New Music 16/10
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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 choruses. Bulgarian-born Iveta and New Zealand-born Simone first met as performers in another band before forming the duo, with previous releases including L.O.V.E. and Corazon. Centred on themes of inner power, RAYA-RAYA pairs the singers’ call-and-response vocals with a stylised industrial music video that moves between monochrome imagery, shadows and warmer projected colours.
Nathan Fry — Feet on the Dash
Devonport singer-songwriter Nathan Fry returns with Feet on the Dash, his third single of 2026. Written by Fry and produced by Nic Manders, the rock-pop track pairs driving guitars and infectious hooks with honest songwriting about letting go of control and trusting someone you love to lead the way. Following his transition from performing covers to focusing on original music, and a recent support slot on Borderline’s New Zealand tour, Fry continues to build his catalogue with a track that balances vulnerability and energy.
Joseph G. Thompson — I Don't Belong Here (ALBUM)
New Zealand-born, Europe-based singer-songwriter Joseph G. Thompson, one half of the duo Joseph & Maia, has released his debut solo album I Don't Belong Here. Recorded in just five days at Auckland’s Parachute Studios before Thompson moved his young family to Europe, the nine-track record explores belonging, restlessness, family life and the habits that can be hard to leave behind. Featuring contributions from a group of New Zealand musicians, the album includes lead single Belong Here, featuring vocals from his wife and musical partner Maia, alongside songs shaped by two decades of life, love and loss.
Three Rays — Three Rays (ALBUM)
Te Whanganui-a-Tara trio Three Rays have released their self-titled debut album, bringing together psychedelic swamp rock, blues, ragtime, brass band influences and vintage synths. Led by songwriter Dayle Jellyman alongside guitarist Tyson Smith and drummer Darren Mathiassen, the project pairs energetic, dancefloor-ready arrangements with lyrics reflecting on social inequality, political ideology and the hope for a better world. Recorded live as a band at Wellington’s The Surgery before being built up with layers of keys, vocals and experimentation, Three Rays balances unruly musical energy with a message of peace, freedom and social justice.
Purple Pilgrims — Outside
Dream-pop duo Purple Pilgrims, sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon, return with Outside, the latest single from their upcoming third album Given to the Night. Recorded during a retreat in the New Zealand countryside, the album embraces a more intuitive approach to songwriting, weaving shimmering guitars, synths, tape textures and layered vocals into a dreamlike sound. Outside explores the experience of feeling like an outsider, finding freedom in that space and navigating the uncertainty of personal change, offering another glimpse into the duo’s atmospheric new record.
Taylah — Loved
Auckland-based neo-soul artist Taylah, of Ngāpuhi descent, blends soul, blues and contemporary R&B with direct songwriting and a soulful vocal style. Having first appeared as part of Fly My Pretties’ ELEMENTAL, contributing three original songs including Red Flags, she now begins a new solo chapter with Loved, her first solo single for Loop Recordings Aot(ear)oa. Moving between English and te reo Māori, the stripped-back track explores knowing what you need from a relationship and feeling confident enough to express it, and is the first taste of her self-titled EP TAYLAH, arriving in November.
Robinson and The Romantics — Hollywood Movie
New Zealand-born artist Robinson has entered a new chapter under the name Robinson and The Romantics, following years of success as a solo artist. Her latest single Hollywood Movie is a coming-of-age power anthem about chasing big dreams without losing sight of yourself, reflecting on her journey from a small town in New Zealand to becoming a UK-based artist with hundreds of millions of streams. Following previous single Guaranteed, the track is set to feature on the project’s forthcoming EP, due out in 2027.
