Rolling Stone AU/NZ is celebrating the 2026 Taite Music Prize with In My Room sessions from the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut nominees.
First up is Bub, a genre-blending band from Tāmaki Makaurau led by Priya Sami (Dateline, Trip Pony).
Bub’s debut album, Can’t Even, enjoyed a stellar run last year, with several singles spending time in the SRN Top 10 and alternative charts; standout track “New Amsterdam” was even voted into the APRA Silver Scrolls Top 20, amongst fine company including songs by JessB, Fazerdaze, Aaradhna, and Marlon Williams.
Listen to the album below.
Bub’s album received positive reviews from Aotearoa critics.
“Can’t Even is about surviving the emotional contradictions of relationships, being female, being brown, being broken, being funny, being done and not done at all. Sami lashes out, dissociates, and stares into the mirror, leaving a record of unfinished conversations, internalised regrets, and angry affirmations,” The 13th Floor wrote. “Can’t Even is a fractured, funny, and self aware debut full of wit, grace, and grit.”
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“Sami’s knock your socks off vocals and infectious musical energy Trojan Horse some of the most refreshingly frank, unsparing lyrics you’re likely to hear anytime soon,” UnderTheRadar praised.
For her special Rolling Stone AU/NZ In My Room session, Sami, accompanied by harpist Harrison, played a selection of tracks from Can’t Even, including “Mrs Julian Casablancas”, another album standout which honours Sami’s 15-year-old self.
Watch Sami’s gorgeous and intimate session in full above.
Thanks to Can’t Even, Bub are one of three nominees for this year’s Best Independent Debut award. Sami’s project will compete in the category with two fellow Tāmaki acts, Babe Martin (watch her In My Room session here) and Geneva AM, with the winner set to be announced at the Taite Music Prize ceremony tomorrow night (April 29th).
Find out more about the 2026 Taite Music Prize here.
