ZIPS are crossing the ditch. After tearing up stages in Aotearoa with their club-ready beats and bars, the hip-hop collective—Church & AP, RNZŌ, deadforest, and Dera Meelan—are crossing the ditch for two high-energy shows in Melbourne and Sydney this weekend.
Formed in 2019, ZIPS grew from close friendships and constant collaborations, and at the core of it all is undeniable chemistry. “It’s just a fancy name for our friend group,” laughs Dera Meelan, and Church & AP add, “ZIPS evolved by making music with our mates. The lore’s extensive!”
And it’s not just them on the bill. With Zion Garcia, Sophiya, Srirachi, and emjaysoul joining the lineup, this is shaping up to be a full-force trans-Tasman takeover.
We caught the ZIPS crew just before they boarded the plane to talk early days, on-stage synergy, and what it means to keep levelling up.
“We were bringing the energy out of the city. People weren’t connecting before. We had a mission, and we’ve always strived to bring that energy back,” says RNZŌ.
The crew’s sound has been building from the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau, with Church & AP adding, “We make music that bangs in the club but still says something real. Working with Dera helps—beats that hit but have depth.”
Catch them Friday, April 11th, at The Worker’s Club, Melbourne, before they hit a secret Sydney location on Saturday, April 12th. This two-show tour is presented by Dogs Run Free.
View this post on Instagram
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: Let’s go back – how did ZIPS even form?
Church & AP: ZIPS formed organically in 2019 as YKK (a reference to the world’s largest zipper manufacturer) and evolved into what it is today by just making music frequently with our mates Deadforest & Dera Meelan. We met RNZŌ through the youth programs we all did with The Te Karanga Trust (also where Church & I got our first foot in the door with music). The ZIPS lore is extensive, but that’s the gist!
deadforest: I ended up making a few tracks on SoundCloud with Church & AP under a different alias (Jinzo), and through Dera, we all became mates.
Dera Meelan: Really, it’s just a fancy name for our friend group. I don’t think you can do this music thing if you don’t like who you’re doing it with—so it’s worked out so far.
RNZŌ: The ZIPS were a collective long before I came along. Church was my mentor in my early music years, and from there, I became one of the ZIPS.
You’ve had some big shows in Auckland—how’d they go? Any standout moments?
Church & AP: The goal was to highlight the music we’ve been putting out and throw a party in our hometown—it had been a while since we’d performed here. We wanted it to be fun and not too serious, just a space for people to dance, drink, and have a good time. Our first time selling merch too (designed by me!), and it was mean seeing people rocking it. More on the way!
deadforest: Before COVID, the Auckland scene was thriving, so we’ve been trying to bring that essence back. I think the two shows at the end of 2024 captured that feeling—it was cool to do something for the locals.
Dera Meelan: The goal is always music-centric—play good music, bring people together, and have a good time. A standout moment for me is seeing people’s real-time reactions. It reminds you there are actual people out there listening.
RNZŌ: I believe the goal was to bring the energy back to the streets of Auckland in terms of music. It was one of my first proper gigs and I’m super grateful the boys gave me the opportunity.
You’ve said your music’s all about getting people to dance. How do you make sure your tracks connect with the crowd? How does that energy translate live?
Church & AP: We stay tapped into the city—the people, the scenes, the sounds. Tāmaki Makaurau’s got its own energy, and we try to bottle that in every track. We make music that bangs in the club but still says something real. Working with Dera helps—beats that hit but have depth. And live shows? It’s all about connection. We feed off the crowd, read the room, and make sure every track lands.
deadforest: I think it’s just about actively listening, finding new sounds, and revamping old ones—but mostly it’s what sounds and feels good to us. The music itself carries the energy, so I just focus on spitting (and remembering lyrics lol).
Dera Meelan: Keeping an eye and ear on what people are doing and listening to—both live and online—helps us stay locked in. And when that part clicks, the energy at shows takes care of itself.
RNZŌ: Reiterating what I said earlier—we were bringing the energy out of the city. People weren’t connecting before. We had a mission, and we’ve always strived to bring that energy back.
