Every week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ highlights our favourite New Zealand music from the past seven days.
Catch up on previous coverage on Foley and Mousey, and check out fresh highlights from Marlin’s Dreaming, CHAII, Jim Nothing, Aaradhna, Rita Mae, Al Park, L.A. Mitchell, Troy Kingi, Dani Josie, and Abby Christo below.
Marlin’s Dreaming – HIRL
Dunedin indie-pop band Marlin’s Dreaming show off their evolving sound on their new album HIRL, following 2021’s Hasten. With already firm favourites like the previously released “Lucky Star and the stunning collaborative ballad “Earnestly” with Erny Belle, it’s an assured and often beautifully melancholic collection. Hear it live on their upcoming spring tour across New Zealand and Australia.
CHAII – SAFAR
Another excellent new Aotearoa release, Persian-Kiwi artist and producer CHAII continues her rapid ascent with the release of her highly anticipated debut album SAFAR, produced by her husband Frank Keys. (“Safar” means “journey” in Persian.) Check out the gorgeous official visualiser for the title track below.
Jim Nothing – “The Present”
Auckland musician Jim Nothing – aka James Sullivan – has released “The Present,” a slower, twinkling garage-pop ballad with bittersweet charm. He’s also announced a new album, Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn, fittingly titled after his inner-city neighbourhood. The album will drop via Melted Ice Cream (New Zealand) and Metitorio (Spain), who also released his debut album, In the Marigolds.
Aaradhna – “Mango Tree”
Aaradhna is back with her first new music since winning Best Soul/R&B Artist at the 2024 Aotearoa Music Awards. “Mango Tree” delivers the sweet, soulful sound fans expect from the Aotearoa icon, complete with a visual feast of a music video. It’s leading towards her long-awaited new album, her first since 2016’s Brown Girl.
Rita Mae – “Big Star”
Rita Mae shows a softer side to her indie-pop repertoire with “Big Star,” a stripped-back collaboration with NZ-born, LA-based producer Leroy Clampitt. Following high-energy singles like “Kiss the Sky” and the gritty “My Bad,” it’s been a strong year for Mae in 2024 so far.
Al Park – Monkey
Lyttelton songwriter veteran Al Park has released his new album, Monkey. Produced by Adam Hattaway and Elmore Jones (Dick Picton) of The Haunters, the energised and reflective album features an old Vandals unreleased track from the ’70s “Get Vandalised.”
L.A. Mitchell – “Slow Dancing”
Ōtautahi-based artist L.A. Mitchell (Terrible Sons), aka Lauren Barus, has released a hypnotic new song, “Slow Dancing”, complete with an impressive choreographed video.
“‘Slow Dancing’ is when you’ve been stuck in a world, or a part of your mind or life, and then you feel pulled out of it and reminded that things were moving, even if you couldn’t see it,” explains Barus.
Troy Kingi – Leatherman & the Mojave Green
Troy Kingi has unveiled the mighty eighth instalment of his “10 10 10” series, Leatherman & the Mojave Green. The stoner-rock album was recorded during his trip to Joshua Tree, California.
Dani Josie – “Go Go Go”
A newcomer to Wellington’s music scene, Dani Josie makes her debut with “Go Go Go,” a punchy pop track about falling for someone who’s a walking red flag.
Abby Christo – “Just a Broken Heart”
Last but not least, all the way from her new home in Nashville, Abby Christo has released “Just a Broken Heart,” a soaring country-pop track with an empowering message.
“It’s for all the girls out there going through a breakup,” says Christo. “To empower them to know that it’s just a broken heart, and everything will be okay.”
