New Music 30/10

This week brings a mix of new sounds, from cinematic alt-rock by Double Parked to soulful new music from TEEKS. Furo 4404 shares his debut album Big 40 Not The Little One, while Juna celebrate their debut EP she’s coming over again, both following interviews with Roots. Elsewhere, Fine Wine Social Club and Pieces of Molly deliver new albums, while artists including Lucy Summerfield, STARHEAD and Blindspott explore everything from connection and identity to darker, heavier sounds.

Are you a Kiwi artist with a new song coming out? Send me a message at ryanfromroots@gmail.com to get a feature!

Double Parked — Never To Be Seen

Double Parked begin a new era with Never To Be Seen, a cinematic new single exploring the feeling of not being enough and chasing something that always seems just out of reach. Blending their signature post-surf sound with indie and alternative influences, the track builds from a grand, cello-led introduction into layered guitars, intertwining vocals and a soaring final riff. Following their 2026 EP Rosary and tours across New Zealand and Australia, the band continue to push their surf-rock roots into new territory.

You can read my interview with Double Parked here.

Furo 4404 — Big 40 Not The Little One (ALBUM)

South African-born, New Zealand-raised artist Furo 4404 introduces himself with his debut 13-track album Big 40 Not The Little One, bringing together influences from hip-hop, Afrobeats, house and pop. Drawing on his Zimbabwean roots and experiences growing up between South Africa and New Zealand, the album explores relationships, heartbreak, friendship, family and the ups and downs of everyday life. Blending melodic flows with a versatile sound, Furo uses the project to showcase his growth as an artist and give listeners a deeper understanding of the person behind the music.

You can read my interview with Furo 4404 here.

Juna — she's coming over again (EP)

Wellington pop-rock four-piece Juna share their debut EP she’s coming over again, a chronological story of a relationship from the first spark of attraction to its bittersweet end. Written largely around the relationship between guitarist Max and vocalist Hannah, the EP brings together songs they wrote for each other, closing with missing you (all the time), a track inspired by drummer Hayden’s past relationship that pairs heartbreak with a sense of hope and new beginnings. With a seven-date national tour ahead and upcoming appearances at Brooklyn Twilight Festival, Rhythm and Vines, and Courtenay Carnival, Juna are ready to bring the EP to audiences across Aotearoa.

You can read my interview with Juna here.

Lucy Summerfield — He aha tāku

Pōneke-based Lucy Summerfield is a singer-songwriter whose music explores community, culture and connection. Her latest single He aha tāku is her first bilingual waiata, featuring lyrics in te reo Māori and English as two distinct but equal expressions, rather than one being a translation of the other. Inspired by the 2024 hīkoi in Wellington, the song shifts from an initial idea for a protest anthem into a hopeful celebration of people coming together, featuring contributions from local musicians including Danica Bryant, kloey, Nick Potts and Riva Cowan of Nameless and Brainless, Hazel Elder and Toby Sussex. It is the third and final single ahead of her debut EP We are learning too.

Flax — Amnesia

Auckland alternative rock five-piece Flax, formerly known as Flaxxies, return with Amnesia, the second single from their upcoming EP Teething. Exploring the realisation that something needs to change after losing people close to you, the track reflects on chasing bigger nights and constantly wanting more without knowing when enough is enough. After years of touring Aotearoa and a year away from the stage to focus on writing and recording, the band step into a new chapter with a more refined and mature sound.

LATE 90s, Coast Arcade — Can You Feel?

Auckland indie-rock band Coast Arcade team up with Perth alt-rockers LATE 90s for Can You Feel?, a cross-Tasman collaboration bringing together two bands inspired by the guitar-driven sounds of the ’90s and early 2000s. The release marks Coast Arcade’s first new music since their self-titled album last year, as they join forces with the Australian four-piece known for their blend of ’90s nostalgia and contemporary alternative rock.

