Indie rock trio Office Dog have released their new single “Reins”.
The track is the final preview of their forthcoming album Prime Corner, due for release in June via Flying Nun Records. Frontperson Kane Strang says the song reflects feelings of frustration, isolation, and uncertainty.
“Reins is a song about going in circles, maybe being your own worst enemy a bit, and wanting someone else to come along and steer the ship,” Strang shares. “I was also back home when I wrote the words and thinking a lot about the harder, more isolating side of being in a town at the bottom of the world.”
A found-footage music video created by a friend of the band also released alongside the song. Watch below.
“Reins” follows previous singles “Front Row Seat” and “Gold Things”.
These tracks offered an early look at Prime Corner’s layered and guitar-driven sound. US publication Stereogum described “Front Row Seat” as “a propulsive, guitar-heavy anthem”, while Under the Radar called “Gold Things” “a triumphant new slab of post-punk/avant-rock.”
Office Dog formed in 2021 after Strang moved from Ōtepoti Dunedin to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, where he began collaborating with bassist Rassani Tolovaa and drummer Mitchell Innes.
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Their debut album Spiel came out in 2023 and received recognition from Rolling Stone AU/NZ: we placed it at No. 23 in our list of the 25 Best New Zealand Albums of 2023, while Spiel also ranked at No. 42 on our 80 Best New Zealand Albums of the 2020s So Far countdown.
Themes of instability and home run through Prime Corner. Much of the album was written while Strang was house-sitting in West Auckland. During that time, he began experimenting more with alternate guitar tunings.
The trio recorded demos during a fast-moving “Storage King” session. The album was then recorded over five days at Roundhead Studios around Christmas 2025 with engineer and producer De Stevens.
Office Dog are currently touring the UK and Europe, with the run including appearances at Dot to Dot and a sold-out show at The Windmill in Brixton.
Office Dog’s Prime Corner will be released digitally, on vinyl, and CD on Thursday, June 19th.
