From Breakdown to Breakout. Queer Energy. Femme Power: Enter the Chaos Era
“Down to Chaos” is a high-energy electronic collaboration between established producer MissB and rising Māori queer artist Ardon England—a track born from contrast, connection, and transformation. Created during a time of loss, change, and creative reawakening, the instrumental marked a powerful return to form for MissB.
“Down to Chaos” is a high-energy electronic collaboration between established producer MissB and rising Māori queer artist Ardon England—a track born from contrast, connection, and transformation.
Created during a time of loss, change, and creative reawakening, the instrumental marked a powerful return to form for MissB. Drawn to its energy, she brought in Ardon to write and deliver vocals—elevating the track into something bold, dynamic, and fully realised.
Taking inspiration from its origin, Ardon flipped the narrative—writing from the perspective of what comes after the darkness. “Down to Chaos” captures that liberating moment when you emerge from something heavy and step into freedom—where rules dissolve, inhibitions drop, and life becomes spontaneous, messy, and electric.
It’s about embracing the chaos: booking last-minute flights, losing yourself on the dancefloor, and stepping fully into your most unapologetic self.
To elevate the track further, the duo introduced a female vocal sample—adding balance, texture, and an extra layer of attitude that amplifies the song’s dynamic energy.
Blending MissB’s decades-deep underground production expertise with Ardon’s bold, theatrical queer pop presence, “Down to Chaos” is a celebration of release, resilience, and reckless joy—designed for late-night dancefloors and moments of pure, chaotic freedom.
CULTURAL CONTEXT
“Down to Chaos” celebrates the growing presence and power of female producers and queer artists within Aotearoa’s electronic music scene. The track represents a shift toward greater diversity, visibility, and inclusion in a space that has historically been male-dominated.
By combining their voices, the collaboration not only creates a high-energy club record, but also highlights the importance of uplifting underrepresented communities—championing creative freedom, identity, and the right to take up space on dancefloors and beyond.
MISSB X ARDON ENGLAND
A meeting of generations in Aotearoa’s electronic scene, Ardon England and MissB come together for a powerful new collaboration blending high-energy club pop with deep underground dance roots.
Ardon England is a rising Māori queer electronic artist known for theatrical live performances and bold club anthems. His EP I’M THAT BITCH debuted at #4 on the Official Aotearoa Charts alongside Lorde and Six60, reached #2 on the Independent Artist Charts, and his Real Talk (Tali Remix) hit #3 on the Hot Aotearoa Singles Chart.
He also received NZ On Air’s Waiata Takitahi grant to translate his track EGO into Te Reo Māori.
Joining him is MissB, a respected figure in the electronic scene with over 20 years behind the decks, performing everywhere from Burning Man and Splore to Synthony and Rhythm & Alps, and supporting icons like Carl Cox and Basement Jaxx.
Her releases span local and international labels including paperecordings and Sqeaky Wheels, including collaborations alongside MC Tali, Max Maxwell and Patsy Skeet.
Together they fuse festival-ready energy with underground club credibility, creating music built for late-night dancefloors.
Up-and-coming Samoan powerhouse MOZIE shimmers and shines on new single ‘Here We Go Again’
After emerging in 2022, Wairarapa-raised, Pōneke-based Samoan artist MOZIE has returned this New Zealand Music Month to stake her claim in Aotearoa’s R&B scene with a vibey new tune, ‘Here We Go Again’. Smooth and slow-burning R&B-pop, ‘Here We Go Again’ showcases the strength and beauty of MOZIE’s voice and her relatable and honest lyricism that hits the listener straight in the heart.
After emerging in 2022, Wairarapa-raised, Pōneke-based Samoan artist MOZIE has returned this New Zealand Music Month to stake her claim in Aotearoa’s R&B scene with a vibey new tune, ‘Here We Go Again’.
Smooth and slow-burning R&B-pop, ‘Here We Go Again’ showcases the strength and beauty of MOZIE’s voice and her relatable and honest lyricism that hits the listener straight in the heart.
“I wrote ‘Here We Go Again’ inspired by someone close to me, who was in a situation with someone they were far too good for. It was hard for them to walk away because of how intoxicating the love and infatuation was at the time. I wanted this song to say, ‘I see you, I hear you and I’m here for you while you figure it out’,” says MOZIE, who co-wrote the song with Wellington musician and performer Leonardo Coghini.
