Review
29/10/2026, San Fran — Words by Tia Cranefield “Absolute Kiwi Rock” What I love most about our local Aotearoa music scenes has always been the people. These fantastic and ever evolving communities would be nothing without the brilliant, selfless, kindhearted, and absurd individuals that build them up and craft
News
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature! kloey — Firefight Indie-pop artist kloey returns with Firefight, the second single from her upcoming EP of the same name. Produced by Jacob Callwood, aka Shehatesjacob, the
Interviews
Massey University student Josh Blackman, known by his stage name Joe Sefa, makes his debut with Blue Arms, a ten-minute track built around intricate samples, layered ambient textures and a reflection on growing up. Drawing on influences including Animal Collective, The Avalanches and The Durutti Column, Blackman blends neo-
Since forming in high school and finding their feet through Smokefree Rockquest in 2018, PARK RD have spent the better part of a decade carving out their place in New Zealand's indie music scene. The four-piece, made up of Tom Chamberlain, Leo Crawshaw-Bond, Te Kapua Pene
Massey University student Josh Blackman, known by his stage name Joe Sefa, makes his debut with Blue Arms, a ten-minute track built around intricate samples, layered ambient textures and a reflection on growing up. Drawing on influences including Animal Collective, The Avalanches and The Durutti Column, Blackman blends neo-
Pōneke duo Holding Daisies are Trent Wallace and Kale Hamilton, two Massey University students currently finishing their Bachelor of Commercial Music. The pair started working on the project while playing together in Molipane, wanting to explore a different sound from their other band and draw on their shared love of
South African-born, New Zealand-raised artist Furo 4404 has already performed in front of crowds of more than 20,000 people, sold out shows across Auckland and built a sound that draws from hip-hop, Afrobeats, house and pop. With Zimbabwean roots and a childhood split between South Africa
Auckland artist BEX (Rebekah Massey) is taking a different direction with her latest project, swapping her usual indie pop-rock sound for electronic, hyper-pop and club music. The six-track EP MAKE IT LOUDER came together quickly this year after BEX and her producer and partner Caleb Wong, aka
Talking to Kiwi musicians across Aotearoa New Zealand.
This week brings a mix of new sounds, from cinematic alt-rock by Double Parked to soulful new music from TEEKS. Furo 4404 shares his debut album Big 40 Not The Little One, while Juna celebrate their debut EP she’s coming over again, both following interviews with Roots. Elsewhere,
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature! Dillon Jo — Guard Dog (ALBUM) Te Whanganui-a-Tara four-piece Dillon Jo are set to release their debut album Guard Dog, bringing together dreamy shoegaze, alternative
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature! Iveta & Simone — RAYA-RAYA Auckland-based duo IVETA & SIMONE return with RAYA-RAYA, a new single built around their exchange of solo vocals and shared
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature! Where's Jai — Light Left Dim Where’s Jai return with Light Left Dim, a dark and addictive track exploring the kind of love that slowly
26/09/2026, Valhalla — Words by Tia Cranefield “Crouching Amongst It All” The power of live music is not something rarely described. For an artist to finally bare onstage a brewing collection of thought, emotion, and trust in musical expression, is to take one step closer to capturing a connection
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature! RENÉE — Comfortable Auckland artist RENÉE returns with Comfortable, a contemporary R&B and dance-pop single about the uneasy process of letting someone in and learning
This week we’ve got new music from across Aotearoa, with fresh releases spanning dream pop, indie, alternative R&B, soul, hip-hop, electronic and pop. There are new EPs from artists including Sabreen, Jordan Hunter Hyland, CHARIS and Vicious Villain, alongside singles from Echomatica, Julia Belle, Lucy Gray,
Pōneke duo Holding Daisies are Trent Wallace and Kale Hamilton, two Massey University students currently finishing their Bachelor of Commercial Music. The pair started working on the project while playing together in Molipane, wanting to explore a different sound from their other band and draw on their shared love of
South African-born, New Zealand-raised artist Furo 4404 has already performed in front of crowds of more than 20,000 people, sold out shows across Auckland and built a sound that draws from hip-hop, Afrobeats, house and pop. With Zimbabwean roots and a childhood split between South Africa
It’s been a busy week for Aotearoa music, with Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori giving us another chance to celebrate the role of te reo Māori in our culture and creative spaces. So this week’s New Music Friday is Puoro Hou, bringing together some of the latest
Auckland artist BEX (Rebekah Massey) is taking a different direction with her latest project, swapping her usual indie pop-rock sound for electronic, hyper-pop and club music. The six-track EP MAKE IT LOUDER came together quickly this year after BEX and her producer and partner Caleb Wong, aka