BuzzTales presents debut children’s sing-along book ‘Carly the Chameleon’
Mother and daughter Fiona Walmsley and Jenna Grbin are on a mission to help children grow in confidence and celebrate their differences with the release of BuzzTales’ debut sing-along book and single, Carly the Chameleon.
Mother and daughter Fiona Walmsley and Jenna Grbin are on a mission to help children grow in confidence and celebrate their differences with the release of BuzzTales’ debut sing-along book and single, Carly the Chameleon.
Carly is a shy little chameleon who learns to embrace her true colours. Her story is told through a playful, heartfelt song co-written by Fiona and Jenna—Fiona shaping the lyrics and storyline, Jenna composing the melody, producing the track, and performing the song.
“Carly is about more than just music—it’s about giving children confidence to be themselves,” says Fiona Walmsley, co-founder of BuzzTales. “Our goal is to combine the joy of music with storytelling and educational tools that families and teachers can use together.”
KAWAKAWA Album by HUIA, 12 waiata of electro-Māori music with spirit, mana and deep subs.
Award-winning electro-Māori artist HUIA is set to empower with the release of her new 12-track album, KAWAKAWA, on October 10th, 2025. This thoughtful project, a fusion of rich imagery in te reo Māori (Māori language) with a global soundscape, promises a new flavour of te reo Māori music.
Award-winning electro-Māori artist HUIA is set to empower with the release of her new 12-track album, KAWAKAWA, on October 10th, 2025. This thoughtful project, a fusion of rich imagery in te reo Māori (Māori language) with a global soundscape, promises a new flavour of te reo Māori music.
KAWAKAWA delves deep into themes encapsulated by the Kawakawa plant, an important Māori rongoā (medicine) with healing and restorative properties like the music we make, which is woven into the album's core kaupapa (theme). Every waiata/song on the album has a visual world wrapped around with translations, which can be experienced on the KAWAKAWA portal - HERE.
Waka Huia, Vessel: Every being is a vessel of knowledge, matauranga.
Tīaho Aho, Shine: Haere ki mua, stepping into your moment.
Kawakawa, Medicine: Music is healing like the power of our natural heritage, Aotūroa.
Wairangi, The Waters: Knowing the right time to find your feet again, mihi ki te rā.
Kākano, Seed: The seed is as important as the bloom. Keep planting, kia puāwai tonu.
Ao Pō, Daynight: Keep your body and mind strong like your Maunga, ia rā ia rā.
Rangimārie, Peace: Meditative Zen song, to be in a state of peace, Rangimārie.
HūHā, World: Standing up for what’s right, not what’s easy, he kupu noa iho!
Tuhi, Temple: Being a temple without a key, the integrity in keeping kōrero (words) sacred.
Maia, Nan Māmā: A tribute to wahine lines, for Nan Māia for Māmā Helen, Māma Barbara.
Waiata Ua, Rainsong: Singing with the forest rain, a deep memory, he whare ngāhere.
Wero Wero, Challenge: A reminder of what we fight for in Aotearoa, in our own unique ways.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Chetland and Huia at Auckland's renowned Kog Studio, KAWAKAWA is the fruition of personal and extensive creative work by Huia, who is inspired by her travels to indigenous music communities in Canada, Scotland, Cymru (Wales), Australia and Japan. Experiencing the new music fusions has encouraged her to write an album that she loves over the past 2 years, with some songs written 10 years ago, like Tuhi,Temple.
Huia produced 6 of the 12 waiata, with symphony layers by Stewart Allen, with Baitercell, Rei, Devin Abrams and Sean Richards producing the rest of the tracks. All the stories were gently guided and translated by singer/language expert Lois McIver. Beyond this album, Huia is also recording for the release of a multilingual E.P. featuring collaborations with Meta_ (Portugal), Akawui (Mapuche), and remixes by Max Maxwell alongside other multilingual collaborations, set for summer 2026.
A Kōanga release party on October 10th at WHAMMY Bar is hosted by Kog and Hūhā Music, celebrating the album's debut, new single Hoea Rā by Baitercell x Just2Māori and features Mokotron, Uncles, Swizl Jager, Rei and Andrew Manning.