MOZIE has been making a name for herself on the live scene for several years now, providing backing vocals for some of Aotearoa’s most beloved acts such as Louis Baker and Bret Mckenzie. But she’s also been quietly working away at her own music and the NZ on Air funded ‘Here We Go Again’ follows her 2024 single ‘Sonshine’ and her 2022 debut ‘Not Done Loving’.
All three songs demonstrate a young artist with exceptional talent and lay down the foundations for an exciting journey ahead.
About MOZIE:
Moana Leota is a Wairarapa-raised artist of Samoan descent, known for her soulful approach to music and deep commitment to storytelling. Raised in a family of singers, she has been surrounded by music and performance from an early age, shaping a natural and enduring connection to the arts. After graduating with a Bachelor of Creativity in 2020, MOZIE established herself across the performing arts, providing backing vocals for leading artists in Aotearoa and performing at commercial and live events. She has toured Aotearoa and internationally with Bret McKenzie and remains a member of his band, touring Aotearoa, the United States, the UK, and Australia through 2025–2026. Under her solo project MOZIE, she has released Not Done Loving and Sonshine with support from NZ On Air, and continues to write with a deep sense of reflection, drawing from love, loss, and the people and experiences that have shaped her.
The Warratahs Release Quicksilver Days Following Country Music Honours Spotlight
Fresh from their induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa at the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Awards, iconic New Zealand alt-country band The Warratahs are set to release their evocative new single, “Quicksilver Days,” on 23 May. The release follows the band’s appearance as special guest performers at this year’s Country Music Honours on 22 May in Gore, where songwriter and frontman Barry Saunders is also a finalist for the prestigious MLT Songwriting Awards with Quicksilver Days.
Fresh from their induction into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame | Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa at the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Awards, iconic New Zealand alt-country band The Warratahs are set to release their evocative new single, “Quicksilver Days,” on 23 May.
The release follows the band’s appearance as special guest performers at this year’s Country Music Honours on 22 May in Gore, where songwriter and frontman Barry Saunders is also a finalist for the prestigious MLT Songwriting Awards with Quicksilver Days.
The recognition adds another milestone to an already remarkable year for The Warratahs, whose recent Hall of Fame induction celebrated a career that has helped shape the sound of country and roots music in Aotearoa.
“Quicksilver Days” captures the unmistakable spirit that has made The Warratahs one of New Zealand’s most enduring and beloved musical acts. Led by Saunders’ unmistakable voice and poetic songwriting, the band continues to blend country, folk, and rock influences with the authenticity and heart that have defined their legacy for decades.
The Country Music Honours is a highlight of the Tussock Country Music Festival, bringing together New Zealand’s emerging songwriting talent and finest country music recording artists for an unforgettable evening of celebration and performance.
Audiences will experience a feast of live performances from award finalists and special guests, culminating in the presentation of the MLT Songwriting Award, the APRA Best Country Song Award, and the Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music in Aotearoa.
This year’s event will also celebrate The Topp Twins, who will receive the 2026 Country Music Honour for Contribution to Country Music, recognising their extraordinary contribution to the past, present, and future of country music in New Zealand.
Adding to an already busy festival schedule, Barry Saunders will also perform an intimate house concert during the Tussock Country Music Festival, offering fans a rare opportunity to experience his songwriting up close.
With a Hall of Fame induction, award recognition, and powerful new music on the horizon, The Warratahs continue to prove why they remain one of the defining voices of New Zealand country music.
Claudia Robin Gunn’s new kindie track ‘Shake It Out (No Worries)’
Claudia Robin Gunn is celebrating NZ Music Month with a new song for tamariki, and the whole whanau – her latest single ‘Shake It Out (No Worries)’ This track is a joyful jam for kids and their grown-ups to sing, talk, and dance out anxiety. Less Worrier, more Joy Seeker is the intention. A musical antidote for anxiety, and a soundtrack to help bring joy, fulfilment, understanding, friendship, kindness, and positivity into our lives.
Claudia Robin Gunn is celebrating NZ Music Month with a new song for tamariki, and the whole whanau – her latest single ‘Shake It Out (No Worries)’
This track is a joyful jam for kids and their grown-ups to sing, talk, and dance out anxiety. Less Worrier, more Joy Seeker is the intention. A musical antidote for anxiety, and a soundtrack to help bring joy, fulfilment, understanding, friendship, kindness, and positivity into our lives.
By Claudia Robin Gunn with additional composition by Tom Fox, the song is the lead single from Claudia’s forthcoming kids and family music project Joyful Jams.
