New Music 19/06
It's another huge week for new music from Aotearoa artists, with standout releases spanning indie rock, folk, electronic, reggae, hip hop and pop. This week's roundup includes new albums from The Veils, Office Dog, Star Time, Bunchy's Big Score and Killian Ordono, alongside fresh EPs from arielwose, Logan Edwards, and Caru & Brandn Shiraz. I also had the chance to sit down with both arielwose and Michèle Ducray this week ahead of their latest releases, while readers can revisit my interview with Jack Bromwich from Volume 3 of Roots Magazine. Looking ahead, I've also got an interview with Wellington electronic-pop duo FLAIRGUM coming early next week, so keep an eye out for that.
Do you have a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature!
Michèle Ducray — Like U Did B4
Originally from Christchurch and now based in Sydney, Michèle Ducray is a cinematic dark pop artist known for blending dreamy synth textures, vulnerable lyricism, and atmospheric visuals. Her distinctive sound has earned support from Spotify's New Music Friday AU/NZ, MTV PUSH Australasia, Apple Music's New in Pop, and Rolling Stone AU/NZ, while her live appearances have included Bay Dreams, Electric Avenue, Rolling Meadows NYE, Soundsplash, and Music in the Parks. Her latest single, Like U Did B4, explores the bittersweet ache of wanting somebody to love you the way they once did, pairing shimmering synths and late-night production with the emotional vulnerability and immersive storytelling that have become hallmarks of her artistic world.
You can read my interview with Michèle Ducray here.
arielwose — in their eyes (EP)
Tāmaki Makaurau artist arielwose closes the chapter on her debut EP in their eyes, a collection of songs that blends early 2000s-inspired indie pop and rock with honest songwriting about identity, queer relationships, mental health, and self-perception. Influenced by artists such as Bic Runga, Anika Moa, Alanis Morissette and Lola Young, arielwose has steadily built a reputation within Aotearoa's alternative music scene through releases including 7 day clinic, child and gullible, with child receiving support from Radio Hauraki and NZ On Air's NewTracks compilation. The EP is completed by you look pretty, a heartfelt ode to friendship and emotional vulnerability inspired by an overheard conversation on a bus, bringing together the themes and sonic experimentation that have defined the project while marking an important milestone in arielwose's evolving artistic journey.
You can read my interview with arielwose here.
FLAIRGUM — Can You Take Me There?
Pōneke electronic-pop duo FLAIRGUM make their debut with Can You Take Me There?, a sun-soaked anthem inspired by messy nights, loud music, new connections, and the thrill of escapism. Made up of Florence McNabb and Kahu Sanson-Burnett, the pair are no strangers to making music together, having previously spent years writing and performing as members of Nelson indie band Parallel Park, releasing multiple singles, an EP, and an album. FLAIRGUM marks a deliberate shift towards electronic pop, combining Florence's experiences in Amsterdam's music scene with Kahu's production expertise and involvement in Wellington's live music community, with Can You Take Me There? serving as the first taste of a string of releases planned throughout 2026.
You can read my interview with FLAIRGUM here.
Jack Bromwich — Sinking Boat
Indie rock artist Jack Bromwich returns with Sinking Boat, the first glimpse into his upcoming debut album Hairscene, due in 2027. Following the release of his debut EP Poser, Freak in 2025, Bromwich continues to embrace a DIY approach, recording across home studios in Tāmaki Makaurau and Wellington alongside a group of close friends and collaborators. Exploring themes of mental turmoil, perseverance, and navigating life's challenges, Sinking Boat pairs emotive lyricism with fluid rhythmic movement, offering an encouraging reminder that no struggle has to be faced alone.
You can read my interview with Jack Bromwich here.
Where's Jai — Check It Out
Tāmaki Makaurau pop rock outfit Where's Jai continue their rapid rise with Check It Out, a dark and addictive summer anthem that explores the blurred line between carefree seasonal romance and all-consuming obsession. The band have quickly established themselves as one of Aotearoa's most promising emerging acts, with their debut album Fresh Out Of Air reaching No. 2 on the Official New Zealand Music Charts behind Six60, while also selling more than 200 vinyl copies, selling out a national headline tour, and surpassing two million streams on Perfect Crime. On Check It Out, Where's Jai lean into the tension between love, attachment and limerence, capturing the intoxicating rush of a connection that burns brightly before disappearing, only to pull you back in again when summer returns.
