New Music 08/05
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Greer Castle — INTROSPECTION (EP)
Greer Castle is a Sydney and Te Whanganui-a-Tara-based soul and pop vocalist emerging as a compelling new voice in the capital’s music scene, blending elements of R&B, indie, and jazz with a warm, expressive style. Her early development has been shaped through programmes like Play It Strange and Smokefree Rockquest, where she was named Best Vocalist at the National Finals, alongside multiple finalist placements that have helped establish her growing reputation. Now, she steps into her next chapter with her debut EP INTROSPECTION, a five-track release written in the years leading up to leaving high school, exploring themes of growth, loss, and self-reflection. Recorded at Armoury Studios and produced by Troy Kelly, the project features her high school band and guest contributions that add depth to its introspective, emotionally rich sound.
HOMINID — Play Fighting (EP)
HOMINID is the project of Te Whanganui-a-Tara-based sound designer and composer Benny Jennings, crafting textured electronic music influenced by UK IDM, electronica, and the outer edges of club culture. Drawing from artists like Four Tet and Djrum, his work blends field recordings, tape loops, and driving rhythms into immersive sound worlds that move between headphone listening and the dancefloor. Following his debut EP Introvert//Extrovert and singles You Are Not A Wall Flower and Cyclic, he has continued to refine a balance between delicate detail and rhythmic intensity. That progression leads into his new EP PLAY FIGHTING, a release that leans further into heavier club-driven aesthetics while maintaining the sonic warmth and intricacy that define his sound.
Killian Ordono — Sound
Killian Ordono is an emerging Tāmaki Makaurau artist tapping into the modern underground with a sound that blends melodic energy and emotional edge. Drawing influence from artists like Slayr, Prettifun, and Che, he is building a style that reflects both the current wave and his own developing identity. With a run of recent releases already laying the groundwork, he continues to sharpen his direction as an independent artist on the rise. His new single Sound marks a confident next step, capturing that growth while signalling strong momentum heading into future releases.
Bunchy's Big Score — You Are A Camera
Ōtepoti-based art rock outfit Bunchy’s Big Score are blending infectious melodic hooks with sharp, introspective lyricism. Following earlier single Oscar Says, the band continue to build towards their forthcoming record Wanda’s Bicycle with their latest release You Are a Camera, a tight three-minute track that pairs earworm melodies with themes of perception and identity. Capturing the band’s signature balance between immediacy and unease, the single stands as one of their most direct offerings to date. Alongside the release, Bunchy’s Big Score have also announced a nationwide tour, taking their new material across both the South and North Islands as they continue to grow their presence around Aotearoa.
Sancy Prabhakar — I See You
Sancy Prabhakar is a South Auckland-based Indian R&B artist crafting music rooted in soul, blending smooth production with emotionally honest lyricism. A two-time finalist in the Play It Strange Lion Foundation Songwriting Contest, she has also placed at Sur Samrat in Sydney and won the SUSO E Best Vocal Composition award, while collaborating with artists like Melodownz and Mazbou Q and earning radio support from ZM and Flava. Her new single I See You delivers a direct and unfiltered take on betrayal, cutting through false promises and fake love with clarity and conviction.
Mason & The Monsoons — Movin' On
Mason & The Monsoons is the solo project of Hawke’s Bay singer-songwriter Mason Blair, blending folk, soul, and rock and roll into a self-produced, roots-driven sound. Since launching the project in 2023, he has drawn on influences ranging from The Five Satins and Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds to Jesus Christ Superstar, shaping a style that feels both classic and personal. Early singles from his debut album MIRRORBALL have introduced that direction, showcasing his hands-on approach to writing, recording, and performance. His latest single Movin’ On arrives as the final release ahead of the album, channeling 2000s rock and 1960s Motown into a coming-of-age track centred on growth, change, and the idea that moving forward is simply part of the journey.
Menzies — Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm (ALBUM)
Te Whanganui-a-Tara band Menzies are carving out a crooked alt-country rock sound, known for blending vivid storytelling with inventive, theatrical live performances shaped by frontman Chris Brown’s background as a magician. Their debut album Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm brings that world into focus, unfolding as a part concept record set across a ferry journey and grounded in distinctly Aotearoa imagery and experiences. Balancing humour, nostalgia, and emotional honesty, the album captures a deeply personal yet widely relatable coming-of-age narrative. With a nationwide tour set to follow, Menzies are stepping into a defining moment with their debut release.