“as a parent, I’ve found sometimes our kids are more likely to open up and talk when we don’t try to have a deep and meaningful. Just sitting side by side on the school run, or doing the dishes together, or taking a nature walk can open up those little chats where we get to the heart of things. Sometimes a song can help too. ‘Shake It Out (No Worries)’ is about helping nudge the door open for those real talks, with no pressure. And if talking isn’t what’s needed, maybe movement will be the medicine”
About Claudia Robin Gunn
Claudia Robin Gunn is an independent children’s musician, prolific songwriter and video producer, and founder of Little Wild Music. Winner of the Aotearoa Music Award for Children’s Music in 2024 (Tūī Award) her music beams with joyful energy. Claudia has been creating songs that connect kids and families to each other, and with the natural world since 2006. A mum of two, and former creative producer in broadcast media, her catalogue includes over 185 unique songs (and growing) for Tamariki, both individual projects and joyful collaborations and co-writes with fellow artists in Aotearoa, Australia, UK, Canada and USA. Forthcoming in 2026 on her Little Wild Music label, more collaborations on the way, the Joyful Jams project and a yet to be announced album and video project for her ‘Sing Through’ series thanks to support from NZ On Air Tamariki.
Greta O'Leary and Neive Strang announce South Island tour
Join Greta O’Leary (Tāmaki Makaurau/AKL) and Neive Strang (Ōtepoti/DUN) for an evening of indie folk music as they perform their most recent releases, River Dark and Find Me in the Rabbit Hole. Greta will be accompanied by guitarist/vocalist Will McGillivray, and Neive, by guitarist/vocalist Kiera Wallace.
Join Greta O’Leary (Tāmaki Makaurau/AKL) and Neive Strang (Ōtepoti/DUN) for an evening of indie folk music as they perform their most recent releases, River Dark and Find Me in the Rabbit Hole. Greta will be accompanied by guitarist/vocalist Will McGillivray, and Neive, by guitarist/vocalist Kiera Wallace.
Christchurch 19th June @ Lyttelton Coffee Company
Dunedin 20th June @ Pearl Diver
Tickets and tour information from Under The Radar.
Neive Strang
Neive Strang is an indie folk musician based in Ōtepoti/Dunedin. She creates warm, thoughtful, and emotional music informed by themes of change, mental health, love, and whānau/family. Neive’s music is akin to artists like Julia Jacklin, lucinda Williams and Waxahatche. Like these artists, her songwriting is written through personal experience and observation.
Her music often feels introspective and intimate, with songs that spend time in complicated feelings. With a sensitivity to narrative and imagery, Neive’s lyrics outline a feeling of relatability. Blended with soaring vocals and an ethereal production, her lyrics continue to bind and warm the listener.
Her most recent release, Find Me in the Rabbit Hole, continues this world of vulnerable storytelling and textured indie folk. Though Neive hasn’t performed live recently, her work remains rooted in connection and the quiet power of being understood.
Greta O'Leary
Tāmaki Makaurau songsmith Greta O’Leary writes with a surrealist clarity of vision, the line between art and artist, self and image - is razor thin. Raised on rolling hills in northern New Zealand, and coming of age anywhere but here, O’Leary is a writer with her own lens and language. Her breakthrough debut album ‘River Dark’ was released in 2025, landing at #9 on the Aotearoa Album Charts and toured throughout NZ and Australia.
‘Serene with a sting in the tail’ - Tony Stamp. Greta’s arresting debut record was created alongside producer Jol Mulholland at LAB Studios, with Greta's hypnotic songwriting and unmistakable vocals accentuated through the skillful musicianship of instrumentalists Cass Basil (Tiny Ruins, The Veils), Alastair Deverick (Come Together Band), Callum Passells (Hans Pucket, Aldous Harding) and Anita Clark (Don McGlashan, Nadia Reid).
Greta’s voice is ‘imbued with earthy, smokey tones’, ‘reminiscent of a hāngī pit’ - Under The Radar (NZ). After establishing herself as a rising figure in Aotearoa’s folk and alternative communities, Greta received an APRA Artist Mentoring Programme Award, leading to collaborations with producer Tom Healy (Marlon Williams, Folk Bitch Trio). She has performed on several successful tours across Aotearoa, Te Waipounamu and Australia, while making appearances at Newtown Festival, Earthbeat, Performance Arcade, Wellington Gardens Magic Festival, and Te Papa’s Rongo Rehutai Summer Music Sessions alongside Vera Ellen.