Star Time — WE ARE HERE (ALBUM)
Pōneke collective Star Time have unveiled their debut album WE ARE HERE, an eight-track collection that captures the raw energy and infectious grooves that have made their live performances a standout on the local circuit. Written over the past two years and recorded live at The Surgery across 2024 and 2025, the album showcases the band's blend of blaring horn lines, driving percussion, and dancefloor-ready rhythms, while vocalist Francois Judah shares stories drawn from his journey from Rwanda to New Zealand. Following a headline performance at CubaDupa, an appearance on RNZ's NZ Live, and a sold-out show at San Fran alongside OdESSA, WE ARE HERE marks a significant milestone for Star Time and the beginning of their journey on record.
Office Dog — Prime Corner (ALBUM)
Tāmaki Makaurau indie rock trio Office Dog have returned with their second album Prime Corner, a guitar-driven collection that further develops the band's blend of jangly melodies, understated songwriting, and heavier alt-rock influences. Formed by Kane Strang alongside bassist Rassani Tolovaa and drummer Mitchell Innes, the group have steadily built momentum since the release of their debut album Spiel and the Doggerland EP, earning praise from outlets including Rolling Stone, Stereogum, Under the Radar, and The New Zealand Listener. Written largely while Strang was house-sitting in West Auckland and recorded at Roundhead Studios with producer De Stevens, Prime Corner explores themes of home, instability, and belonging, while showcasing both the softest and heaviest material the band have released to date as they prepare to take the album on a nationwide Aotearoa tour.
Katelyn Henshall — Take Me Away
Pōneke singer-songwriter Katelyn Henshall continues to establish herself as one of Wellington's emerging talents with the release of Take Me Away. Blending pop, R&B, and soul into what she describes as a "whiskey lounge soul" sound, Henshall pairs smoky, rich vocals with understated songwriting and expressive melodies. Known for her captivating live performances and poetic lyricism, Take Me Away showcases the qualities that have quickly made her a standout on the local scene, further highlighting a distinctive artistic voice that continues to gain momentum.
Logan Edwards — Belong to Someone Else (EP)
Logan Edwards has released his debut solo EP Belong to Someone Else, a deeply personal collection that blends alt-pop, indie rock, and soft-edged folk while exploring a period of emotional untethering. Previously known for his work as a guitarist and drummer in bands including The Beatniks, Ani Saafa, and Chump Change, Edwards never intended to become a solo artist, but found himself compelled to write and record the songs over the course of a single month in late 2025. The EP is accompanied by focus track Half Asleep, a lo-fi bedroom pop epilogue recorded live to tape in a single take, and follows the success of previous singles Isla and Worry, both of which reached the Official Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles Chart, with Isla also claiming the top spot on the SRN charts.
Bunchy's Big Score — Wanda's Bicycle (ALBUM)
Ōtepoti art rock outfit Bunchy's Big Score have unveiled their second album Wanda's Bicycle, a sprawling and emotionally charged collection that builds on the momentum of recent singles Oscar Says, You Are a Camera, and I Don't Wanna Dance. Recorded with Nick Roughan at South Link Studios and mixed and mastered by Hamish Waddell, the album sees the band moving effortlessly between noisy, full-throttle rock and intimate, reflective songwriting, with tracks such as The Sound and the Fury, Bad Things Could Happen, Quasimodo, and There Goes My Head showcasing the project's wide emotional and sonic range. Featuring a guest appearance from Robert Scott of The Bats, Wanda's Bicycle captures feelings of joy, love, sadness, curiosity, and spite, resulting in an ambitious record that further cements Bunchy's Big Score as one of the most exciting bands emerging from Aotearoa's independent music scene.
SUB-TRIBE, Casual Healing — Te Waka
Aotearoa progressive dub collective SUB-TRIBE return with Te Waka, a powerful new collaboration with Casual Healing that serves as the first single from their forthcoming EP MANA. Featuring Māori composer and multi-instrumentalist Nikau Te Huki, the track blends roots reggae, dub, and contemporary Māori influences while exploring themes of identity, connection, and collective responsibility through the metaphor of a shared waka journey. Since forming in 2017, SUB-TRIBE have built a loyal following across New Zealand and Australia through their fusion of reggae, dub, bass music, and Māori storytelling, and Te Waka marks the beginning of a new chapter for the group while continuing to honour whakapapa, cultural resilience, and connection to Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.
Killian Ordono — Kill The Sound! (ALBUM)
New Zealand independent artist Killian Ordono returns to his rap roots with the release of Kill The Sound!, his first dedicated rap album since New Era. Following the release of Sound earlier this year and a stylistic detour with Lovebomb, the 11-track project showcases Ordono's growth as both an artist and producer, combining energetic production, creative concepts, and a renewed focus on the genre that first inspired him to make music. Created over the past month as a challenge to further develop his songwriting, production, and recording skills, Kill The Sound! features tracks including Press Start, Kill Season, and Sky, highlighting a new stage in Ordono's artistic development while maintaining the independent spirit that has defined his work to date.
