Frank on Tap have bursted onto the Aotearoa music scene with a truly authentic sound.
The alt-rock band, made up of Ben Jones, Zarak Naylor, Max Hackshaw, and Coady Pfeiler, have honed a beautiful sound that blends grit, melody, and emotional depth.
In September, they released their long-awaited debut album At Sixes and Sevens. They meticulously crafted the album across the span of 12 months at the renowned Roundhead Studios, with producer De Stevens.
With its driving instrumentals, soaring choruses, and thoughtful lyricism, it cements Frank on Tap as a band unafraid to embrace life’s turbulence, and turn it into something both powerful and resonant.
They’ve just taken the album on tour in Australia, supporting fellow Kiwi rockers NO CIGAR, playing shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, and more. The tour marked their first ever international shows — something they say they are going to remember forever.
Bringing it all home to showcase their most exciting set to date, Frank on Tap are playing their first Auckland headline show since dropping the album and touring with NO CIGAR, tomorrow night (November 21st). Tickets are available here.
As part of our Up-And-Coming Aotearoa Artists series, we got to know the alt-rock band a little better.
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Frank on Tap’s At Sixes and Sevens is out now.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: How much did music influence you in your early life?
It was a massive influence on all of us. It’s pretty much the soundtrack to everything you do growing up. Most of our mates when we were little were made through music, or by finding new music together. Our Mums and Dads always open the whole house up on the weekends and blast classic records all day. But especially back when MTV and C4 were still going off, we’d be watching music videos all the time. You spend a few years watching your favourite artists and those styles and aesthetics rub off on you and you start coming into yourself.
What artists influenced you growing up?
Max: The Beatles, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen
Zar: Pink Floyd, Green Day, John Bon Jovi
Ben: Talking Heads, The Who, The Police
Coady: Eagles, Paramore, Linkin Park
What are some career highlights so far?
Our first tour was a big one. It was that first glimpse into life on the road. Plus since we are all mates first it’s awesome traveling round the country in a rust bucket with the brothers. Releasing our debut album, At Sixes and Sevens. That record took us well over a year to put out, and we’re super proud of it. Plus the amount of things we learned during the process just makes you hungrier for the next one.
The recent Australian tour is definitely a huge one too. Massive love to No Cigar for bringing us along for the ride, the legends! Its been a huge eye opener for us, learning from them and seeing the opportunities here. Every city we’ve been has so much character, and you can really feel the love people have for music. The crowds are electric and the venues are packed to the brim as soon as doors open, which is really refreshing. This whole experience has just made us even hungrier to get out there and put in the work.
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Tell us about your latest album/EP.
At Sixes and Sevens blends gritty high energy rock energy with softer, more introspective moments. It’s a mix of chaos and calm — a look at conflict, release, and reflection. The themes on it can be pretty dark, but it’s not really about sitting in grief; it’s about moving forward. There’s a sense of hope and honesty in it, trying to make sense of things and find the beauty in the struggle.
What kind of personality traits and values do you believe it takes to succeed in the music industry?
I think it really comes down to being kind to people and giving 100% to every opportunity that comes your way. You’ve got to stay true to yourself — that’s what makes you stand out. You’ve got to be resilient, patient, and honest with yourself too. It’s a super tough industry to crack. You get these massive highs performing writing and socialising, but they can come hand in hand with these huge lows of doubt and fear. If you don’t genuinely love it, and you don’t have that patience and resilience, those lows can pretty easily stop the pursuit.
How would you describe your music to a potential fan?
Our sound is a mix of indie and alternative rock that kind of lives between two extremes. We try to create worlds and atmospheres that have a delicate touch and softness to them, but there are also loud, explosive tracks full of this gritty energy. We’ve never liked boxing ourselves in, so we’re always trying new things and pushing our sound.
What are your goals for 2026 and beyond?
We’ll be putting most of our focus on live shows and touring — we’re itching to get back down to the South Island of NZ; some of our favourite shows have been down there. Building connections and networking is another big priority. We’ve still got a lot to prove, and strengthening our reputation with key people in the industry will be important for our future as a band.
Once the new year hits, we’ll start writing the next record, then later head back to Australia for our own headline shows. There’s also been a bit of talk about Europe for some gigs. For now, the plan is to make the most of the momentum from this Aussie tour and prove we’re one of the most exciting up-and-comers out there.
