Music
South Aucklanders on how Jawsh685 is changing the perception of their area
'Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat)' has hit 1 billion TikTok streams.
Mazbou Q empowers Black pride in his latest release
Hugh Ozumba has been making music since he was four. Better known by his stage name Mazbou Q, the Manurewa-raised artist and producer began with the…
Soul singer Teeks shows us what longing looks and sounds like
The music video to ‘Without You’ by Teeks opens with him walking down a dusty gravel road in the Hokianga. To outsiders, it could be a…
Exclusive: Paige shares her new music video and why she loves South Auckland
We premiere Paige's music video for 'Waves', and hear why she has big love for South Auckland.
My Māori new year’s resolution is to stop spending time with people who drain my mana
In this month’s edition of Māori and the City, Tayi Tibble talks about ways to protect your wairua and mana.
The first time I ever heard the…
Auckland rapper/actor/geography student Hans. shares his new music video
Auckland rapper Hans.’ new music video features the acting talent of Hans., Hans., Hans. and Hans.
Revel in gay, sparkly 90s love with Milly Tabak & The Miltones’ new single
Milly Tabak & The Miltones’ new track ‘Liven Up The Night’ opens with the line, “Is this street dark enough?” It’s a sensible question for those…
Watch out for NZ rap competition winner RAAJ
Meet RAAJ, an upcoming talent in our underground hip hop scene. The Red Bull Next winner joins Church and Smoke in the studio to cook up…
Pop duo Foley show us their hidden talent: ranking Birkenstocks
Auckland indie-pop duo Foley exercise their footwear critiquing skills, and review a handsome selection of Birkenstocks. Which Birk comes on top in Comfort, Utility and Fashion?
Many…
Team Dynamite share their soothing new track ‘Dragon Fruit’
One of the first scenes of the ‘Dragon Fruit’ music video is Lucky Lance standing half-submerged at the bottom of a waterfall, fully clothed, in a…
NZ music festivals have no excuse for lack of gender diversity
The usual defences of lack of supply or lack of demand for non-male acts don't cut it anymore.
Benee's bandmates on the hunt for the next pop star
Tiare Kelly and Dylan Clark play guitar and bass for one of New Zealand’s biggest pop stars, Benee, at the same time as being third-year music…
Release of the week: teen punks Sit Down In Front talk first world problems
Teen punks Sit Down In Front's music will be ringing out across New Zealand with the release of their album Confessions Of A Pie Thief. The…
Bailey Wiley on the power of your family calling you out for your bullsh*t
Last year, Bailey Wiley won the NZ Music Award for Best Soul/RnB Artist. At the time, her baby girl was five weeks old. We join Bailey…
Troy Kingi spent a year researching his Taite Award-winning album, then wrote it in two weeks
Troy Kingi has committed to writing ten albums in ten genres in ten years. Fresh off a Taite Music Prize win - one of the most…
Revealed: New Zealand's top five underground rappers, judged by Smoke and Church
Red Bull is searching for the next big thing in New Zealand hip hop. Here's an exclusive look at the five finalists chosen by Church (Church and…
How to make a beat with SWIDT producer Smokeygotbeatz
Whether it's some snare drums or a packet of Yum Yum noodles, SWIDT producer Smokeygotbeatz knows how to use sounds to create a bouncy, catchy beat.…
Sound Check: HIGH HØØPS on how NZ music can emerge stronger from Covid
The music industry is suffering, but it might emerge from this pandemic stronger than before.
Sound Check: Randa rejects the productivity myth
And they talk gender identity, and dealing with OCD before and during Covid.
Sound Check: Folk singer Holly Arrowsmith is rebuilding a housebus and her dreams
All of Holly's shows for the year are cancelled, so now she's turning an old bus into a house.
Live music's fight to survive Covid-19
It's estimated the NZ live music industry has lost $68 million due to Covid-19. Musicians, venue owners and all those who love music are rallying us…
Sound Check: Indie-pop duo Imugi 이무기
Yery and Carl tell us how they're looking after themselves as the music industry slows down.
Melodownz turned self-affirmations into a catchy hook
During a rough time in his life, Melodownz repeated positive affirmations to himself in the mirror. Then he realised the mantras made a pretty sweet hook.…
Sound Check: Merk carries on
We check in with artists who were on the verge of breakthroughs - before a global pandemic happened.
Release of the Week: Kita takes us into 89 lockdown houses around the globe in their latest video
There are fewer phrases more appropriate to this moment than “try to find a way”.
When Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant , Ed Zuccollo and Rick Cranson of Wellington…
5 things we learnt about JessB in our IG live chat
It's NZ Music Month and we're having lunchtime chats on the gram with NZ artists! First up, we talk durags from AliExpress and being creative during…
How Church & AP are making it work during Covid-19
“There’s not a lot of interesting things in the world to talk about right now apart from Covid-19,” says Church from the Tāmaki Makaurau rap duo…
New music release: Paige colours her wairua yellow
Imagine the aura or the energy that you’re giving off right now. If that aura had a colour, what would it be?
Auckland singer-songwriter Paige has released…
New release: Adam Hattaway and the Haunters’ “woozy swamp ballad” hits the spot
“I want to make music that's classic and kind of hits the spot,” says Adam Hattaway.
There’s a repeated motif in Adam Hattaway and the Haunters’ new…
New release: How to be The Beths in four easy steps!
The Beths make music that is jubilant, neurotic, carefree and anxious. I revisited their debut album Future Me Hates Me during a state-sanctioned walk around my…