Aldous Harding — Train On The Island (ALBUM)
Aldous Harding is a Lyttelton-born artist known for her singular approach to folk and art pop, crafting music that leans into the strange, intimate, and deeply expressive corners of songwriting. Across albums like Party, Designer, and Warm Chris, she has built a reputation for unpredictable, emotionally rich work, often in collaboration with producer John Parish. That partnership continues on her new album Train On The Island, a ten-track record shaped at Rockfield Studios alongside a wider cast of musicians. Led by singles Venus In The Zinnia, One Stop, and Coats, the album arrives with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its honesty, playfulness, and layered sense of feeling, as Aldous Harding once again expands the boundaries of her distinctive sound.
WHO SHOT SCOTT — PEAKED IN HIGH SCHOOL
Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist and producer WHO SHOT SCOTT is blending alternative hip-hop, punk energy, and electronic experimentation into a raw, genre-blurring sound shaped by his upbringing between cultures. Across multiple EPs and breakout tracks like LONERS ANTHEM, he has built a global following while earning APRA Silver Scroll nominations and international recognition for his emotionally charged, high-intensity style. That trajectory continues with his debut album HAIRY, led by the new single PEAKED IN HIGH SCHOOL, a UK garage-inflected track that flips past experiences of insecurity into a statement of empowerment. As he builds towards the full release with previous singles like PROBLEMS IN MY HEAD, FAST CAR, and BAD GIRLS, WHO SHOT SCOTT continues to push forward with a sound that is unfiltered, confrontational, and entirely his own.
Ringlets — Hard Evidence
Ringlets are a Tāmaki Makaurau post-punk four-piece continuing to build on their reputation as one of the most vital emerging bands in Aotearoa. Following the release of their acclaimed sophomore album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies), which earned praise from Rolling Stone and The Big Issue alongside a Taite Music Prize finalist spot, the band have expanded their presence internationally through sold-out Australian shows and upcoming UK and European tour dates. Their new single Hard Evidence pushes further into the band’s sharp, uncompromising sound, blending industrial textures with melodic undercurrents while touching on themes of labour, collapse, and absurdity. Released through Flying Nun Records alongside a surreal Martin Sagadin directed video, the track captures Ringlets at their most refined and unpredictable yet.
Cassie Henderson — It's a Wonder
Cassie Henderson continues to build on a breakout run that has seen the independent pop artist become one of Aotearoa’s biggest rising names. Following record-setting singles Whatever and Seconds to Midnight (11:59pm), a Best Pop Artist win at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, and headline shows across the country, she has steadily expanded the emotionally charged world of The Chronicles of a Heart Broken. Her new single It’s a Wonder arrives as a soaring pop-rock anthem reflecting on growing up, nostalgia, and self-discovery, blending live instrumentation and cinematic indie-pop influences into something both intimate and triumphant. Serving as a closing statement to the project’s current chapter, the release marks another defining step for Cassie Henderson as she prepares to head to the UK to begin work on new material.
Breaches — Wellington Is Dead
Breaches are a Pōneke post-punk duo channelling the city’s shifting energy into dark, danceable soundscapes built for both late-night floors and solitary walks home. Known for their brooding yet movement-driven style, they tap into themes of uncertainty, identity, and connection, reflecting the wider mood of the capital. Their new single Wellington Is Dead arrives as a defiant response to narratives of decline, reframing the city’s struggles as something urgent, resilient, and alive. Blending protest with celebration, the track captures the pulse of the communities still creating and pushing forward, as Breaches continue to carve out space within Aotearoa’s underground.
Lottie Gilmour — Been Here Before
Lottie Gilmour is a rising pop artist building momentum with a sound that blends emotional depth and polished performance, shaped by her background in professional dance. Early releases like Gimme and Last to Admit introduced her to a growing global audience, earning strong streaming numbers and placements across major Spotify editorial playlists. That success has carried into her live shows, where she has stepped confidently into headline performances across New Zealand and Australia, combining strong vocals with a natural stage presence. Her new single Been Here Before continues that trajectory, adding to a run of releases that position Lottie Gilmour as an artist steadily carving out her place in pop.
Rosie Teese — Addicted
Rosie Teese is a rising country-pop artist writing songs that feel deeply personal, blending honest storytelling with polished pop instincts and country roots. Since debuting with Overboard, followed by releases like Two Sided Hearts and Would You Do It Again?, she has continued to explore the emotional highs and lows of relationships through vulnerable, diary-like songwriting. Her new single Addicted leans into the rush of an all-consuming connection, capturing the chemistry, chaos, and pull of a love that feels impossible to resist. With each release, Rosie Teese continues to build a sound grounded in emotional honesty and relatable storytelling.