Greta’s dreamlike album featured the singles, ‘Baby I’m a Singer’ and ‘Baptised at the Desktop Computer’ - both of which spent weeks in the SRN Top 10 (both peaking at #1), with the latter reaching #1 on RadioScope’s Alt Chart. The album received heavy support from RNZ, Rolling Stone AU/NZ, PBS Melbourne and the student radio network stations, and featured coverage in Coup De Main and airplay on RadioX UK (2.5mil weekly listeners). Greta toured River Dark through winter 2025 this winter, with 10 dates acrossin Aotearoa and Melbourne, joined by members of her stellar live band Jol Mulholland (Anika Moa, Neil Finn), Nava Tekela-Pule (Erny Belle, LEAO), Amy Borovich (Anna Coddington) and Alistair Deverick, and was invited to open for Australian folk and blues legend C.W. Stoneking on his NZ tour late in 2025.
Ben Chavasse Releases New Single ‘Sitting Beside’ & Announces Auckland Show
Ben Chavasse will stage a return this New Zealand Music Month, releasing ‘Sitting Beside’ as the first single since his debut 2025 album Boxing. The indie-folk musician, who is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, says this single is the beginning of a new act.
Ben Chavasse will stage a return this New Zealand Music Month, releasing ‘Sitting Beside’ as the first single since his debut 2025 album Boxing.
The indie-folk musician, who is based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, says this single is the beginning of a new act.
The Taite-longlisted Boxing explored adolescent restriction and the resulting swings at self-definition. Now, Chavasse wants to deal with the fall out. In ‘Sitting Beside’, he unpacks a formative memory with the benefit of hindsight.
“The song talks about a moment in my teenage years that felt so pivotal and significant. Only on reflection, years later, was I able to see it as inconsequential.
“I suppose it’s a kinder reflection and reassurance to my past self – that I didn’t have to worry as much as I did.”
This single is the first of four to be released throughout 2026. In these songs, Chavasse explores sense-making in early adulthood.
“It’s about this period of leaving home, being on your own and experiencing this expansive time where you have to gain a sense of yourself.”
Layers of string instruments and introspective lyrics remain tools for Chavasse’s
signature storytelling.
The single will be released on May 21 across Bandcamp and all streaming services. To mark the occasion and celebrate NZ Music T-shirt Day, Ben Chavasse will also perform at the Ponsonby Social Club on May 29.
‘Sitting Beside’ was produced by Chavasse, mixed by Michael Howell (SKILAA) and mastered by Josh Llewellyn (Troy Kingi, Joe Kaptein and Jazmine Mary). Photography for the single by Felix Wang and creative direction by Hans Hong.
Praise for Boxing:
“I heard it one morning and was knocked sideways… I was very, very pleasantly surprised.” –Matthew Crawley, RNZ
“An engaging and mature blend of folk, rock and jazz. Chavasse writes songs for thinking to, and tailors a different ensemble for each… Slide guitar, violin, various saxophones, cello and double bass combine in different, deliberate ways. His smart lyricism makes each song a story with few easy rhymes or cliches. High quality stuff.” –Max Johns, The Spinoff
“Across the entirety of Boxing, the core is Ben’s lyric-forward approach, clear narrative talent and an ability to wear his emotions on his sleeve while blending genres seamlessly.” –Chantal Dalebroux, The 13th Floor
New Zealand Pop Artist Liberty Shares New Single “Waiting”
Liberty is back with her new single Waiting, out today. Known for writing honest, emotional songs about growing up and heartbreak, this one shows a different side. It’s not about losing someone or things falling apart. It’s about the weird feeling of finding something good and being amazed when it sticking around.
New Zealand pop artist Liberty is back with her new single Waiting, out May 15. Known for writing honest, emotional songs about growing up and heartbreak, this one shows a different side. It’s not about losing someone or things falling apart. It’s about the weird feeling of finding something good and being amazed when it sticking around.
Waiting was written about being in a relationship and having those moments where it suddenly hits you how lucky you are. Instead of overthinking everything or expecting the worst, the song sits in the parts of a relationship where things are going well, even if you’re not expecting it.
“This song felt way out of my comfort zone,” Liberty says. “I literally hid under the covers while playing it to my boyfriend because I felt so awkward. But it’s all I can seem to write about at the moment.”
Liberty usually writes to process things when she’s overwhelmed, stressed or confused, which is why a lot of her past music leans more emotional or heavy. This session was jokingly called “upbeat sad” the whole way through because, knowing her, it would turn into something heartbreaking, but it never really did.
Sonically, Waiting stays true to her acoustic pop style, built around acoustic guitar and layered vocals with layered synths and big drums to add depth. It keeps that close, personal feeling her songs are known for, like you’re sitting in the room with her while she figures things out in real time.
