Every week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ keeps you in the loop with the freshest sounds from New Zealand.
Catch up on past coverage on Fazerdaze, Nadia Reid, Rita Mae, Aaradhna, and L.A.B/Stan Walker.
Here’s what you might have missed last week.
BENEE – “Animal”
Hot off global tours with Olivia Rodrigo and Wallows, BENEE makes a bold return with her latest single, “Animal”.
“‘Animal’ is a song I wrote when I felt extreme existential dread,” BENEE reveals. “When flying in a plane on tour, looking down onto what looks like an ant-like world really inspired the lyrics. How huge something feels when you’re in it, but zoomed out so SMALL. I love thinking about life like that.”
“I thought about this concept long and hard, and I feel we can only be playful with the thought of how insignificant and small we are compared to the universe. There’s peace in not knowing what anything is here for. It makes me want to enjoy everything in life even more.”
Foley – “Heartstrings”
Foley are setting the stage for a massive 2025 with their second album, That’s Life, Baby!, dropping February 28th. But first, they’re tugging at “Heartstrings” with their newest single.
“We are so confident now in what Foley’s sound is after releasing our first album, that this next run of songs has been such a dream to put together,” the duo share.
“‘Heartstrings’ comes from the giddiness of a new flame/lover, wanting to reach and aspire to their greatness even if you’re being a bit blinded by rose tinted glasses. The fine line between love and obsession; having an admiration for someone that makes them addictive to you. Hypnotising and stupidly entrancing, you realise that the thought of this person is so powerful to you it’s tearing you apart.”
Corrella – “All There Is”
Auckland band Corrella deliver their second single, “All There Is”, ahead of their upcoming album Skeletons (out November 29th). Their summer schedule is as stacked as their sound: they’re set to hit Rhythm and Vines, Homegrown, and embark on a New Zealand and Australia tour with L.A.B.
Te Tokotoru – “Ka Whiua Ngā Ringa”
Aotearoa’s hard rock power trio Te Tokotoru come out swinging with their fiery new waiata, “Ka Whiua Ngā Ringa”. The title, which translates to “throw hands” or “to fight”, is a rallying cry for the preservation of te reo Māori.
“This theme is strongly reflected throughout the waiata, most succinctly in the chorus: ‘Kōrero i te reo rangatira, kia kore e ngaro’, which means ‘use te reo as often as possible as it cannot be lost or forgotten,” they explain.
Sam Heselwood – “Kind Love”
UK-based Kiwi singer-songwriter Sam Heselwood reflects on the ups and downs of true love with his soft acoustic track, “Kind Love”.
“The song is about living life as an average human being,” says the Christchurch-raised artist. “It reflects on all the ups and downs, and highlights the benefit of finding someone who brings you a kind of love that makes everything better.”
Elliott Dawson – “Calling Time”
Elliott Dawson’s latest single, “Calling Time”, tackles the bittersweet reality of maintaining friendships in your late 20s. It’s the second track from his sophomore album, Certain Death (due April 2025), following “Quarter Life”.
