Stay up to date with all the New Zealand music releases from last week with Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s weekly roundup.
Check out the best new music from Aotearoa acts released last week below!
Luca George – “brOKen”
A gut-punching, sad-pop anthem, Luca George’s latest single “brOKen” sits at the centre of his upcoming EP Say hi to Paul, out October 24th. The song is deliberately positioned in the middle of the five-track EP to reflect the eye of the storm.
“It explores the struggle of holding yourself together with temporary fixes, knowing they won’t last,” he explains. “The repeated line ‘I stole OK from broken’ is both a confession and a coping mechanism, a way of finding fleeting stability in the midst of collapse. It’s about pretending to be okay — until you can’t anymore.”
Yumi Zouma – “Drag”
“Drag” is a brooding cut that pushes alt-rock outfit Yumi Zouna into heavier sonic territory. It follows a run of singles, including “Cross My Heart and Hope to Die”, “Blister”, and April’s “Bashville on the Sugar”, that all hinted at this bold new chapter.
LEISURE – Welcome to the Mood
The genre-defying outfit LEISURE has refined their soulful, slow-burning ethos into a radiant new chapter with Welcome to the Mood, one rooted in togetherness, creative freedom, and the lived experience of a band evolving with authentic purpose.
Embracing a more organic, live-recording approach, they explain: “Off the back of touring the last album, we had played more shows than ever and wanted to bring more of the live element into the process, so we didn’t use drum breaks and loops as much as previous records and tracked live.”
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Abby Christo – “Boy Bye”
Abby Christo’s latest single “Boy Bye” is bold and infectious. Turning heartbreak into empowerment, the song blends catchy hooks, clever wordplay, and fierce energy. Described as the ultimate glow-up anthem, “Boy Bye” is a song for anyone tired of mixed signals and red flags. It’s cheeky, catchy, and unapologetically empowering — a reminder that love should be chosen, not chased.
Casual Healing – “Moving Together”
Nikau Te Huki, better known as Casual Healing, has dropped a track that doubles as both a love song and a lesson in endurance. The debut single from WAI, out September 26th, draws inspiration from Nikau’s long-term partnership with his best friend and co-parent. Sonically, the track blends neo-soul and R&B, layering earthy nylon-string guitar with smooth vocals that speak to commitment beyond the honeymoon phase.
IVY – HUSH
While there are clear nods to acts like Wunderhorse, Radiohead, Weyes Blood, and Fontaines D.C., IVY’s debut album HUSH makes space for their own voice, which is rooted in 90s alt-rock with touches of post-grunge, shoegaze, and post-punk.
HUSH sees the band pairing their signature sound with relatable lyricism, which invites the listener into their world. “Lyrically HUSH moves through personal stories – death, distance, religion, falling in and out of love,” they share.
Rhian Sheehan/Arli Liberman – TRACES
Both known for the composition work and original music, Rhian Sheehan and Arli Liberman have joined forces for TRACES, an album that sees textures develop slowly, exploring the dimensions of physical space, before blooming boldly.
While busy with their day jobs composing for the screen, TRACES represented a chance for both to collaborate on something wholly their own. The resulting album is a true experience and journey into an electronic-inspired wormhole.
Paige – “Tragedy”
Marking the third release from her upcoming album paigesspace, out September 19th, “Tragedy” continues to showcase Paige’s aptitude in creating cathartic spaces through her honest and unfiltered lyrics.
“This song is about holding on through a one-sided relationship when you feel the other person letting go. Although there’s so many reasons to leave, you’d rather put up with the bad stuff and keep them in your life than be without them,” she says.
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