What can people expect from your Australian shows? Any surprises or cool moments planned?
Church & AP: Expect energy. We’re bringing the whole gang across the ditch. Big sounds, big vibes. As for surprises—you’ll have to pull up and see.
deadforest: It’s my first time here, so I’m just excited to show you what I’m about and have fun with the bros.
Dera Meelan: Above all, we’re just keen to connect with people out here and get familiar with our neighbours.
RNZŌ: Whole lotta fun, lots of energy, just an overall swag that only the ZIPS can bring.
Anything you’re excited to do while you’re in Melbourne and Sydney?
Church & AP: Food & family! Keen to check out the food spots locals recommend and link up with our family and friends out here.
deadforest: Just getting a feel for Melbourne—it’s been mean so far. Coming from South Auckland, this is all new to me. Solid buzz just walking around aimlessly—and the food’s mean too.
Dera Meelan: Food and sightseeing, mostly. Both cities are great to just walk around and explore.
RNZŌ: Catch up with loved ones and meet all the talent out here in Aus.
View this post on Instagram
You’ve got some awesome Aussie artists on the lineup like Zion Garcia and Sophiya. Anyone you’re pumped to see live?
Church & AP: Big love to the Aussie scene—it’s stacked right now. Zion is crazy with the pen—sharp, unpredictable, and his stage presence is mad. Can’t wait to see Srirachi, Sophiya, and emjaysoul too.
deadforest: Really excited to see both Zion and Sophiya—keen to hear what the locals are doing sonically.
Dera Meelan: Pretty much all our openers are people we’re excited to see. We’ve connected with Zion and Sollyy a few years back—it’s great to see them in their home territory.
RNZŌ: I can’t wait to see Zion live. From what I’ve seen online, the boy can rock a stage heavily.
How does being in this crew push you as solo artists?
Church & AP: 100%. It pushes me creatively. Everyone’s got their own steez, so it keeps the bar high. Solo music helps lock in our personal voices, but the two feed each other. It’s all growth.
deadforest: Yeah—I think everything exists in the same universe. Even if our solo stuff sounds different, I always create with that in mind.
Dera Meelan: We’ve all got our own thing, but having a crew to bounce ideas off and get real feedback from definitely helps.
RNZŌ: Not at all, and that’s the beauty of it. We don’t all make the same music, but you can hear bits of each other’s styles in our own stuff.
Any new music coming up that you can share with us? What direction are you heading in?
Church & AP: Always new music on the way—solo stuff, collabs, all of it. Hard to say where it’s heading exactly, but it’ll always be music we’re proud of.
deadforest: Just dropped a new single “BAR4BAR”—produced by Dera, with cover art from my brother Naik2G. It’s a styla one. Expect new flavours, different tempos, and solid vibes.
Dera Meelan: I’m loving moment-specific music right now—stripping back the production and letting ideas breathe more.
RNZŌ: No comments on releases haha—but direction-wise, I’m focused on being myself and expressing that through the music.
What’s been inspiring you lately—music or anything else?
Church & AP: Studio time with my brothers. Good food. Beautiful people. Always listening to new music.
deadforest: My family, friends, and community. Also just regular human stuff—exercise, eating good, etc.
Dera Meelan: Everything inspires me—it’s just about figuring out how to turn that into something I like. It’s important to keep taking in new music and art—I forget to be a consumer sometimes.
RNZŌ: Been listening to a lot of Church’s album and UK grime.
What’s one thing you’re looking forward to in 2025? Any goals for next year?
Church & AP: Keep gaining XP, levelling up, more music, bigger shows, more moments with the fans. More ZIPS. We’ve got projects in the works and always pushing to go further.
deadforest: Looking forward to performing more, maybe another international trip. Goal: Keep shelling it on and off the mic at expert level.
Dera Meelan: The goal this year is to go all out, tbh.
RNZŌ: My main goal for 2025 is to keep doing this at the highest level and staying true to myself.