Huia has graced international stages in 2025 at Festival of Lights (Taranaki, Aotearoa), Knockengorroch Festival (Scotland, UK), Indigenous Music Summit, Imaginative Film Festival, Drom Taberna (Canada) and Osaka World Expo (Japan). KAWAKAWA is supported by Te Māngai Pāho and Precise as HIKO music.
FRANK ON TAP RELEASE GRITTY AND HEARTFELT DEBUT ALBUM ‘AT SIXES AND SEVENS’
At Sixes and Sevens is the long-awaited full-length debut album by alternative rock band Frank On Tap. The band have been meticulously crafting this piece of work across the span of 12 months at the renowned Roundhead Studios, with producer De Stevens.
At Sixes and Sevens is the long-awaited full-length debut album by alternative rock band Frank On Tap. The band have been meticulously crafting this piece of work across the span of 12 months at the renowned Roundhead Studios, with producer De Stevens.
Blending gritty rock energy with tender, introspective moments, the album strikes a balance between grit and vulnerability, offering listeners a journey through conflict, release, and reflection. With its driving instrumentals, soaring choruses, and thoughtful lyricism, At Sixes and Sevens cements Frank On Tap as a band unafraid to embrace life’s turbulence, and turn it into something both powerful and resonant.
“Although it might suggest a ballad ripe with grief and error, this record feels like a genuine chance at moving forward. There is a hopeful optimism and sincerity that underlies the record. Making sense of the world around you as you attempt to become a better person. An honest, raw expression of the beauty in struggle.” - Frank on Tap
In celebration of the release Frank On Tap will be playing a free show on Thursday 02nd October at 605 before they head across the ditch with No Cigar on their Australian Tour
Troy Kingi - New Single “Isn’t How I Remember” Ft SWIDT
Turning to Hip Hop and RnB, featuring SWIDT, Diggy Dupē, Tom Scott, Melodownz, MokoMokai, and Mā. The record continues Kingi’s practice of deep collaboration and documentation of genre, flexing his producer skills while highlighting the strength and breadth of Aotearoa’s contemporary music scene.
All Good Absolutley Alternative Records are proud to announce Album Nine, Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords (2025). Album out November 28th .
Turning to Hip Hop and RnB, featuring SWIDT, Diggy Dupē, Tom Scott, Melodownz, MokoMokai, and Mā. The record continues Kingi’s practice of deep collaboration and documentation of genre, flexing his producer skills while highlighting the strength and breadth of Aotearoa’s contemporary music scene.
“In my day to day life, living with two teens and 2 younger avid music listeners I’d say we listen to a lot of hiphop, actually mostly hiphop.
My kids try school me on the now and I try fumble my way through schooling them on my limited knowledge of 90s hiphop.
From the beginning of my 10/10/10 series I was trying to find a way to insert this genre without it seeming forced or pastiche and I found my in through the albums Blakroc and then later ‘Glorious Game’ by El Michels Affair and Black Thought. I could still be authentic and true to the music and not feel like a phoney through collaboration- bringing people on board that I admire and that live and breathe the genre.
In a somewhat songhubsy format I brought these amazing artists into the studio with me and my band and just let things happen - by the end of each day we had these amazing songs.
My biggest accomplishment on the album I feel is how cohesive it all is, you have 14 artists all amazing and different in their right yet it all feels cut from the same cloth. I’m super proud of the album and can’t wait to share it.” Troy Kingi
Troy is a musician, actor, and storyteller, a man with many hats. He has undertaken the 10/10/10 series — ten albums, in ten genres, over ten years — an ambitious project that has become one of the most distinctive catalogues in Aotearoa music.
Each release has explored a new style in depth: Guitar Party at Uncles Bach (2016) – Indie Garage Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron (2017) – Psychedelic Space Soul Holy Colony Burning Acres (2019) – Indigenous Political Roots The Ghost of Freddie Cesar (2020) – Funk Black Sea Golden Ladder (2021) – Folk Year of the Ratbags and their Musty Theme Songs (2022) – 80s Synthpop Timewasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings (2023) - Instrumental Soundscape Soul Leatherman and the Mojave Green (2024) – Desert rock
The series has earned him multiple awards and nominations: the Taite Music Prize, APRA Silver Scroll, Maioha Award, Aotearoa Music Awards, Māori Music Awards alongside vast collaborations across film, theatre, and television.
