Best Australian and New Zealand Music of the Week: BOY SODA, WHO SHOT SCOTT, Inertia and More

BOY SODA releases new single “Elements”, the latest preview of his upcoming Soulstar Deluxe project.

The rising R&B star — who recently featured in our Future of Music 2026 series — teamed up with producer MXXWLL for the song, someone he had long hoped to work with.

Missrosevalentina’s new single arrives just in time for Pride Month, timed to perfection.

“I THINK UR GAY” is a kunty modern take on a ’90s bitch track, a style of music coined by trans/gay people in the underground electronic music scene with influences from Franklin Fuentes, Moi Renee and Club 69,” the Ōtautahi Christchurch-based artist explains.

“This is one of my most ridiculously fun, campy and peak electropop production moments.”

Taite Music Prize finalist Sheep, Dog & Wolf returns with another taste of his forthcoming third album, Ceiling Waves.

Aching new single “We Sang As You Slept” is set to be one of the most tender moments on the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-based artist’s new record.

Oliver Cronin announces new EP Lost on the Way to Paradise with an anthemic new single.

“7500 Miles” is an ode to the frustration of being separated from the one you love.

Sydney duo Hellcat Speedracer continue their recent run of euphoric releases with “Minutes of You”.

Their new single is another taste of their forthcoming second EP.

“Minutes of You” came together during a recent London writing trip, inspired by the long days and nights spent away from home.

Dateline are back with their first release in two years.

“Meltdown” is one of the Aotearoa indie band’s most assured singles to date, buoyed by some serious firepower behind the scenes: The Beths’ Jonathan Pearce and Michael Howell helped record the song, Tom Healy handled mastering, while it was produced and mixed by Pip Brown, aka Ladyhawke.

The shapeshifting Dateline lineup is always led by Katie Everingham, joined by collaborators like Reuben McDonald. She penned “Meltdown” about the conflicting reality of being a mother.

Aotearoa indie-pop rising star Jessica Leigh, previously named an Artist to Watch by us in 2024, releases her new EP, I WANNA BE A STAR.

The record follows a busy period of career growth for Leigh, including being mentored by producer Liam Quinn (Peach PRC, Ruel) and Grammy-nominated Adrian Breakspear (Gang of Youths).

The glossy, confident collection was recorded across Big Fan Studios and Mother’s Room Studios in Tāmaki Makaurau Aukland.

The Avalanches continue their new album rollout in style with a Jamie xx collaboration.

“Every Single Weekend” follows previous collaborations between the Australian electronic duo and the English producer on “Wherever You Go” and “All You Children”.

“We’ve loved collaborating with Jamie xx over the years – his In Colour album reignited our passion for sampling, and this track is all about letting go, forgetting the 9-5 grind and enjoying every single weekend,” The Avalanches say.

Inertia feature in our Future of Music 2026 series, chosen as one of 25 ANZ acts we’re most excited about for this year and beyond.

In an exclusive interview for the series, the alternative band, who describe their sound as “[the] Weekend but metalcore,” (sold!) teased new music.

“Fans who have seen us live in recent months have already had a sneak peak of new music. The offical release of new music is on the horizon and more shows will be coming with it,” they told us.

Well, Inertia fans, you’re in luck, because said new music is already here.

New single “Emerald Whisper” is accompanied by a thrilling music video directed by Jack Fontes (watch below).

Great tracks, terrible title: welcome to WHO SHOT SCOTT’s highly anticipated debut album.

The electrifying collection is worth the wait, the Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland rapper and artist effortlessly moving between alt-rock and hip-hop at will.

HAIRY follows a hugely successful debut headline tour of the UK for WHO SHOT SCOTT, including an appearance at The Great Escape 2026.

Gracie Moller’s second EP is here.

The EP is filled with bright and sparkly pop, capturing what it feels like to fall in and out of love in your early 20s.

Clashing Teeth is the modern, accomplished pop record Moller has been carefully building towards over the past few years.

The Pretty Littles follow up  a national tour with Bad//Dreems with new album Mulga Wire.

It’s the swift follow-up to 2025’s ARIA-charting Force, and Mulga Wire might be that record’s equal.

“Mulga Wire sorta encompasses everything we are, I reckon,” vocalist Jack Parsons says. “We just followed our nose. If it worked, we followed it down the lane. If it didn’t we left it there. There was no time to fuck around really.”

