New Music 05/06
We’re officially into the first week of June and somehow already nearing the halfway point of 2026. After a massive NZ Music Month packed with live shows, new releases and the Aotearoa Music Awards, things haven’t slowed down at all heading into winter, so wherever you’re reading this from, stay warm, stay dry, and keep supporting local music.
This week’s roundup features a strong mix of emerging and established artists from across Aotearoa, including new music from Aisha & Bebe, Lucy Summerfield, TîMMY the FIRST, Play For Keeps and Te Wehi, alongside major projects from WHO SHOT SCOTT, Jessica Leigh, Zac Griffith, Jared Mattson & Ruban Nielson, and more. Whether you’re after indie pop, country, alternative hip-hop, folk, reggae or art rock, there’s plenty to dive into this week.
Do you have a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature!
Aisha & Bebe — violet
Indie folk-pop duo Aisha & Bebe are quickly building momentum through heartfelt songwriting and harmony-driven performances that have already earned them recognition as one of the country’s most exciting emerging acts. After placing second at the 2025 Smokefree Rockquest National Finals and taking home the ZM Best Song award for violet, the pair have also supported artists including Georgia Lines and Frankie Venter, while their debut single Blank Space reached more than 10,000 streams within its first two weeks. Their latest release violet, recently featured on Intros, continues their rise with intimate storytelling and the signature harmonies that have become central to the duo’s sound.
Lucy Summerfield — Kia kaua
Lucy Summerfield returns with her new single Kia kaua, a deeply reflective track centred around grief, connection, and walking alongside those who are hurting. Drawing inspiration from artists including Bic Runga, BENEE and Maisey Rika, Summerfield pairs sweeping strings with raw vocal delivery and intimate songwriting, while continuing her commitment to supporting te reo Māori through her music. Written in response to loss felt within her Motueka community, Kia kaua explores the weight of grief and collective mourning, brought to life through contributions from musicians including Toby Sussex, Joanna Dann, Hazel Elder and Aiden Hosie.
Zac Griffith — Where I Belong (EP)
Tapawera country artist Zac Griffith has released his debut EP Where I Belong, a six-track project shaped by life on the road and the connection to his rural hometown roots. After building momentum with performances across New Zealand and Australia, including appearances at CMC Rocks Queensland and the All Country Australia showcase, Zac recently saw his single Sunday Sober break into the NZ Country Airplay Top 10 and the Australian Country Radio Top 40. Led by the reflective new single Don’t Let Me Go, Where I Belong explores the balance between touring life and home, capturing the grounded storytelling and heartfelt country songwriting that continue to establish Zac Griffith as one of Aotearoa’s rising country voices.
WHO SHOT SCOTT — HAIRY (ALBUM)
Tāmaki Makaurau alternative hip-hop artist and producer WHO SHOT SCOTT has released his long-awaited debut album HAIRY, a bold and deeply personal project exploring identity, alienation, and self-acceptance. Born in Iraq and raised in Aotearoa after fleeing war with his mother as a child, Zaidoon Nasir has spent the past several years building an international following through his genre-blurring mix of hip-hop, punk energy and electronic experimentation, earning more than 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners, APRA Silver Scroll nominations, a global sync placement in the Borderlands 4 trailer, and performances at events including WOMAD, SXSW Sydney and The Great Escape. Built around reflections on his teenage years and the experience of growing up feeling “other”, HAIRY transforms memories of bullying and isolation into a statement of defiance and pride, with focus track I’M YOUR ALIEN capturing the album’s explosive fusion of vulnerability, chaos and unapologetic self-expression.
The Advocators — One Last Ride
Northland band The Advocators return with their gritty new single One Last Ride, the first taste of their upcoming sophomore album Beyond the Palisade due later this year. Known for blending alt-country noir with what they describe as “hostile gospel stomp rock”, the group have steadily carved out a unique place within Aotearoa’s alternative music scene through previous releases that have earned praise from outlets including Rolling Stone Australia, NZ Musician and Under the Radar, alongside airplay across New Zealand and Australian student radio. Built around dissonant banjo lines, abrasive guitars and a driving rhythm section, One Last Ride explores themes of addiction and self-destruction through a dark, unhinged energy that captures the raw intensity the band have become known for.
