Each week, Rolling Stone AU/NZ highlights our favourite New Zealand music from the past seven days.
Check out last week’s picks featuring Adam Hattaway, Reb Fountain, L.A.B, BAYNK, Kimbra, Womb, and explore fresh highlights from Reiki Ruawai, Recitals, Church & AP, Best Bests, Damien Binder, Cloudy, and Wet Denim below.
Reiki Ruawai – The Message
Since his groove-laden days with Masaya, Reiki Ruawai has been one to watch. Now, the Raglan artist takes his laid-back sound further on his debut solo EP, The Message. Over six tracks, Ruawai leans into his signature soothing melodies while branching into pop and sing-rap on the latter half. The breezy single “All I Need” is an easy standout, while “Move Along” brings the funk, and “Love No Other,” co-written with former bandmate Muroki, oozes soul.
Recitals – I GOT GOLD!
The tight-knit Wellington band pull you into their “private joke universe” on I GOT GOLD!, their second EP centred around friendship. Across five expansive tracks, there’s plenty to grab onto – dreamy, chaotic, dark, and light – thanks to producers James Goldsmith (DARTZ, Beastwars) and Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins). From casual bandmate chatter over kebabs in “Dinner Song” to the urgent, sci-fi-inspired “CGI Airport,” the EP shifts effortlessly in tone, closing with “Champion Runner,” a trumpet-led reflection on life as an underdog.
Church & AP – “AKL Girls”
After teasing it during Avito’s opening set at David Dallas’s show at Galatos last week, Aotearoa hip-hop duo Church & AP have dropped their homage to the women of Tāmaki Makaurau with “AKL Girls.” Playing on a timeless rap trope, the duo shout out girls from all over the 09 – from the North Shore to the South Side, West Auckland, and Central. With a smooth, bouncy beat by longtime producer Dera Meelan, it ain’t all sunshine: “Those AKL girls love getting on my nerves, they so sly ‘bout it, can’t lie ’bout it, they always playing games but I can’t even complain.”
Best Bets – The Hollow Husk of Feeling
Best Bets are back with another power-pop gem with their second album, The Hollow Husk of Feeling, out via Meritorio and NZ’s Melted Ice Cream. Recorded in Ōtautahi, the album channels the introspective lyrics listeners have come to expect from Olly Crawford Ellis and James Harding. This time, bassist Joe Sampson (Salad Boys, T54) adds his own tracks and handles the album’s recording, mixing, and mastering in his signature style, resulting in melodic, jangly rock that keeps fans hooked.
Damien Binder – “Sanctuary”
Perth-based New Zealand songwriter Damien Binder drops “Sanctuary,” the second single from his upcoming EP. Unlike the upbeat “Crazy,” this one’s more reflective, with Binder calling it “a place of safety and comfort amidst the turbulence of the world.”
Cloudy – “Hard To Pretend”
Auckland songwriter Cloudy leans into melancholic pop on “Hard to Pretend,” co-written with Alisa Xayalith of The Naked And Famous. While inspired by heartache, the song’s dreamy melodies still bring a feeling of uplift and healing.
Wet Demin – On the Line
Wet Denim’s new EP, On The Line, captures the catchy pop-rock sound of the young four-piece from Wellington. This energetic collection blends road-tested tracks with fresh material, tackling mature themes like gratitude, addiction, and self-perception.
