Stay up to date with New Zealand music releases with Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s weekly roundup.
Check out the best new music from Aotearoa acts released between December 1st-7th below!
Sofia Machray – “Twirl”
Her first standalone single of the year, “Twirl” echoes the spirit of Sofia Machray’s 2023 debut EP Language of Flowers. Written during the same period but left off the final tracklist, the song offers a glimpse into the remaining work from that era, closing the chapter on Language of Flowers before opening the door to a new project.
Pickle Darling – crumple zones
The companion EP to Pickle Darling’s Bots, crumple zones reimagines and expands the sonic world of Lukas Mayo. While Bots was meticulously assembled, this new collection embraces a more immediate, live-inspired energy, offering alternate takes, acoustic reinterpretations, and a collaboration with Father/Daughter labelmate, Anna McClellan.
Sanoi – AUGENBLICK
The latest album from Sanoi is being released in two parts, and Side A is now available. Across its 19 tracks, AUGENBLICK blurs the boundaries between ambient soundscapes, downtempo grooves, and lo-fi beatwork, creating an experience that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. Side B is due for release in early 2026.
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Caru and Brandn Shiraz – Two for Two
Built for both club DJs and the dancers who join them, Caru and Brandn Shiraz ditch the contemporary pop-leaning UKG formulas for a slick take that nods to the genre’s underground roots on Two for Two. The new dual-sided release pairs Caru’s slick production with Shiraz’s unmistakable and raw MC energy. Designed as a vinyl-style Side A/B with a mid-track beat switch, it also features synthesizer and Rhodes from jazz pianist and arranger Joe Kaptein to tie it all together.
Double Parked – “Buttercup”
Off the back of last month’s cathartic single release “Necklace”, post-surf rockers Double Parked have shared another new single, “Buttercup”. Drenched in distorting reverb, gritty guitar riffs, and heavy drums, “Buttercup” jolts with anxious and urgent energy, meshing half-spoken, half-sung verses with a raucous, high-charged hook. Co-written between the whole band, the track’s melancholic songwriting embodies the feeling of being on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Tony Stamp – “Dersu Uzala”
Auckland-based multi-hyphenate Tony Stamp’s new song takes inspiration from Dersu Uzala, a character from an Akira Kurosawa film (who you can hear mid-way through the song). Stamp put mics up in his old apartment and recorded the drum parts through a bass amp, while his voice and acoustic went through a vocoder.