“I guess this album reminds me of a city, with different suburbs – different moments. It’s all in the same city, but you know when you’re in Heidelberg and you know when you’re in Hampton, ya know?”

Asha Jefferies previews new album Desire Is an Angel with a stunning new single.

The soaring “Art of Suggestion” is set to be one of the Australian singer-songwriter’s most classically pop moments on the record, Jefferies pondering the imaginative potential of desire.

“I wrote ‘Art of Suggestion’ about being swept away by the undertow of desire,” she explains. “Before confirmation is revealed and you know someone is interested in you, there is a heavy, electrifying drive to project your desires onto them. Daydreaming has taught me that sometimes, the exhilaration of seduction is less about contact and more about the unknown.”

Georgia Lines is revisiting one of the biggest nights of her career so far with the release of Live at the Civic.

The new album is out via Bandcamp.

It captures Lines’ headline performance at Auckland’s Civic Theatre during the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival on Sunday, June 15th, 2025. The 10-track collection features cuts from across her catalogue, backed by new arrangements and musicians from the Auckland Philharmonia.

“This show was one of the most special nights of my career so far, and I know it’ll forever be one that I look back on with so much pride,” Lines says. “To stand on the stage at The Civic surrounded by incredible musicians and some of my favourite people, and play these songs to a room full of people who were so deeply with us every moment of the show, was something I’ll never forget.”

It’s “break up season”, says Yorke.

The exciting Australian pop artist returns with her bold new single, with the song receiving its first play on triple j.

“Breakups are inevitable, so you might as well make them fun to listen to,” Yorke says. “The song was written after my friend was spilling the tea on some break ups that had happened in our inner circles since I’d last seen her, and some of them were a bit scandalous.

“She made a comment about it being ‘break up season’ and I jokingly said that I hoped I’m not next… I walked into the studio knowing exactly what I wanted. It’s rare that I start with a song title, so it was fun to start with that and work backwards. We wrote the song a few hours after that.”

Eliza Hull’s first official new music in three years is finally here.

The Castlemaine-based singer-songwriter returns with her “most unguarded” single yet, written during a personal breakdown while she was alone in a London hotel room.

“Hotel Room” follows Hull receiving an O.A.M. last month for her contribution to music and disability advocacy.

Beth Torrance previews new EP Your Favourite with rocking new single “Suzy May”.

The Aotearoa singer-songwriter’s track is grittier and more expansive than some of their previous intimate indie-folk releases, proving Torrance is ably adept at both styles.

Your Favourite arrives next month on July 24th.

Paige’s first single of the year is more than worth the wait.

The cool and confident “the way you are” is the highly anticipated follow-up to her all-conquering 2025 EP paigesspace, which helped Paige to an Aotearoa Music Awards nomination (Single of the Year for “twenties”).

Her lush new single is an “unapologetic breakup song” co-written by Paige and Harry Charles (ratbag, Tate McRae).

Radio Free Alice release a new single shortly after featuring in our Future of Music 2026 series.

“Lunch Money” is the Melbourne post-punk band’s debut release on Atlantic Records (out via Warner Music Australia locally), and arrived ahead of their Governor’s Ball Festival appearance in New York City this weekend.

Frontman Noah Learmonth shares, “‘Lunch Money’ came together last year in a soundcheck in Nottingham while on tour in the UK. It was the back-end of the tour and it had started getting really cold.

“I remember us writing it on the stage at the empty venue, all with jackets, scarves and gloves on. It was one of those songs that came together pretty instantly.”

Melbourne-by-way-of-Sydney band Zipper keep getting better.

New single “Ear” is dreamy and atmospheric post-punk at its finest, effortlessly moving at its own pace. Lead singer Haruka Sato’s vocals are a particular highlight, floating invitingly through the thick sonic fog.

“Ear” follows the equally excellent “Hiko”, their first release of the year.

TiMMY the First is ready to make his mark in Aotearoa hip-hop.

The Zimbabwean-born, New Zealand-based artist opens up to the world on new single “Air”, which pleasingly blends Afropop and hip-hop together.

“This song captures the heart of who I am as an artist,” he explains. “My music has always been about telling honest stories and creating from a place of purpose. I’m drawn to songs that explore identity, belonging, and the courage it takes to follow your own path.”