Blindspott — Stitches

West Auckland heavy rock band Blindspott return with Stitches, an intense new single exploring the darker side of love and the struggle to break free from a relationship that has become a source of dependency. Driven by powerful guitar riffs and clean vocals, the track follows the shift from desire to dread, finding the strength to finally walk away. The release comes after the band made history by taking out the number one spot in the 2026 Rock 2000 with Nil By Mouth, as they build towards their third studio album, Volumes.

January Blue — Sha La La

Wellington singer-songwriter January Blue brings a playful, retro-pop sound to Sha La La, a sun-soaked single about post-breakup regret, moving on and discovering an ex wants you back a little too late. Breezy guitars, bright brass and doo-wop-inspired hooks give the track a feel-good summer sound, contrasting with the heartbreak beneath the lyrics. Following on from her previous single Boys Club, the track continues the story of a woman finding her feet after a relationship ends, becoming the second chapter in a planned four-track EP.

missrosevalentina, Alaia Amor — Ghosts

missrosevalentina teams up with debut artist Alaia Amor on Ghosts, a dark pop and electronic pop single drawing inspiration from Lady Gaga’s The Fame and The Fame Monster eras. Blending sinister electronic production, catchy hooks and late-night club energy, the track explores toxic attraction, emotional games and the difficulty of leaving the past behind. The single is the final preview of missrosevalentina’s forthcoming album rose <3.

NOPILOT — On and On

Ōtautahi Christchurch alternative rock band NOPILOT return with On and On, the fourth single from their upcoming debut album Fear and Laughter. Driven by high-energy guitars, the track reflects on the state of the world and humanity’s tendency to repeat the same mistakes, drawing on the weight of early Queens of the Stone Age and the theatrical edge of My Chemical Romance. Formed in Christchurch in 2026, the four-piece have already picked up airplay across The Rock, Radio Hauraki, BayRock and local and student radio, ahead of their self-produced debut album arriving in late November.

Fine Wine Social Club — Sangria (ALBUM)

Pōneke neo-soul seven-piece Fine Wine Social Club release their debut album Sangria, bringing together eight tracks shaped by the band’s musical evolution and their distinctive Wellington sound. Moving between neo-soul, jazz fusion, reggae and dub, synth-pop, house and even metal, the album showcases the group’s willingness to experiment across genres, with performances from current and former members. Following their first North Island tour and a 20-show run at World of WearableArt, Fine Wine Social Club are ready to share the next chapter of their ever-evolving sound.

Pieces of Molly — DON’T TAKE ME TO THE DISCO (ALBUM)

Christchurch rock ’n’ roll four-piece Pieces Of Molly get loud, scrappy and unhinged on their sophomore album DON’T TAKE ME TO THE DISCO, capturing the high-energy feel of their live shows. Recorded at The Lab in Auckland, mixed by Chris ‘Frenchie’ Smith and mastered at Kog Studios, the album features the filthy rock ’n’ roll single Gatecreeper, alongside previously released tracks Alligator and Skinwalker. With support from NZ rock radio and a UK tour supporting British heavy metal band ASOMVEL on the horizon, Pieces Of Molly continue to take their no-holds-barred sound further afield.

Lily Linscott — Love, Your Little Girl

Brisbane-based New Zealand singer-songwriter Lily Linscott returns with Love, Your Little Girl, a synth-pop ballad exploring anticipatory grief, regret and the fear of losing someone close. Written after receiving a call that her dad had suffered a major heart attack, the song reflects on their relationship and the realisation that growing older means facing the possibility of losing the people who have supported you most. Having raised Lily as a single father and supported her dream of becoming an artist, he is at the heart of this deeply personal release, which captures the longing to return to a time when life felt simpler and the future less uncertain.

qway — Worst of Me

Auckland artist qway blends emo rap and alternative pop on Worst of Me, a single exploring a relationship where someone wants you at your lowest but pulls away when you try to get better. Writing about relationships, self-destruction and leaving old versions of yourself behind, qway uses the track as one of three opening singles from an album in progress, alongside Born Cold and Expensive Uber.

