Ōtautahi’s fine purveyor of dream-pop T. G. Shand is hinting at a new project on the horizon with today’s release of ‘Sizing The Waltz’ - a dark-hearted and playful song for all the lovers of guitar-pop.
A beats-driven track with a classic 90s shoegaze vibe and influences from modern hip-hop heroes, ‘Sizing The Waltz’ is the Christchurch artist’s first single of 2026 and sees her teaming up with Hope Robertson from the dream-pop/post-punk trio Death and the Maiden.
T. G. Shand describes ‘Sizing The Waltz’ as dark but playful. In keeping with her signature atmospheric and textured sound, the verses in ‘Sizing The Waltz’ are airy and ethereal - set against an unexpected drop into a moody chorus. With the tremolo synth swirling throughout - speeding up and slowing down - until it peaks at the end, ‘Sizing The Waltz’ is bittersweet, hypnotic, and a little mischievous.
‘Sizing The Waltz’ is the first collaboration T. G. Shand has released, and she says she was thrilled to work with Hope Robertson - the guitarist in the highly revered Dunedin band Death and the Maiden. “It came together very quickly over a few days, where I’d probably had too much coffee. It started with an intro guitar hook I’d been playing around with. Hope added her incredible guitar sounds - those hooks in the chorus are just beautiful.”
The track, which was made with support from NZ on Air, was mixed by Tom Bell (The Clean, Marlin’s Dreaming), who “took it to another level” says T. G. Shand. “I trust him completely, he has amazing taste.”
Shot in Tumbledown Bay in Banks Peninsula, the video that accompanies ‘Sizing The Waltz’ was made by Spencer Hall and Clark Roworth at Lore Films, with styling by Rosie Trist.
“We wanted the video to feel abstract and sliced in different ways - in line with the lyrics and style of the track.”
Following on from T. G. Shand’s last single the cinematic, yet intimate ‘Levitating The Knife’,
‘Sizing The Waltz’, now makes way for a body of work due out in 2027. “There are a few other tracks in the works or ready, including one collaboration from Lucinda King (the lead singer in Death and the Maiden).”