The track was written and produced by David Atai at Crescendo as part of their Artist in Residence programme in late 2025.
Since her debut single I Wanna, which has now passed 120,000 streams, Liberty has been steadily building momentum with releases like Are We Dead and Don’t Worry Bout It. Her music has had airplay across ZM, The Edge and RNZ, charting at #5 on the Hot Aotearoa Singles Chart and #28 on the Radioscope Airplay Chart, as well as landing music video support on Juice TV.
She’s also built a strong online following, with over 350,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram where her songwriting clips and honest approach to sharing music have connected with a growing audience. Her most recent single Call Me Back, Babe leaned further into a more intimate sound and picked up support across Spotify and Apple Music playlists.
Alongside releases, Liberty has been performing across New Zealand, including sets at Outfield Festival in 2023 and 2024 and Rhythm and Vines.
To celebrate the release, she’ll be playing Waiting live for the first time at a small hometown show at Decibel Wines in Hawke’s Bay on May 15. The show is limited to 30 people and will be a more intimate, meet-and-greet style night, with a few unreleased songs as well.
Liberty continues to grow as one of New Zealand’s young pop artists to watch, making music that feels personal, specific, and a little bit unfiltered.
The Others Way Festival Says Farewell
After more than a decade as one of Aotearoa’s most beloved independent music festivals, The Others Way will not return in 2026 or beyond. Organisers Banished Music say the decision comes after years of mounting financial pressure, rising industry costs and an increasingly unstable live music & funding landscape, making the festival no longer sustainable to deliver.
After more than a decade as one of Aotearoa’s most beloved independent music festivals, The Others Way will not return in 2026 or beyond. Organisers Banished Music say the decision comes after years of mounting financial pressure, rising industry costs and an increasingly unstable live music & funding landscape, making the festival no longer sustainable to deliver. Since launching in 2015, The Others Way has become a defining celebration of independent music, creativity and community on Auckland’s Karangahape Road, earning a reputation as a vital platform for emerging artists and music discovery.
It is with a truly heavy heart and weary soul, we share that The Others Way festival will not be continuing in 2026 or beyond.
We know how sad this will make a lot of people, and none sadder than us. This festival - a DIY love story and K Road juggernaut - has always been delivered by and for a community of weirdos and wonders. It has also existed uniquely as a platform for discovery, and a celebration of independent music and creativity.
We (Banished Music) attended The Others Way as music fans for seven years (2015-2022), and then were bestowed the great honour of taking the helm to deliver it for three more magical years (2023-2025). Watching it grow, seeing artists connect with audiences in such a meaningful way, and feeling the energy that filled those spaces each year has been one of the great joys of all time.
In 2026, trying to make a living as a mid-level independent music promoter in Aotearoa is hard. Delivering an independent boutique festival on the smell of an oily rag is extremely hard, and then throwing in the economic conditions and insane world that is 2026, you have a recipe for wild instability and stress, and very real potential outcomes like ‘we’ll be bankrupt if this goes wrong.’
In short, the magnificent joy received from delivering The Others Way is outweighed by the sheer financial strain and emotional toll it takes on us to deliver.
Rising costs across every aspect of the entertainment industry, combined with ongoing uncertainty in the sponsorship and funding landscape, and people just doing it too tough out there to commit to buying gig tickets have created significant pressure. We’ve explored every avenue available to us seeking new & established funding partners, pursuing sponsorship opportunities, and rethinking how the festival could operate sustainably. Despite these efforts, we haven’t been able to secure the secret formula to deliver the festival in a way that meets both our standards and our financial obligations. As well as that, over time the debt that we have accumulated on this project can no longer responsibly be carried forward.
2025 - unwittingly being our send off and Swan Song - was a majestic finale for The Others Way. Closing down K Road for the party of the year felt like a real moment in time. We hope you felt it too!
We want to express deep, deep gratitude to everyone who has been part of The Others Way journey. Our venues, our production crews and site staff, our sponsors and funding partners (shout out KBA and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited and NZ Music Commission), the Flying Out and Flying Nun visionaries who started this thing in the first place, the mighty Banished whanau, THOUSANDS of artists from near and far, and all you music lovers who bought a ticket over the years.
You are the reason this festival meant something real. For the love of god, if you have the means to, go out and buy a ticket today. To an independent artist’s show run by an independent promoter at an independent venue. It’s a wild time out there in the current music industry landscape of Aotearoa, and a lot of us are fighting to survive.