With one album left to complete the cycle, Kingi has created a discography ambitious in scale and significant in its contribution to New Zealand’s musical history.
"It seems surreal to me that we have reached album 9 already, despite the obvious evidence.
Its been such a whirlwind, of experiences, creative expression, fun, stress, love, loss and expansion. The 10|10|10 series is more than just 10 Genres in 10 years, its a group of people falling in love creating deep bonds, whanau living and experiencing life, captured by Troys deeply beautiful and personal writing.
This project is a cyclone with Troy at its core, drawing in incredible artists, film makers, graphic designers, photographers, production teams, all ingredients in the wonderful Melstrom of Troy's creative vision. It has touched so many lives, and I can't wait to see what the coming two years bring... I am confident in one thing... It'll be wild, wonderful and create memories that last a life time". TeMatera Smith
Hamo Dell Returns with Soulful New Single 'Bittersweet'
Aotearoa artist Hamo Dell (Ngāti Porou) makes a powerful return with her new single Bittersweet. Blending her signature R&B and reggae sound, Bittersweet explores the duality of love — uplifting yet painful, sweet yet heavy.
Aotearoa artist Hamo Dell (Ngāti Porou) makes a powerful return with her new single Bittersweet, releasing Friday 19 September 2025.
Blending her signature R&B and reggae sound, Bittersweet explores the duality of love — uplifting yet painful, sweet yet heavy. Written by Matt Sadgrove, and produced by Edy with co-production from Christian Tjandrawinata, the track signals the beginning of a fresh wave of releases for Hamo.
“Bittersweet is about love’s duality — the sacrifices, the sweetness, and sometimes the struggle that comes with it. It’s deeply personal but also universal. I wanted to capture that raw honesty in the music,” says Hamo.
While leaning strongly into R&B, the single reintroduces reggae elements into her music, a sound that connects back to her beginnings in the industry with Tomorrow People while showcasing her enduring love for soul and R&B.
With a career spanning more than a decade, Hamo Dell has collaborated with some of New Zealand’s most celebrated artists, including Stan Walker, Kings, and Sammy Johnson. Known for her warm yet powerful vocals, she brings both strength and sweetness to every performance — a unique duality that defines her artistry.
Bittersweet marks the start of a new chapter for Hamo — one that stays true to her foundations while exploring fresh sonic territory.
The single will be released via Precise and available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
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Aotearoa legend Iva Lamkum is back with undeniable new single “Don’t Mind If I do”
Aotearoa’s iconic soul diva Iva Lamkum makes a powerful return with her new single “Don’t Mind If I Do”, an undeniable feel-good anthem that radiates confidence and joy.
Aotearoa’s iconic soul diva Iva Lamkum makes a powerful return with her new single “Don’t Mind If I Do”, an undeniable feel-good anthem that radiates confidence and joy.
Produced by Josh Fountain (Benee, Ladyhawke, Paige, Leisure) and co-written with James Newman (Rudimental, Backstreet Boys, Kesha, Calvin Harris, Zayn), the track also features New Zealand hiphop innovator Diaz Grimm, weaving fresh energy into Iva’s signature sound.
Playful, vibrant, and unapologetically bold, “Don’t Mind If I Do” is a celebration of freedom, self-expression, and owning your presence. With slick grooves, infectious hooks, and Iva’s unmistakable smoky, velvety vocals, the song invites listeners to let go of fear and step fully into the moment.
Written during her transition back into music after motherhood, the track carries a renewed sense of strength and vitality. It is an energy Iva pours straight into her performance. “Don’t Mind If I Do” marks not just a return but a reminder of why Iva Lamkum remains one of Aotearoa’s most captivating voices.
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‘14 Years’ - Anna van Riel
10 years after the release of her last ‘grown up’ album, award-winning singer/songwriter Anna van Riel is set to launch the first single from her upcoming album 'Letter to Myself,' due out November 27th.
10 years after the release of her last ‘grown up’ album, award-winning singer/songwriter Anna van Riel is set to launch the first single from her upcoming album 'Letter to Myself,' due out November 27th.