Cedd — Pamela Anderson

Tāmaki Makaurau artist Cedd explores queer desire, identity and disillusionment on Pamela Anderson, an alt-pop ballad drawing on the sentimentality of ’90s ballads. Restrained vocals sit alongside synth drones, strings and shimmering harmonies before opening into a theatrical, camp chorus, using Pamela Anderson as a symbol of both fantasy and truth. Blending contemporary art-pop with a love of opera and classic Hollywood, Cedd creates an intimate, emotionally driven sound that explores the strange and tender sides of being human.

Sid Diamond — Trapdoor

Sid Diamond, formerly known as Young Sid, is known for his honest storytelling and exploration of Māori and Cook Islands identity. A founding member of Smashproof, the group behind Brother, he has built a solo career with albums The Truth and What Doesn’t Kill Me, exploring themes of survival, fatherhood and generational trauma. His latest single Trapdoor closes his nine-track album Everything with a deeply personal reflection on unresolved pain and moving forward, ending with a karakia centred on releasing the past, restoring balance and finding hope for his whānau.

ÐЯЭΛԁᵽāII — AFTER//HEAVEN

Based in King Country/Rohe Pootae, ÐЯЭΛԁᵽāII is a dark experimental electronic artist exploring duality, perception and transformation through interconnected releases. Their latest track AFTER//HEAVEN is taken from their upcoming third album of the same name, continuing an approach that explores different perspectives within a shared musical universe. The track follows a character attempting to reach heaven through sonic violence, questioning whether that pursuit creates another form of ruin.

Gareth Thomas — Bits (ALBUM)

Gareth Thomas, founding member of Goodshirt and Fazerdaze, brings a playful, eclectic approach to his latest album Bits, exploring heartbreak, grief and getting older with humour and tenderness. Featuring tracks such as Cyber Star, Love Resume and My Dog, the album balances melancholic reflections with colourful arrangements and a rediscovered creative spark, alongside the single Therapy Cat, inspired by the companionship of his cat Freyja during lockdown. Thomas created the album’s vibrant, 8-bit-inspired artwork himself and will celebrate Bits with live shows across Aotearoa, including an Auckland album release show at BIG FAN with Echomatica.

SorchaLula — F*ckwork

Producer and DJ SorchaLula has been building a following in the underground bass scene, with performances at festivals including Northern Bass, Shipwrecked, AUM and Twisted Frequency. Her latest single F*ckwork is the third release from her forthcoming debut EP, exploring a heavier sound built around a deep 808 pulse, layered percussion and spacious production. Inspired by South American and African rhythms, the track began as an experiment with footwork before evolving into a slower, bass-heavy groove designed for clubs, festivals and DJ sets.

STARHEAD — Borrowed Bones

Wanaka-based STARHEAD is the solo project of multi-instrumentalist, producer and songwriter Julia Sternkopf, blending shimmering pop melodies with distorted guitars, cinematic textures and heavier elements. Her latest single Borrowed Bones is an atmospheric alt-rock track that builds with an unsettling, cinematic tension before landing in a heavy finale. Using spooky imagery to explore a one-sided friendship where one person continually takes without giving back, the track pairs its darker themes with a fitting Halloween atmosphere.

TEEKS — Lovers Comet (ALBUM)

TEEKS, the Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Ranginui soul artist, returns with Lovers Comet, his long-awaited second album and follow-up to his platinum-certified, chart-topping debut Something To Feel. Across 12 tracks, TEEKS explores love, desire, sexuality and identity, embracing a more liberated sound while challenging traditional ideas of masculinity and celebrating queer sensuality. Led by focus track Headlights, which pairs nostalgic ’80s influences with a message about choosing yourself and leaving an unhealthy relationship, the album marks a deeply personal new chapter for one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated voices.