From Crowded House and Keith Urban to Lorde, not a year goes by without Kiwi artists or groups making their mark on music’s world stage.
Rolling Stone unearths eight more destined for a global chart attack.
CHAII
Persian-Kiwi rapper, producer, engineer and director, CHAII, is the future of hip-hop. Her 2020 Lightswitch visual EP is a masterclass that proves some artists can, in fact, do it all. CHAII returned in 2021 with Pineapple Pizza, a flavour explosion for the soul.
RS Recommends: “Pineapple Pizza”
Mitch James
It would be an easy mistake to label Mitch James as just another Ed Sheeran. Sure, they’ve shared a stage together, they both have a knack for hooky earworms, and they both play the guitar. But James delivers a drastically deeper cut on “Bright Blue Skies” and “History”.
RS Recommends: “History”
WHO SHOT SCOTT
WHO SHOT SCOTT is the alt-hip-hop project from Iraqi born, New Zealand-bred producer
Zaidoon ‘Zee’ Nasir, who turns his heartbreak into hits with occasional undertones of humour. WHO SHOT SCOTT has two EPs waiting for you: 2021’s MERCY and 2022’s MERCY II.
RS Recommends: “REALLY LIKE THAT”
Harper Finn
Like his father Tim, Harper Finn’s destiny feels as if it’s already written. An overnight success in the making, Harper has already released ten singles and won a Breakthrough Artist gong. Will 2022’s “Different Skies” be the bop to cross borders?
RS Recommends: “Dance Away These Days”
There’s a Tuesday
Christchurch band There’s a Tuesday are a triple threat: indie, folk, and pop. After their 2019 local hit “Piñata Head” found its way onto the pop charts in New Zealand, BENEE inked the four piece to her indie record label, Olive Records, leading us to 2022’s moody “Baby Blue”.
RS Recommends: “Baby Blue”
PARK RD
Surf-rock band PARK RD are turning heads for all the right reasons. The five-piece from West Auckland, who met at high school, recently supported Spacey Jane. The group has matured since 2018’s “Lay Me Down” — the proof is in 2021’s “I Got You”.
RS Recommends: “Surfer Boy Paradise”
Goodwill
Direct from his Christchurch home studio, producer and artist Will McGillivray — previously of the chart-topping band Nomad — returns with Goodwill. 2022’s first lick, “Get Angry”, treds a darker path than previous works, drawing inspiration from The National and Bon Iver.
RS Recommends: “Get Angry”
Bakers Eddy
Punk rock outfit Bakers Eddy traded Wellington for Melbourne, and it shows (“Coffee Mate”). On their latest album Love Boredom Bicycles you will discover — and find yourself dancing to — songs labelled “Hi-Vis Baby”, and their coming of age anthem, “21”.
RS Recommends: “21”
This list features in the June 2022 issue of Rolling Stone AU/NZ. If you’re eager to get your hands on it, then now is the time to sign up for a subscription.
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