New Music 23/10
Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature!
Dillon Jo — Guard Dog (ALBUM)
Te Whanganui-a-Tara four-piece Dillon Jo are set to release their debut album Guard Dog, bringing together dreamy shoegaze, alternative rock and melodic pop. The queer, female-fronted band formed in 2025 and features Betty Smith, Georgie Levien, Kahu Sanson-Burnett and Ruadh Munro, with their songwriting exploring queer love, mental health, relationships and the growing pains of finding your place in your twenties. Featuring previously released singles Shiver, Vertigo and Drift, Guard Dog moves between hazy guitars, explosive rock and more vulnerable moments, with the band celebrating its release at Wellington’s San Fran.
You can read my interview with Dillon Jo here.
Greta van den Brink — Valentina
Tāmaki Makaurau Americana and country-rock artist Greta van den Brink returns with Valentina, a dark, cinematic single following her debut album This Wasn’t Planned. Trading personal storytelling for a fictional tale of tequila, secrets and dangerous encounters in a sunburnt border town, the track draws on Greta’s background in screen and stunt work to create a song that feels like a scene from a neo-Western film. While retaining the Americana and country-rock influences of her earlier work, Valentina pushes her sound into more mysterious territory, leaving listeners to piece together the story for themselves.
Becca Caffyn — Kicker
New Zealand-born, London-based singer-songwriter Becca Caffyn returns with Kicker, the second single from her upcoming EP Isn’t It Romantic?. Blending indie-folk with an atmospheric full-band sound, the track explores the uncertainty of new relationships and the challenge of separating genuine warning signs from personal anxieties, pairing candid lyrics with unpolished guitars, lively percussion and an infectious chorus. Following her earlier EPs The Replacement Blonde and Hallways, which featured the award-winning title track Hallways, Caffyn continues her confessional approach to songwriting with a track that balances relationship doubts with a more upbeat sound.
SUB-TRIBE — MANA (EP)
Sydney-based Aotearoa collective SUB-TRIBE return with MANA, a six-track EP blending roots reggae and dub with electronic production, Afro-future R&B and bass-driven sound system culture, with te reo Māori woven throughout. The release follows a busy run of sold-out Australian shows and performances alongside SIX60, as the seven-piece continues to build its audience across Aotearoa and Australia. Lead single Te Waka, featuring Casual Healing, has topped the Te Reo Māori Radio Airplay Charts for more than 13 weeks, while the band has also been announced for Electric Avenue and Homegrown in 2027.
Some Distance — QT
Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland four-piece Some Distance blend modern pop punk, Midwest emo and 2000s post-hardcore. Formed in 2024, the band brings together longtime friends and collaborators from the New Zealand and Australian music scenes, writing emotionally driven songs that make room for vulnerability. Their latest single QT is the first taste of their sophomore EP Waiting Rooms, showcasing the band’s mix of raw emotion and energetic alternative rock.
Triggar Happy — Johnny Cash Outlaw
Ōtorohanga-raised country-rock singer-songwriter Triggar Happy returns with Johnny Cash Outlaw, a track about feeling like an outsider and finding the confidence to forge your own path. Blending country, rock and hip hop country, Triggar has built a growing catalogue of releases including Zombies, Cowboy Power Rock and Sundown, alongside two albums that reached #1 on the Official Top 20 Aotearoa/New Zealand Album Chart. Drawing on his own journey from farming to pursuing music full-time, Johnny Cash Outlaw encourages listeners to embrace what makes them different and back themselves.
Her Dead Bride — Phantom
Wellington band Her Dead Bride make their debut with Phantom, a shoegaze and dream-pop track shaped by loss, memory and lingering pain. After a year of bringing their noise to Wellington’s music scene, the four-piece deliver a slow, melancholic opening that builds into a gut-wrenching middle and emotional climax. Exploring the feeling of being haunted by someone rather than simply being ghosted, Phantom offers a first taste of the band’s sound.
Vanessa Tottle — Split Decision
Auckland-based independent electronic producer and vocalist Vanessa Tottle blends the hypnotic sounds of ’90s trip-hop with modern darkwave production on her latest single, Split Decision. Written and produced entirely at her home studio, June Baby Studios, the track explores the crossroads between fighting back and walking away after betrayal, pairing brooding basslines and atmospheric synths with her soaring vocals. Combining heartbreak with fierce resilience, the release showcases Vanessa’s cinematic production and raw emotional delivery.
Butter Wouldn't Melt — Nettle Song
Wellington folk five-piece Butter Wouldn’t Melt return with Nettle Song, a haunting new single that blends Americana, bluegrass and classic folk with the group’s signature vocal harmonies. Following their acclaimed albums 1931 and Where the Roots Grow Deep, the Aotearoa Music Awards finalists draw inspiration from the hidden dangers of Aotearoa’s bush, exploring the fragility of life through the story of the deadly native nettle, Urtica ferox. Recorded live in the studio using acoustic instruments and voices, the track marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band, with more new music on the horizon and upcoming shows, including a single release party in Wellington.
