Ocean Beach is releasing a new single every first day of the month. So far, thanks to using a previous laptop that would not look out of place as a prop in a steampunk movie, I missed September’s release – but I will retrospectively review that one. I love their 1st October release, Be Together.…

Hawkes Bay’s alt-rockers Say Or Do return with new single Take My Hand, due for release on the platforms on 11th October. It’s the appetiser for their forthcoming EP, due in early 2025. They definitely stay true to their self-described genre blend of alt-rock energy and skate-punk with this track. Vocally astute with a pop-punky…

Great to hear from the awesome and versatile Swerve City! These guys are bringing us a new EP launch soon, which you’ll see noted elsewhere on this site. From it I am reviewing focus single Avalanche. We start off with a nicely up-tempo (but not frenetically so) driving some great guitar picking. Anchored by a…

Hmmm, I wonder who these guys are, and whether they’ll ever make it… 😉 Nah, I am thrilled to get to review some Salmonella Dub. Single Hands In The Soil is on release now, with guests Troy Kingi and Whirimako Black. As we know, Dub has been an ever present sound around the South Pacific,…

I find myself often saying “I love this band” or “I’m a big fan of that band”. I’m in a truly privileged position of being given wonderful new music to hear – generally before the release date, unless my laptop decides to finally die, ahem! – and I get to tell you about what I…

Wow! What would happen if Patti Smith and Avril Lavigne fell into a blender? You’d get Emma Dilemma, that’s what! With one of the most in-your-face releases I’ve come across recently in new single Libra, Ōtautahi native but Los Angeles based Emma has a brash sound that concords out of the headphones, giving you the…

Well now, Auckland pop singer Bex returns with a new direction combining some surprising genres into a blend that certainly retains the entertainment factor she’s been synonymous with to date. While the new track Clearly is not out until 4th October, allow me to provide some mild spoilers… We have ourselves a great, almost dream-poppy…

We have a new duo popping up on the radar. Auckland based Half Volley consists of Nick Pearson and Adrian Drew, and they bring us an iconic New Zealand anthem in Blue Smoke, worked for the newly arising A League team Auckland FC, hoping to give them an inspirational anthem as they begin their journey.…

Hailing from Tāmaki Makaurau, Ra Charmian is a favourite of mine in her diversity of styles that she manages to own and make hers. Ra delivers this newest single Hine Ruhi in Te Reo, something I’m always a fan of, and I’ll tell you about it now. As the focus single from new album Waiata…

And like the Phoenix, Flash-Trax is back! First cab off the rank is Mangawhai Heads psychedelic surf rockers SOJØURN and their new single Hippie Girl. This is my first taste of SOJØURN and I likee. Comprising Isaac Hunter (vocals/guitar), James Finlay (lead guitar), Visko Bryers (drums), Tony Baker (bass), and Jacob O’Brien (sax), these intrepid lads are a very tight and interesting combo indeed.…