It’s October 31st, officially Halloween, so Rolling Stone AU/NZ has collected five songs by New Zealand artists to get you in the spirit.
Vana – “Die for Me!”
The edgy, dark-pop found on Aotearoa artist Vana’s enthralling new EP Die for Me!, released on the superstitious date of Friday the 13th of this month, is the ideal musical match for your gothic get-ups this Halloween. The sweet and sinister title track weaves a dark romantic tale of two vampires caught in a forbidden love affair.
The Transits – “Lost One”
Hot off their win at Show Me Shorts for Best Music Video, New Zealand-South African punk rock outfit The Transits unleashed “Lost One” just in time for Halloween. This rock-heavy track has an unmistakable 80’s horror movie vibe, with explosive synths and an 80’s drum machine groove. And to complement the song, there’s an 80’s-inspired short film directed by Ian Sweeney, paying tribute to all things the band loves about the era, from skating to vampire movies, VHS tapes, and shoulder pads.
The 3DS – “Spooky”
From the Flying Nun vault comes a 90s classic by Dunedin noise-pop band The 3DS. “Spooky” serves as the gorgeous and haunting closing track from their critically acclaimed second album, The Venus Trail, which was recorded in a disused Masonic Lodge in Dunedin.
fleaBITE – “The Skellingtons of Wellington”
Kiwi kids’ band fleaBITE added a Kiwi twist to the spookiest of seasons with their new single and video, “The Skellingtons of Wellington”. Created by Robin Nathan, known for the 1997 debut Horrible Sounds for Children by Fatcat & Fishface, the video conjures an animated world full of ghosts and ghouls, spanning from Taranaki to Greymouth. The map introduces New Zealand’s “clans,” including Picton Nose Pickers, Taranaki Terrors, Coromandel Cut Throats, Kaikoura Kannibals, and Ghouls of Greymouth.
Theia – “Freak”
And lastly, a throwback to this Halloween-inspired gem from alt-pop queen Theia (aka TE KAAHU) released in 2020. Laced with eerie samples, from a witch’s cackle to the sound of a razor-sharp knife, the bass-heavy drop is delightfully spine-chilling. It was originally written about a fictional female character who leads a life on the edge and in the shadows.