Joe Sefa — Blue Arms
Massey University student Joe Sefa, the musical project of Josh Blackman, makes his debut with Blue Arms, a ten-minute track built around intricate samples and layered ambient textures. Weaving nostalgic atmospheres with lyrics reflecting on youth, the single takes a linear songwriting approach while exploring the boundaries of the influences that first inspired him to create. Blue Arms offers a first glimpse into a wider body of work set to arrive in the new year.
The Datsuns — Glide Like A Ghost
Rock veterans The Datsuns return with Glide Like A Ghost, the latest single from their upcoming eighth studio album, Moonstruck Man. Blending ’70s heavy metal and psychedelic rock with modern stoner rock, the track delivers fuzzy guitars, swaggering desert-rock riffs and a punchy garage-punk attitude. Following the album’s title track and previous single Run From The Sun, Glide Like A Ghost offers another dose of the band’s riff-heavy, unpredictable rock ’n’ roll.
Bluehouse — Common Sense
Pōneke alt-rock group Bluehouse follow up their debut single, Cinderblocks, with Common Sense, a fierce new track from their upcoming debut EP. Built around distorted vocals and a catchy guitar riff, the song explores a connection that has soured through arrogance and apathy, with frontwoman Grace Straker delivering poignant lyrics over an irresistible melody. Driven by Esme McKeefry’s shoegaze-esque guitar, Lucy Heath’s groovy bass and Floyd Marsden’s powerful drums and backing vocals, the collaboratively written track has already become a crowd favourite at the band’s live shows.
Fiona & The Glow — While I Drift
Fiona & The Glow are an emerging indie-rock and neo-folk band fronted by singer-songwriter Fiona McMartin, known for their compelling songwriting and dynamic live presence. The group continues to explore their sonic palette with While I Drift, the second single from their upcoming three-track EP Infinity, building from evocative vocals and a rich arrangement that moves between restraint and an expansive sound. The track follows the EP’s title single, with final single Sunshine set to arrive alongside the full EP.
The Sour — You
Tāmaki Makaurau grunge-rock four-piece The Sour share a new music video for You, a standout track from their debut EP Daughters. Blending fuzz-fuelled riffs, gritty hooks and unapologetic attitude, the band celebrate wāhine, whakapapa and friendship through their loud, heavy sound. Featuring candid footage from the band’s shows and promo across Tāmaki Makaurau and Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the video captures the bond between four wāhine brought together by their love of making music.
ORPHEU5 — Stardust
Ōtepoti artist ORPHEU5 (Dragon Winikoff) returns with Stardust, a slow, meditative alt-pop track exploring isolation, withdrawal and self-contemplation. A shift in vibe from his previous releases, the track takes a more introspective approach, stepping away from the project's usual fusion of EDM and rock. Alongside the release, Winikoff shares his first music video, offering a new perspective on the evolving sound of ORPHEU5.
Blak3yjnr — S3LF TITLED (EP)
Porirua hip hop artist and producer Blak3yjnr (Angus Blake) blends trap, ethereal sounds and 2000s-inspired beats with late-night vibes and emotional undertones. Following the release of his album Deepthoughts earlier this year, alongside singles L!GHT and TWO AM, he continues to develop his sound with his latest EP, S3LF TITLED.
Two Dollar Trio — The Interesting Sounds Of Two Dollar Trio (ALBUM)
Bringing together Adam Hattaway, Dillon Feeney and Nick Armstrong, Two Dollar Trio make their debut with The Interesting Sounds Of Two Dollar Trio, an album rooted in country and folk songwriting. Having previously worked across projects including Adam Hattaway and The Haunters, Sin City, The Cavemen, D.Feeney and Smokestack Slim, the trio combine country guitars and heartfelt harmonies with a warm, 1970s-inspired sound. Recorded across Melbourne/Naarm and Christchurch/Ōtautahi, the album moves between bittersweet storytelling, Celtic influences and rock ’n’ roll energy, with the group also planning to tour New Zealand’s country halls and smaller towns.
Bhozy — Lost Cause Ft. 4Sayken
West Auckland rapper 4Sayken (Jimmy McFarland) blends sharp battle-rap lyricism with hip-hop storytelling, bringing his underground bars and freestyles to audiences through platforms such as 1OUTS AKL and viral music content. With over a decade of experience writing, mixing, mastering and performing his music, he has opened for international acts including Tech N9ne, Obie Trice, Rittz, Devilman and Madchild. He features on Lost Cause, a collaboration with Bhozy that explores feelings of being lost and the pressure of pursuing a career in music.
Alvina — new year's eve
Ōtautahi Christchurch artist Alvina (Alvina Lau) returns with new year’s eve, a reflective single exploring the ache of loving someone you’re slowly losing. Capturing the feeling of holding onto love when things are no longer the same, the track explores the uncertainty and sadness of watching a relationship change while the feelings remain.
