> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.rootsmag.nz/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # New Music 16/01 - URL: https://www.rootsmag.nz/new-music-16-01/ - Published: 2026-01-15T22:32:05.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-15T22:32:05.000Z - Author: Ryan Brash - Tags: News *Got a new song coming out? Send me a message at* ryanfromroots@gmail.com *to get a feature!* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/ae/82ae15cc-791b-45a9-a46a-3900b2eee181/content/images/2026/01/oceasand.jpeg) ## **OceaSand — *Is It All a Dream*** Waikato-based artist **OceaSand** steps into a new chapter with the release of *Is It All a Dream*, a reflective track that marks the first time he has placed his own vocals at the centre of his music. Originally from Hāwera, Taranaki and now residing in Morrinsville, **OceaSand** has previously collaborated with featured vocalists, but this release represents a more personal leap forward — one driven by trust in his own voice and a desire to fully inhabit the stories he’s been writing. *Is It All a Dream* explores the release of bottled-up emotion, hovering between reality and escapism as it questions whether moments of peace are grounded or imagined. The song captures a sense of drifting introspection, shaped by lived experience and creative persistence. With this release, **OceaSand** not only introduces listeners to a more intimate side of his artistry, but also signals a growing confidence in carving out his own sound within Aotearoa’s independent music landscape. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/ae/82ae15cc-791b-45a9-a46a-3900b2eee181/content/images/2026/01/foley-cinematic.jpg) ## **Foley — *Cinematic*** Aotearoa pop duo **Foley** kick off 2026 with the release of *Cinematic*, an effortlessly cool new single that sets the tone for their upcoming EP *LIKE AN ACTRESS*, out on February 25\. Packed with glossy pop hooks, driving bass, live drums, and euphoric synths, *Cinematic* builds in tension before bursting into an anthemic release. The track captures the rush of a new romance — that surreal moment where everything feels almost too perfect to be real — and leans fully into the thrill of romanticising love as it happens. Written by **Foley** (Ash Wallace and Gabe Everett) and produced by Josh Naley, *Cinematic* is rich with cinematic flair, weaving playful nods to iconic films throughout its lyrics. The song arrives alongside news of *LIKE AN ACTRESS*, which also features previous singles *Suckerpunch* and *Honey*. With emotion, groove, and polish at its core, *Cinematic* signals a confident new chapter for the duo, offering a vivid glimpse into an EP built for big feelings and even bigger moments. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/ae/82ae15cc-791b-45a9-a46a-3900b2eee181/content/images/2026/01/king-hit-sap.jpeg) ## **king hit — *sap*** Formed in Pōneke Wellington, **King Hit** are a four-piece made up of principal songwriter, guitarist and frontman Stefan Jenkins, alongside guitarist and vocalist Caitlin Gabb, bassist Felix Bird, and drummer Sebastian Bell. Originally conceived as a three-piece, the band spent the first half of 2025 cutting their teeth in Wellington’s underground before solidifying their lineup and sound, quickly building momentum as a formidable new presence in the local scene. Sonically, **King Hit** blend the abrasiveness of shoegaze with the punch of hardcore and the melancholy of Midwest emo, creating dense, emotionally charged walls of sound. Their new single *sap* leans fully into that atmosphere, shrouding themes of longing for a real, honest kind of love in layers of fuzz and reverb. It’s a track that balances weight and vulnerability, cementing the band’s ability to turn raw emotion into something both immersive and powerful as they continue to carve out their place in Pōneke’s underground. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/82/ae/82ae15cc-791b-45a9-a46a-3900b2eee181/content/images/2026/01/vainthalo-air.jpeg) ## **vaint halo — *air*** Wellington artist **vaint halo** turns the energy all the way up on *air*, a high-octane new track built for packed rooms, loud speakers, and hands in the air. Centred around money, motion, and living in the moment, *air* leans into simplicity by design — a punchy beat, a chant-ready hook, and zero overthinking. It’s carefree, fast-moving, and made for live shows, capturing that feeling when the night feels weightless and the only plan is to jump, shout, and keep it moving.