Each week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ highlights our favourite New Zealand music from the past seven days.
Check out last week’s picks featuring Fazerdaze, Nadia Reid, 9lives, and Nauti, and explore fresh highlights from PNC, Foley, Heidi Simpson, Nganeko, The Veils, Lontalius, and more below.
PNC – “We On”
After surprising the crowd at David Dallas’s Galatos show last month, Aotearoa rapper PNC, aka Sam Hansen, is back with “We On,” the fourth track from his upcoming project, Unbothered Rapper. He’s taking a real-time approach, releasing songs as he creates them – like August’s “Zig Zag” featuring Dallas.
“We On” kicks off strong, loaded with Wembley shout-outs, Canterbury rugby collars, and gold chains, with a bass-heavy beat coming from longtime collaborator and producer Nick “41 Beats” Maclaren. For more insight, Hansen shares his thoughts on his Substack.
Foley – “Unstable”
Foley have kept the momentum going in 2024. The pop duo, now based in Sydney, keeps delivering strong singles, and “Unstable” is no exception with its big feelings and big guitar riffs. Following the infectious “Time of My Life,” they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
Heidi Simpson – “late to the party song”
Auckland’s rising singer-songwriter Heidi Simpson bottles up her late-night worries on “late to the party song,” draping her introspections over fuzzy guitars. This track is the second single from her upcoming debut EP, building on the promise shown on “icy girl.”
Nganeko – “Simple Illusion”
If you’re a fan of Cleo Sol, New Zealand’s Nganeko will be right up your alley. Her R&B is light and soothing, perfectly captured in “Simple Illusion,” the follow-up to the equally dreamy “Down Bad Patrol.”
Greta O’Leary – “Baptised at the Desktop Computer”
Greta’s latest track, “Baptised at the Desktop Computer,” showcases a new sound from the Tāmaki Makaurau artist. Featuring chugging beats, lap steel, and growling basslines from Cass Basil (Tiny Ruins), the song reflects on childhood religious experiences.
The Veils – “The Ladder”
The Veils have announced their seventh studio album, Asphodels, due in January 2025, featuring the first single, “The Ladder.” Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s mystical paintings, the track explores the desire to rise above chaos, with Finn Andrews noting, “It’s about longing to transcend the relentless chaos, but it’s also a jaunty little number.”
Lontalius – “casualty”
Aotearoa singer-songwriter Eddie Johnston, aka Lontalius, gets caught up in unrequited love on “casualty,” a down-tempo stream-of-consciousness track that builds anticipation for an upcoming album.
Revulva – Revulva
Wellington’s femme-fronted eight-piece, Revulva, have unleashed their self-titled album, and it’s a blast. With percussive grooves, horn section, and swaggering spoken word, the album shows the band’s growth since forming in 2019 under bassist and vocalist Phoebe Johnson.
AJA unpacks our “state of mind” with “Quiet Storm,” featuring MC MĀ. Describing it as “a raging tempest that overwhelms the inner but remains serene on the outer,” she invites listeners to see the song as part of their hīkoi/journey. Her debut album, KĀWAI, is set to drop in November.