After a decade-long sabbatical in the world of children’s music, van Riel returns to the stages of folk, alt-country and jazz with an 11-track album showcasing her diversity in song sculpting and vocalising.
Her psychedelic folk track, entitled '14 Years', breaks the seal on her 7th studio album, as the first single release from the record.
Reminiscent to Jefferson Aeroplane and Fleetwood Mac, the track is rich in mandolin & harmonies. Dunedin's Rosalinda Manowitz completes the audio trip with her violin, taking listeners somewhere nostalgic and untethered.
“I moved from Invercargill to rural Central Otago at age 14, and spent days wandering the hills and waterways with my dog. That time was formative and a time when I started really spreading my wings as a songwriter on the edge of womanhood. I tried to encapsulate that time and place within this song andI’m delighted with the outcome. It takes me back to imagery of expansive skies and self-discovery”, van Riel shares.
This is the 5th studio album van Riel has produced in collaboration with Audio Engineer and multi-instrumentalist Danny Fairley, with recording taking place at Hāwea’s brand new studio Mirrors Audio
“I’ve received multiple awards and nominations thanks to the imagination and production support of Danny Fairley and Mirrors audio. This is the album I’m most excited about”, said van Riel.
14 Years launches this Friday the 19th September, with the full album releasing November 27th
Pre-save 14 Years at https://music.drm.co.nz/14years
Rising Aotearoa Artist Delivers Empowering Anthem About Self-Liberation and Healing
Chasing Blues is Pareaute’s raw and uplifting anthem about love lost and self rediscovery. Blending heartfelt lyrics with imagery of freedom and renewal, the track captures the moment you let go, heal and find strength within. It’s a powerful reminder that chasing away the blues is really about finding a better place in yourself.
Chasing Blues is Pareaute’s raw and uplifting anthem about love lost and self rediscovery. Blending heartfelt lyrics with imagery of freedom and renewal, the track captures the moment you let go, heal and find strength within. It’s a powerful reminder that chasing away the blues is really about finding a better place in yourself.
Emerging Aotearoa artist Pareaute returns with her deeply personal and empowering second single ‘Chasing Blues’ a soul-stirring blend of R&B smoothness and reggae warmth that transforms heartbreak into an anthem of self-liberation .
The track, produced by acclaimed New Zealand artist Kings – the multi-platinum producer behind chart-topping hits like “Don’t Worry ’Bout It” – tells the raw story of falling out of love after years of trying to make a relationship work, and the profound freedom that comes when someone finally chooses themselves .
“This isn’t just a break-up song – it’s a healing anthem” says Pareaute, whose authentic storytelling approach draws from lived experience to create emotional honesty that resonates universally . The track paints vivid imagery of riding down a dirt road with wind in her hair and sun on her face, perfectly capturing the essence of release and renewal .
Musically, ‘Chasing Blues’ seamlessly blends 30% reggae with 24% R&B, creating a genre-crossing sound that appeals to diverse audiences while maintaining the chill, romantic mood that makes it instantly playlist-friendly. The rich instrumentation features bass guitar, electric guitar, percussion, piano and electric organ throughout, creating a medium-energy track with positive emotional dynamics .
The collaboration with Kings adds significant credibility to the release, with the renowned producer – who holds the record for longest-running No. 1 single in New Zealand chart history – bringing his expertise to Pareaute’s vision . Kings, who is also Pareaute’s cousin, has been a major inspiration in her musical journey .
This marks Pareaute’s second official release following her debut single ‘Just Another Weekend’ featuring The Western Guide, which was released in June 2025 through her partnership with Royalty Music Group. That track established her as an artist unafraid to be vulnerable while delivering polished, universal sounds that transcend borders .
‘Chasing Blues’ positions Pareaute as a compelling new voice in Aotearoa’s thriving music scene, showcasing her ability to craft songs that connect deeply with listeners through themes of heartbreak, healing and empowerment – narratives that resonate across cultures and generations.
About PAREAUTE
Pareaute is an emerging voice in Aotearoa’s music scene, known for her soulful delivery, lyrical honesty and genre-blending sound that seamlessly fuses country-pop, R&B and reggae influences . Based in Malaysia, she continues to develop her artistry through authentic storytelling and collaborations with respected producers in the local music industry.