Mel Parsons — Not Enough
Indie folk artist Mel Parsons has unveiled Not Enough, the final preview of her forthcoming seventh studio album CASTLE HILL. Known for her emotionally resonant songwriting, Parsons explores themes of self-doubt and emotional exhaustion on the new single, balancing melancholy with an underlying sense of hope through gentle instrumentation and understated optimism. Following recent releases including Grain by Grain, Post High Slide, Brick By Brick, Be Here Now, Don't Leave The Light On, and Caravan, Parsons continues an impressive run that has included the acclaimed album SABOTAGE, touring with Crowded House, performances across Australia and Canada, and a finalist nomination for Best Folk Artist at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. With CASTLE HILL now on the horizon, Parsons is also preparing to take her new songs on a nationwide New Zealand tour later this year.
Luca George — Grow Down
New Zealand-born, London-based artist Luca George continues his rise in the alternative pop world with Grow Down, an upbeat cinematic pop single inspired by the wonder, imagination, and freedom of childhood. Following recent release Not Born For Love and the acclaimed EP Say Hi To Paula, the track was co-written with Gabrielle Aplin and Joseph Wander, and co-produced by Wander alongside Mike Spencer. With more than 6.9 million global streams, support from BBC Radio 1, Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Spotify and Apple Music, and recent performances including The Great Escape and Peach PRC's UK tour, Luca George has quickly established himself as one of Aotearoa's most exciting emerging exports, with Grow Down offering a nostalgic and heartfelt reflection on holding onto youthful wonder as life moves forward.
The Veils — Fragile World (ALBUM)
Tāmaki Makaurau band The Veils return with Fragile World, a new album that arrives just over a year after Asphodels and sees frontman Finn Andrews embracing a more urgent and energetic direction. Recorded live to tape in New Zealand with producer Tom Healy and engineer Paddy Hill, the album was created through an instinctive process with arrangements taking shape in the studio, resulting in a collection that moves between uplifting rock songs, fragile ballads, folk and country influences, and the band's first-ever recorded cover, Sinéad O'Connor's In This Heart. Featuring singles such as Lungs and Aurora, Fragile World explores both the uncertainty of the modern world and the delicate nature of the creative process itself, standing as one of the most ambitious and diverse releases in The Veils' catalogue to date.
alayna — Braveheart
alayna revisits one of the most personal moments from her album Set Her Free with the release of Braveheart, a song centred on self-love, self-accountability, and the often unseen work of personal growth. Released as part of her acclaimed sophomore album, Braveheart sits within a collection of songs exploring different forms of love, from romantic connection and womanhood to the relationship we have with ourselves. Following the success of Self Portrait of a Woman Unravelling and a catalogue that has amassed more than 85 million streams, alayna continues to connect with listeners through deeply reflective songwriting, with Braveheart standing as one of the most emotionally revealing tracks on Set Her Free.
Salem Māhia — A girl named Abigail
Tairāwhiti singer-songwriter Salem Māhia has unveiled the official music video for A Girl Named Abigail, bringing new life to one of the most personal songs in his growing catalogue. Originally released after winning the 2025 Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition, the track was recorded at Big Fan with producer Noema Te Hau III and reflects on the loss of Salem's aunt Keri, who passed away from cancer when he was a young child. Still only 17, Māhia has already established himself as one of Aotearoa's most promising emerging artists through success in Play It Strange, Smokefree Rockquest, Tangata Beats and national television competition 5 Minutes of Fame, with the new video offering a powerful visual companion to a song that remains deeply meaningful to both the artist and his whānau.
Caru, Brandn Shiraz — Two for Two (EP)
Aotearoa electronic artists Caru and Brandn Shiraz have returned with Two For Two, a five-track collaborative EP that builds on the momentum of their award-winning 2025 release Back 2 Back, which earned the pair the Best Electronic Artist award at the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. Drawing inspiration from UK garage, broken beat, UK funky, dubstep and grime, the project blends club-focused production with immersive songwriting, pairing Caru's detailed production style with Brandn Shiraz's distinctive vocal delivery and influences from UK sound system culture. Following a summer that saw the duo perform at festivals including Northern Bass, Matakanarama and Twisted Frequency, Two For Two expands on the sound they established with their previous EP while showcasing a deeper exploration of the UK dance music traditions that continue to shape their work.
