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 Jazmine Mary, then check out what else is new below.
Kenny Sterling – “Love’s Mirage / Isle of Light”
Tāmaki Makaurau’s Kenny Sterling (Mānuka Recordings) drops a dreamy jazz-funk two-tracker that oozes smooth percussion and lush, lounge-back energy. With Julien Dyne on drums and Francesca Parussini and Cory Champion on sax and vibraphone, these warm, collaborative instrumentals shimmer from start to finish.
There’s a Tuesday – Blush
Christchurch indie band There’s a Tuesday just dropped their second album Blush, produced by Will McGillivray (Goodwill). “This record feels like the soundtrack to everything we’ve experienced,” they say. It’s a heart-on-sleeve indie-pop album, a solid step up for the quartet, and the perfect soundtrack for their current tour (check out tour dates here).
Michaela Tempers – “Higher Ground”
Wellington’s Michaela Tempers is back with “Higher Ground”, a soft, folk-inspired love song. The track is “a softer touch” ahead of her upcoming Good Woman EP.
Imani-J – ” See You in Jupiter”
Kiwi-Haitian artist Imani-J drops her second single, “See You in Jupiter”. With her stunning vocals front and center, this loved-up, smooth RnB track delivers the reassuring message that “distance doesn’t weaken the bond” – not even light years apart.
Harry Charles – “Smoke & Dust feat. Senzu”
Harry Charles and Christchurch MC Senzu team up for “Smoke & Dust”, a chilled-out hip-hop track from his upcoming album Movement. “My musical path has always been laced with the love of hip hop,” says Charles. It’s a smooth, groove-heavy tune with great energy.
Tarn PK – “Cry Baby”
Wellington’s Tarn PK drops “Cry Baby”, the first single from his upcoming EP F.O.M.O.. “‘Cry Baby’ came from a time of feeling like I wasn’t moving forward,” he says. The track blends digital synths, nylon guitars, and live drums, with a vibraphone adding a cool twist.
Maxwell Young, Thom Haha – “Turn it Up”
Maxwell Young is back with his first release of the year, “Turn it Up”. With distorted pop production from Thom Haha, Young calls it “disassociation pop” and “somewhere between a bad dream and a shoplifting spree” – it works.
Vallé – “Hold Me”
Papua New Guinean-born Aotearoa hip-hop artist Vallé releases “Hold Me”, a song born from the political unrest during Papua New Guinea’s 2022 election. “’Hold Me’ is literally how I felt at that moment,” Vallé shares. “I was in pain, had no answers, and couldn’t do anything to mitigate what was causing it. I turned to creating; it has always been a faithful friend in times of need.”
Lola – Outside World
Lola’s debut EP Outside World mixes moody trip-hop, electronica, and atmospheric soundscapes. With introspective lyrics and features from Kédu Carlö, the EP explores “the unseen forces that shape us.” A deep, layered project from the Tāmaki Makaurau-based producer and vocalist.
