eyes peeled on the band’s social media channels for this. Fans of NO CIGAR will also be delighted with news that after a gruelling touring schedule in Europe last year, they’re bringing their critically-acclaimed live show home for a run of shows in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Tickets are on sale now from www.nocigar.co.nz Thursday March 13 - San Fran, Wellington Friday March 14 - Double Whammy, Auckland Saturday March 15 - Errick's Bar, Dunedin Sunday March 16 - Loons, Christchurch NO CIGAR formed in 2019 and has had a rapid rise to recognition as one of the country’s most promising acts. They have toured the world with their signature blend of psychedelic rock and groovy guitars, all the while drawing critical acclaim for albums such as 2023’s THE GREAT ESCAPE , which featured the #1 rock radio smash hit, ‘ Concubine ’. The track also debuted at #10 on 2024’s The Rock radio annual yearly countdown – the highest debut for a new band. THE GREAT ESCAPE continues to chart in the top 20 on the Aotearoa albums chart, where it has remained for 55 weeks. Their debut album BIENVENIDO, released in 2022, and their 2020 EP RADICAL ROAD have also earned them critical acclaim.
Aotearoa’s indie star Rita Mae releases her addictive, final single ‘No God’, ahead of her forthcoming EP KISS THE SKY out November 15. G ritty, raw and to-the-point, ‘No God’ is no exception to her unique style of indie-alt rock ‘n pop she has been honing in on with previous singles ‘ Poster Child ’, ‘ Big Star ’, ‘ My Bad ’ and ‘ Kiss The Sky ’. Musically mirroring the lyricism of delving into big feelings, Rita says “‘No God’ is about the fear of feeling too deeply, a fear of jumping completely in.” She expands: “What if I fall too hard and never recover? Sometimes love can be so intense that you really think it could kill you.” Written by Rita Mae, Joel Jones, Harry Charles, who also produced the track, ‘No God’ captures a sense of being simultaneously cynical and hopelessly romantic, capturing the inescapable feeling of “drowning in love.” ‘No God’ is the final single to be released from Rita’s upcoming EP KISS THE SKY, out November 15. Her track record of success with the EP’s previous singles is undeniable, with ‘Kiss The Sky’ reaching #14 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart, and ‘My Bad’ spending 5 consecutive weeks upon RadioScope’s Alt Chart. Her tracks have been shared by Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Sniffers, NZ Herald, Hype Medium, and more. Rita Mae has been making waves in Aotearoa’s alt-indie scene since she started releasing songs like the stirring ‘ The Secret's Out ’ in 2021 and then the effortlessly cool ‘ Candy’s House’ in 2021. In 2023 she unveiled her EP SUPERFEELING DELUXE , which featured ‘ Candy's House (Comedown Song)’ . The single was featured on the likes of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Sniffers, Coup de Main, ZM and The Edge. In 2023, Rolling Stone AU/NZ magazine tipped her as “one of eight Kiwis artists tipped to take over” , saying “Music is in her DNA, and Rita Mae’s future as an artist in her own right looks very bright indeed…” Rita Mae’s new EP KISS THE SKY is out November 15.
Young Māori songwriter, producer and engineer Aubrie Mitchell makes a splash, with the release of her debut single ‘Secret’. ‘Secret’ is an uplifting slice of indie-electro-pop, which comes with a poignant message and introduces the world to one of Aotearoa’s newest rising stars. ‘It’s about admitting to myself that in order to reach my goals in life, I have to take risks and be open to failure,” says Auckland-based Aubrie (Ngāti Raukawa). The 22-year-old triple threat has been making waves in Auckland’s tightknit music community for some time. For the past 18 months, she’s been working as a producer and engineer at BIG FAN – the not-for-profit multi-purpose music space, which is the brainchild of Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer Joel Little. However, today’s release sees Aubrie step into the light as an artist in her own right – a significant move, which is cleverly reflected in ‘Secret’. “I’m the type of person that’s apprehensive to try new things, and being an artist is one of them. It opens up so many opportunities to fail and that terrifies me. So this song is like an open diary entry into navigating my way through my insecurities in my musical abilities and my overall conclusion to just suck it up, get over myself, and try anyway,” says Aubrie. The self-produced ‘Secret’ was recorded at Aubrie’s home studio, mixed by Jeremie Inhaber (Lizzo, Post Malone) and mastered by Chris Gehringer(Rosalia, Rihanna) at Sterling Sound. Aubrie adds that the way in which ‘Secret’ came together, pushed her out of her comfort zone and helped her to create a track she otherwise wouldn’t have written. “I always produce and write as I go, but this was the first time that I actually wrote out the lyrics on paper before recording or producing anything. It felt super unnatural to write my feelings down before getting the initial vibe from a synth or drum beat, but it opened me up to somewhere I wouldn’t have gone.” It makes for an impressive artist debut from the multi-talented Aubrie, who has already proved her songwriting and production chops by collaborating with the likes of alayna, Troy Kingi, TEEKS, Chaii and Louis Baker. “I want my music to be uncompromised by any external pressures of fitting in because that’s how I feel artists can be truly authentic with their audience and their craft. Even if it doesn’t appeal to the masses. It’s a weird juxtaposition to be releasing a song about being scared to release a song, but it felt like a good introduction to how I am as an artist, songwriter, producer, and person.” Before working at BIG FAN, Aubrie completed a music degree, majoring in classical theory and music production at Auckland University. As a 12-year-old, Aubrie’s first major musical eureka moment was hearing the sleek, minimalist art-pop sound of ‘Royals’ by Lorde. Three years later, as a high-schooler, she had the opportunity to participate in a series of lunchtime Music Production Masterclasses before taking part in the New Zealand youth development programme IGNITE’s Music Production stream, where she had the opportunity to create a song with Benee producer Josh Fountain. Equally comfortable helping coax a deeper lyrical sentiment out of a collaborator, refining raw melody and harmony ideas, generating musical moods, or revelling in the textural elements of production, Aubrie is ready to step onto the international stage.
Rita Mae: Lost In Space
Aotearoa’s rising indie star Rita Mae has released the deluxe edition of her critically-acclaimed EP SUPERFEELING, and it's fair to say we're obsessed. The EP features the recently released haunting track ‘The Nightmare’ and the reworked version of the single ‘Candy’s House’ - ‘Candy’s House’ (Comedown Song)’ which captures the "aftermath of the escape" from the night out the original song was about.
Emma Dilemma: Lost In Space
Kazoo hooks, grungy guitars and hook-laden melodies; Aotearoa’s self-proclaimed “patron saint of self-sabotage” Emma Dilemma has released her latest single ‘Bed All Day’ and it's brilliant.
Sonically it’s a juxtaposition; it’s both cheerful and complicated, light-hearted and existential, creating the perfect soundtrack for modern times and showcasing Emma Dilemma’s undeniable skill for articulating complex and relatable themes in musical form.
Luna Shadows: Lost In Space
Co-producer and touring member for The Naked and Famous, LA-based Luna Shadows is an artist, producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with an undeniable track-record of releasing her own, critically-acclaimed, indie-pop gold.
She has released her first single and video of her latest project: the haunting, introspective track ‘witches’ brew’, and it's absolutely stunning. We wanted to know what inspires Luna's music, so we asked her if she got lost in space with a record player, what are 5 albums she couldn't live without?
