New Music 28/08
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Ms. Mia — Still Here
Manila-born, Auckland-based singer-songwriter Ms. Mia creates cinematic contemporary pop that blends expressive vocals, live instrumentation and emotionally honest storytelling, with her previous releases receiving support from The 13th Floor, Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Juice TV, RDU 98.5FM and Radio One 91FM. Her new single Still Here is an uplifting anthem about making up for lost time after life’s setbacks, growing from an intimate piano ballad into a cinematic pop track featuring live drums, bass, sweeping strings and layered harmonies. Produced and mixed by Clarissa Chai and mastered by Dave Rhodes, the song centres on choosing hope over regret and recognising that while the past cannot be changed, the future is still ours to shape.
Vada Swan — Ooh La La
Auckland-born and raised alternative pop artist Vada Swan, formerly known as Kelly Mayz, is a singer-songwriter and self-taught musician whose music balances melancholy with euphoria through emotional vocals, experimental bass and cinematic production. Her debut single Ooh La La, produced alongside local producer CXV, was originally written when she was 17 before being revisited at 21, bringing together youthful vulnerability with the perspective gained through personal growth. Inspired by the cinematic and electronic sounds of The Weeknd, the track explores the pain of a toxic, one-sided relationship through an atmospheric and emotionally charged alternative electro-pop sound.
The Dorado Experiment — Becoming A Man (ALBUM)
Whakatū Nelson psychedelic rock band The Dorado Experiment formed in 2024 and have built their sound around improvisation, audience connection and the spontaneity of live performance, drawing influence from classic rock, psychedelic music and jam bands. Their debut album Becoming a Man brings that energy into a recorded format for the first time, exploring themes of growth, self-discovery, challenge and transformation while balancing structured songwriting with the spirit of exploration that defines their live shows. With the album now out, the band are taking the next step in introducing their music to audiences across Aotearoa and beyond while remaining grounded in the community and creative values that shaped them.
BEX — The View
BEX continues her move into electronic pop with The View, following recent releases I luv my boy and Make It Louder. The new track takes inspiration from Miley Cyrus’ The Climb, with BEX describing it as a song about the hit single itself. The View adds another release to BEX’s evolving electronic pop sound, built around the infectious synths, bass-heavy production and club-ready energy of her upcoming debut project.
SorchaLula — Why So Far (feat. Merlin Webster)
Originally from the Isle of Man and part of Wellington’s creative community since 2011, electronic artist and DJ SorchaLula draws on her background in dance and visual art to create bass-driven music that moves across breaks, bass and experimental house. Known for her sensual DJ sets and intimate dancefloors, she now makes her debut with Why So Far, an experimental take on deep house featuring multi-instrumentalist Merlin Webster, the solo alias of Tim Key from Newtown Rocksteady and Sam Manzanza’s Afrobeat Band. Pairing intricate percussion, atmospheric detail and deep physical grooves with Webster’s yearning guitar melody, Why So Far introduces SorchaLula’s production style through a balance of electronic textures and organic instrumentation.
ANTOINE AUDONNET — LOADED GUN
Antoine Audonnet steps into a darker new chapter with Loaded Gun, a darkwave-inspired and almost gothic single that marks a significant departure from his previous work. Exploring the dangerous tension of a volatile relationship built on attraction, fear, uncertainty and emotional distance, the song centres on the feeling of holding onto someone who may already be slipping away. Loaded Gun is also Antoine’s debut self-produced release, with the artist taking full creative control as he experiments with a darker, more intimate and intense sonic direction.
Banjo Ben and the Breeze — Umbrella
Wellington-based alternative folk outfit Banjo Ben and The Breeze blend theatrical storytelling with high-energy musicianship, drawing on acoustic traditions while taking an unconventional approach to arrangement and songwriting. Following a run of local gigs, touring and festival appearances, the band have made their recorded debut with Umbrella, a comedic indie-folk track telling the chaotic story of a domino effect sparked by the simple purchase of an umbrella in the windy city. Recorded with sound engineer Thomas Clark, the single moves from an upbeat, danceable tune into a whirlwind of mandolin scales and rapid percussion, with the band also set to make their first Free Eyegum appearance at San Fran.
Lucy Gray — The bug
Lucy Gray is a singer-songwriter whose music blends storytelling with themes of nostalgia, coming of age and mental health, having built an audience of nearly 100,000 across social media while supporting international acts in Aotearoa and Australia and now heading out on their own Australian tour. Their new single The Bug is an introspective, bubbly yet grungey track about the challenges of growing up in the digital world, using the idea of a physical sickness to explore their experience of living with OCD. The song is the second-to-last single from Gray’s upcoming project, which will be followed by an Aotearoa and Australia tour later this year.
emerson — Leap! (EP)
Aotearoa pop artist emerson has built a following across New Zealand and Australia since winning the Smokefree Rockquest Solo-Duo Award in 2024, earning attention for her infectious hooks, honest lyricism and electric live energy. Her eight-song debut EP Leap! captures the messy and deeply personal experience of being a teenager, exploring themes of self-doubt, self-motivation and the different ways she has given and taken love. Named after the leap of faith emerson took in starting her solo project, Leap! is a celebration of taking chances and stepping into the unknown, with the release also accompanied by her first headline tour.
