Welcome back to Rolling Stone AU/NZ‘s weekly roundup of the freshest sounds from New Zealand music.
Missed last week’s highlights? Catch up below.
RNZŌ, deadforest – “Atlantiz”
RNZŌ, the youngest artist on this year’s Laneway lineup, brings his self-produced track “Atlantiz.” Smooth flow, self-assurance, and a touch of dedforest’s usual slickness—he’s one to watch this year.
Jack Panther – “WHY WON’T WE”
London-based Kiwi Jack Panther drops a moody new single with a black-and-white video shot in Paris. The track is a lush alt-pop ode to unrequited love. “The music just poured out of me in one take,” says Panther.
The Veils – “Mortal Wound”
The third single from Asphodels, The Veils’ seventh album (out this Friday), is a bold mix of power and tenderness. Finn Andrews describes it as “the most bombastic song on the record” but with “the gentlest sentiment of them all.” The title sounds like a ‘90s goth band, but the meaning hits deeper than you expect.
Jenny Mitchell – “Square & Plain”
Jenny Mitchell’s “Square & Plain” comes ahead of her national tour with Kasey Chambers. An emotional track “from the trenches of heartbreak,” it’s a beautiful preview of what’s to come.
Wet Bandits – “Yonder”
Wet Bandits are on tour across Aotearoa and bringing “Yonder” along for the ride. It’s a reflective, indie-rock anthem that’s bound to hit even harder live.
Soda Boyz – “Post Spa 2”
Indie “slowcore” trio Soda Boyz are gearing up for their second album, Not Boyz Anymore, and an Australian tour. The new single “Post Spa 2” is a look at trauma and transition.
Alien Weaponry – “Mau Moko”
Aotearoa metal giants Alien Weaponry return with their third album, Te Rā, out March 28. The band promises their “most massive-sounding” record yet. They’ve also dropped a new track, “Mau Moko”, which honours Tā moko and speaks to traditions that clash with dominant cultural norms.
