Moderator - Sarah Thomson
If it was released in the last twenty years, there's a middling chance that someone within the media of Aotearoa may have allowed Sarah to: programme the music video; introduce the live-to-air; write inches about the album; playlist the single; and/or interview the bass player. Sorry about that. With a background that includes stints in music television, screenwriting, radio programming, music journalism and television puppetry, Sarah can currently be heard weekly on Tāmaki independent stalwart 95bFM and sprinkled throughout programming on Radio New Zealand. NB: You may know Lorde's cousin, but Sarah's mates with Big Bird.
apra amcos, 95bfm
If it was released in the last twenty years, there's a middling chance that someone within the media of Aotearoa may have allowed Sarah to: programme the music video; introduce the live-to-air; write inches about the album; playlist the single; and/or interview the bass player. Sorry about that. With a background that includes stints in music television, screenwriting, radio programming, music journalism and television puppetry, Sarah can currently be heard weekly on Tāmaki independent stalwart 95bFM and sprinkled throughout programming on Radio New Zealand. NB: You may know Lorde's cousin, but Sarah's mates with Big Bird.
Amelia Murray
Fazerdaze is the project of Ōtautahi-based musician, songwriter, and producer Amelia Murray. Celebrated for her signature blend of bedroom pop and grungy shoegaze, she released her transformative sophomore album Soft Power in 2024, and later this year will join Pixies and Spoon on tour in North America, alongside her own headline dates.
Artist - fazerdaze
Fazerdaze is the project of Ōtautahi-based musician, songwriter, and producer Amelia Murray. Celebrated for her signature blend of bedroom pop and grungy shoegaze, she released her transformative sophomore album Soft Power in 2024, and later this year will join Pixies and Spoon on tour in North America, alongside her own headline dates.
Laughton Kora
Laughton Kora is a multifaceted creative — a musician, actor, producer, and director — with a dynamic career spanning music, film, and theatre. His work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and the arts in all their forms.
artist - black comet, kora
Laughton Kora is a multifaceted creative — a musician, actor, producer, and director — with a dynamic career spanning music, film, and theatre. His work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling and the arts in all their forms.
Rowan Pierce
Rowan is a scenographer and artist raised in Fielding, Aotearoa with ancestral ties to Scotland and England. His career spans upwards of 14 years with a substantial background in spatial design, live video and sound design. These mediums continue to be at the forefront of his practice in creating performative design. Rowan creates environments for performance using a multi-disciplinary approach to spatial and performance design. Synthesising video, sound, light and object seamlessly to create \ physically affecting works.
artist & sceneographer
Rowan is a scenographer and artist raised in Feilding, Aotearoa with ancestral ties to Scotland and England. His career spans upwards of 14 years with a substantial background in spatial design, live video and sound design. These mediums continue to be at the forefront of his practice in creating performative design. Rowan creates environments for performance using a multi-disciplinary approach to spatial and performance design. Synthesising video, sound, light and object seamlessly to create \ physically affecting works.
He describes his role as a designer as striving for tangible and viscerally affecting works that provide heightened shared experience. His work is firmly based in Aotearoa, New Zealand and has been widely presented internationally to critical acclaim.
Moderator: Charlotte Ryan
Charlotte Ryan has her finger on the pulse of New Zealand’s music, culture, and media landscape. An award-winning broadcaster with 25 years of experience, most recently the host of Music 101, RNZ’s flagship music programme.
Charlotte Ryan has her finger on the pulse of New Zealand’s music, culture, and media landscape. An award-winning broadcaster with 25 years of experience, most recently the host of Music 101, RNZ’s flagship music programme.
Chris Cudby
Chris Cudby is editor and writer for Aotearoa’s independent music news and ticketing site UnderTheRadar.co.nz, and co-host of Freak The Sheep on 95bFM. His musical projects include Power Nap (solo) and synth-punk pioneers Golden Axe, who have toured and released internationally. During the first half of the ‘10s, he promoted and co-organised live events and exhibitions at Tāmaki Makaurau’s experimental music hub Audio Foundation.
Under the radar
Chris Cudby is editor and writer for Aotearoa’s independent music news and ticketing site UnderTheRadar.co.nz, and co-host of Freak The Sheep on 95bFM. His musical projects include Power Nap (solo) and synth-punk pioneers Golden Axe, who have toured and released internationally. During the first half of the ‘10s, he promoted and co-organised live events and exhibitions at Tāmaki Makaurau’s experimental music hub Audio Foundation.
Shaquille Wasasala
HALFQUEEN is a DJ whose sets are just as unapologetic and empowering as her presence in every space. Uncompromised vision, connection and care underpin her work as a DJ, event producer and curator; her DIY QTBIPOC clubnight and platform FILTH is a manifestation of this ethos. Her focus is creating sets and environments where the exchange between the audience and DJ is potent and intimate, with a higher purpose of decolonising the d-floor, uplifting marginalized communities worldwide, and highlighting the importance of the Rave in the revolution.
DJ - halfqueen
HALFQUEEN is a DJ whose sets are just as unapologetic and empowering as her presence in every space. Uncompromised vision, connection and care underpin her work as a DJ, event producer and curator; her DIY QTBIPOC clubnight and platform FILTH is a manifestation of this ethos. Her focus is creating sets and environments where the exchange between the audience and DJ is potent and intimate, with a higher purpose of decolonising the d-floor, uplifting marginalized communities worldwide, and highlighting the importance of the Rave in the revolution.
Heidi Ettema
Heidi is the owner and director of Broken Record Publicity. She has over a decade’s experience in the music industry, and works with local artists such as Kaylee Bell, The Beths, Reb Fountain, Fazerdaze, Mermaidens and more. She also works with Mushroom Music roster including Jimmy Barnes, Kylie Minogue, Childish Gambino, Wolf Alice and alt-J. Heidi believes great music intersecting with a great story and PR is where the magic happens!
Broken record publicity
Heidi is the owner and director of Broken Record Publicity. She has over a decade’s experience in the music industry, and works with local artists such as Kaylee Bell, The Beths, Reb Fountain, Fazerdaze, Mermaidens and more. She also works with Mushroom Music roster including Jimmy Barnes, Kylie Minogue, Childish Gambino, Wolf Alice and alt-J. Heidi believes great music intersecting with a great story and PR is where the magic happens!