NZ Music Month/Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa is here! To kick things off, 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 Grecco Romank and Ringlets, and then check out what else is new below.
IA – “He Piko He Tuna (Feat. Rei)”
IA team up with Rei on “He Piko He Tuna”, a bilingual track that blends smooth R&B with the flowing sounds of taonga pūoro — including the soft tones of the Punga Ihu (clay nose flute). Inspired by the tuna (eel), the lyrics explore themes of love, endurance, and resilience, switching between te reo Māori and English.
The video, filmed around Taupō, shows the crew floating down the Tongariro River on lilos. “We had great fun filming,” Rei says. “Despite sitting in freezing water from Tongariro River pretending to be relaxed, it was definitely memorable!”
Michael Llewellyn – “Pray for Rain”
Gentle and heartfelt, “Pray for Rain” is the final single ahead of Michael Llewellyn’s second album I’m Gorgeous. Featuring the Avondale Intermediate Choir, the track was written during a time of bushfires and reflection on connection and healing.
“I wrote this song when the forest fires in Australia were blazing… listening to stories and music from Tangata Whenua left me feeling hopeful,” says Llewellyn. “Pray for rain, rain to soothe the fires, rain to soothe the mamae, rain to soothe the pain and trauma of the past, bringing us together as one people.”
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Voom – “Crazy Feeling”
Auckland indie stalwarts Voom are making big moves this year. Their new album Something Good Is Happening lands May 16th, with a four-date tour to follow. Latest single “Crazy Feeling” is another jangly gem, paired with a Frances Carter–directed video.
“I usually try to say something clever or cryptic about our songs because I’m embarrassed by how dorky and emotional they are,” says frontman Buzz Moller. “But ‘Crazy Feeling’ — like most of our songs from the past two decades — is just about my lovely, gorgeous girlfriend Janey!”
Hemi Hemingway – “(To Be) Without You”
Hemi Hemingway taps into lost holidays and big life shifts on “(To Be) Without You”, written after a 2022 trip to Greece and ahead of a move back to New Zealand.
“In hindsight, there were signs that my life was really about to change… I didn’t know what my future looked like,” he says. “The energy of it reminded me of Greece – especially Athens; the heat on the stone at night, the dark and empty alleys, beautiful people moving everywhere and lots of exposed skin.”
Ladi6 – “Lightbulb”
All synths and soul, “Lightbulb” is the latest from Ladi6’s upcoming album Le Vā (out June 1st). She’s set to tour the country across 10 dates, kicking off with a Melbourne headline show and a Vivid Festival set in Sydney.
MELODOWNZ – “$on of a Queen (Reiki Ruawai remix)”
MELODOWNZ’s classic gets a lush R&B rework from Reiki Ruawai. “$on of a Queen” was already a standout, and now it shimmers into a whole new groove.
Baby Zionov – “Cirrus Homebound”
Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Baby Zionov returns with “Cirrus Homebound”, a bright, high-energy track from her forthcoming 2025 album. “I hope the listener feels like they’re flying at high speed above the clouds on a sunny day!” says Zionov.
Bridges – “Close to You”
“Close to You” is the second single from Bridges’ upcoming sophomore EP, and marks a shift in sonic direction. “It’s bigger, bolder, more committed to the pop genre, and leans into the drama a whole lot more,” says Bridges. “‘Close to You’ signifies the beginning of that.”
It follows her 2024 release “Lungs”, which will also appear on the EP.
Lepani – “Feel It”
Fijian-NZ artist Lepani returns with “Feel It”, a heartfelt pop-rock track written for his wife. “I wanted to express that insane feeling of falling in love with her for the first time. I wrote this song as a joyful anthem of love for my wife.”
