AAAAAAAA, what a winner of a song!

Play For Keeps, formerly monickered Ellie Oak, are a Christchurch-based five-piece indie band, and when I say indie I mean INDIE. This is totally up my street! I am going to gush.

Play For Keeps single Handsome Boy gives us a light melody that’s catchy, swinging, commercial and emotive all at once. With the potent tenor of lead vocalist/rhythm gat player Simon Hart we get something akin to The La‘s crossed with the Boo Radleys, but uniquely his own. The guitar he wields holds the bottom end to the lead guitar work of Rob Grover to perfection. Speaking of, the lead work is disarming and pinpoint. It’s got the right level of jangly, complimenting the rhythm section nicely.

Tim Cederman on bass and drummer Andy Gibbs provide a silky bottom end that’s full and fluid. It’s lively and bounces, and their collective backing vocals – along with those of keys player Nic Hart – augment the lead vocal in a really whimsical, pleasing way. This is something that invokes in me memories of pre-Oasis indie rock: the days of Stone Roses, Supergrass and James. That’s just for context as to what to expect – this is no tribute act. This is original as all hell, and very 2026.

Studio desk pilot Tom Healey knows his way around the knob twiddling role, and he’s made this well-crafted song really stand out with a delectable mix. It’s ethereal yet full-on, mellow yet up-tempo. Lovely timbre to the voices, which blend really nicely, and a great balance to the tools in use.

As to the lyrical storyline, I’ll let them tell us. Take from the EPK:

‘Handsome Boy’ is an indie-pop-rock gem that cleverly presents a lighthearted tongue-in-cheek analysis on the rise of ‘yes-man’ culture; but beneath the upbeat hooks and sing-a-long melodies lies a serious message. “It’s a playful piss-take of blind loyalty and unchecked admiration, exploring how power grows most dangerous when no one dares to challenge it,” explains singer and guitarist, Simon Hart.

The vid for it is a gem. Nick Kowalski Film has provided it for us, but I won’t add spoilers. I’ll just say it’s again right up my street with regard to what I like in a music vid. Lighting is lush. Cameras are done well in that they’ve made it look easy – which in itself is a trick! It’s on YouTube and will be available from Friday 13th, when the audio goes out on all platforms.

You’ll 100% love this if you’re a fan of light indie rock/pop with a message and a wink. It’s a surefire radio playlister across the genres, and across commercial and regional radio. Enjoy this across the gamut of situations – road trip, live, gym/run, party, and on it goes.

Friday 13th isn’t going to be unlucky for Play For Keeps. Not with this level of product.