Here’s Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s weekly roundup of the freshest sounds in New Zealand music.
Missed last week’s picks? Catch up on SACHI, NO CIGAR, Phoebe Rings, The Bats, and Stan Walker, then check out what else is new below.
Tom Lark – Moonlight Hotel
Elliot Dawson – Certain Death
Wellington’s Elliot Dawson drops Certain Death, a more refined follow-up to his debut. With producer James Goldsmith, the album features local talents like Olivia Campion and Lily Rose Shaw. It’s a raw, honest record about personal struggles, and Dawson will be performing live in Auckland and Wellington.
“This record took a lot out of me,” Dawson admits. “I did a lot of staring at the ceiling and scratching my head, like do I really want to go there? Some things are better left in the ground, and this one felt like exhuming my own remains.”
Emerson – “You Really Must Hate Me!”
17-year-old Smokefreerockquest winner Emerson returns with “You Really Must Hate Me!”. Her previous hit “Bored” made waves, debuting at #16 on Aotearoa’s Hot 20 chart. Expect more from this rising pop artist.
Lake South – “Auckland (so close to nothing at all)”
Lake South drops “Auckland (so close to nothing at all)”, the first single from his upcoming album We Lived Our Lives on Top of This. The song’s a reflection on old friends, new love, and the endless pursuit of peace.
Isla Noon – Out of Body
Isla Noon’s debut album Out of Body explores identity, detachment, and finding oneself. With a mix of alt-pop rhythms and personal reflection, she shares her journey of reconnecting with herself. Catch her live at Big Fan on April 11th, with Ariel Wose opening.
“This album captures a time when I felt deeply disconnected from the world, from others, from myself,” Noon explains. “I wasn’t fully aware of how lost I was until I started writing. The songs became a map, each one helping me navigate my way back, reconnecting me to my body, my sense of self, and the world around me.”
Coast Arcade – “Acetone”
Auckland’s Coast Arcade step up their indie rock/pop sound with “Acetone”, an upbeat song that reflects the shift from southern hemisphere summer to northern summer, blending warmth and nostalgia.
