Get your Tuesday going with a new tune from Dateline.
Led by Wellington singer-songwriter Katie Everingham, the ever-evolving indie pop project has shared “Choose Me”, along with a lineup of tour dates set to kick off this March (see full dates below).
It’s their first single since their standout debut album, Dumb For My Age, released in 2022. Rolling Stone AU/NZ highlighted them as one of Eight Kiwi Artists Tipped to Take Over in 2023, praising Everingham’s “deft touch when it comes to combining crunchy guitar lines and earnest melodies.”
With a revamped lineup featuring local talents Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (French For Rabbits), Phoebe Johnson (Ebony Lamb), and Reuben McDonald, expect both the sound and live shows to be electric.
“Choose Me” came together during a demo session in 2022 with Liz Stokes and Jonathan Pearce from The Beths, along with bassist Ben Locke and multi-instrumentalist Sean Martin-Buss from Phoebe Rings.
Building on the band’s signature crunched guitars and power pop flair, they’ve turned up the volume on distorted guitars, driving rhythms, and lush vocal harmonies. Lyrically, Everingham delivers introspective songwriting, reflecting on experiences from their mid-20s, offering a glimpse into their younger self. Today’s release also includes a beautifully shot black-and-white live video, filmed during the song’s recording process late last year.”
Everingham recalls, “I had been sending Jonathan some offensively lo-fi acoustic demos from Hastings. Jonathan put together a kind of last minute band to play the songs for us to record. If I remember correctly, I played drums, Jon was on rhythm guitar, Liz added percussion, Ben Locke played the bass and Sean Martin-Buss played lead guitar.
“Sean had barely heard the songs but just turned up and started playing along and noodling and we happened to record the solo that you hear after the first chorus. I really really loved it so when I put the new band together I really wanted to keep it as close to Seans version as possible.”
“’Choose Me’ was written from the perspective of a younger Katie! It’s just a bit of a reflection of an experience I was having when I was in my mid 20’s. I now look at the track as a kind of capsule of my younger self.”
Dateline’s “Choose Me” is out now via Sunreturn.
Dateline ‘Choose Me’ Tour
Tickets available via undertheradar.co.nz
Friday, March 15th
Space Academy, Christchurch w/ Ryan Fisherman
Saturday, March 16th
The Crown, Dunedin w/ OHM
Thursday, March 28th
MOON, Wellington w/ Feshh, Nootropica
Saturday, March 30th
Common Room, Hastings w/ The Cellars
Saturday, April 6th
The Wine Cellar, Auckland w/ Work