TÎMMY the FIRST — Air
Zimbabwean-born, Aotearoa-based artist TîMMY the FIRST continues carving out his own lane with the release of his new single Air, a reflective blend of Afropop and hip-hop centred around identity, belonging, and self-belief. Drawing from experiences growing up across different countries and cultures, TîMMY has built a sound that combines African-inspired rhythms, soulful melodies and contemporary production into something both globally influenced and deeply personal. Produced by Tinaye, Air pairs melodic guitar lines inspired by Zimbabwean and South African music with warm, introspective songwriting, capturing the feeling of navigating between worlds while encouraging listeners to trust their own path and individuality.
Jared Mattson & Ruban Nielson — FEAR (ALBUM)
Ruban Nielson of Unknown Mortal Orchestra has teamed up with Jared Mattson of The Mattson 2 for the collaborative album FEAR, a project recorded and mixed in Palm Springs during an intense two-day creative burst in 2024. Built from long studio sessions, late night conversations and a shared instinct to keep chasing the same feeling, the album explores a hazy world of desert landscapes, abandoned motels and strange in-between spaces, balancing warmth and beauty with an underlying sense of unease. Alongside its atmospheric storytelling and free-flowing experimentation, FEAR also introduces what the pair jokingly describe as “music to calm dads down”, capturing the reflective and deeply human spirit that sits at the centre of the record.
Bunchy's Big Score — I Don't Wanna Dance
Ōtepoti art rock group Bunchy’s Big Score continue the rollout for their upcoming sophomore album Wanda’s Bicycle with the release of new single I Don’t Wanna Dance. Following previous single You Are A Camera, the band continue leaning further into the larger-than-life chorus-pop sound that has marked this new era of the project, while still holding onto the cheeky, lo-fi energy that first introduced them to Aotearoa’s underground scene. Wanda’s Bicycle is set for release on June 19.
Play For Keeps — Out Of The Dark
Christchurch indie-pop five-piece Play For Keeps return with their cinematic new single Out Of The Dark, a love song set against the backdrop of their hometown. Formed in 2023 and inspired by artists including The Beths, Arcade Fire and The War On Drugs, the band have quickly built momentum through previous releases Handsome Boy and Presumptious, blending catchy melodies with emotionally honest songwriting and a touch of self-aware humour. Produced by Tom Healy, Out Of The Dark captures the feeling of falling in love through scenes scattered across Christchurch, pairing warm guitars and atmospheric textures with reflective storytelling as the band continue establishing themselves within Aotearoa’s indie scene.
Jessica Leigh — I WANNA BE A STAR
Jessica Leigh returns with her new EP I Wanna Be A Star, a five-track project blending gritty guitar-driven indie pop with diaristic songwriting and sharp self-awareness. Created alongside collaborator Adam Snow and recorded between Mother’s Room and Auckland venue Big Fan, the EP captures Leigh’s playful yet emotionally honest approach to songwriting, balancing glossy hooks with themes of identity, beauty standards, and belonging. Since her previous EP, Jessica Leigh has continued building momentum through international writing camps, production work with female and LGBTQIA+ artists, and recognition as a Rolling Stone Artist to Watch, with I Wanna Be A Star marking her most confident and fully realised release to date.
Te Wehi — Do You Care?
Fresh off the release of his debut album and two wins at the Aotearoa Music Awards, Te Wehi continues his huge breakout year with the release of his new single Do You Care?. The Whakatāne artist has quickly become one of Aotearoa’s standout emerging voices through his blend of reggae, soul and emotionally honest songwriting, recently taking home both Best Roots Artist and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the AMAs. Inspired by a desire to speak with loved ones who have passed on, Do You Care? explores grief, reflection and searching for connection, arriving as Te Wehi prepares to head out on a 12-date headline tour across New Zealand and Australia.
