Chart-topping up-and-comer Ella Pollett shines bright on her new indie-pop gem, ‘A Name I Knew’
Ella Pollett is one of Aotearoa pop music’s most exciting new voices and she’s kicking off New Zealand Music Month with a bang - her new single ‘A Name I Knew’.
The young singer and songwriter has been making waves in her hometown of Napier for a few years now. But it was her NZ on Air funded single ‘Losing My Mind’ - released in October last year - that drew nationwide attention and saw her topping the Hot 20 Aotearoa Singles chart.
Now Ella returns with her first single of 2026, the indie-pop gem ‘A Name I Knew’. A powerful song, it highlights Ella’s honest and relatable storytelling lyricism, as well as her knack for turning out infectious pop hooks and strong melodies that leave you wanting more.
“I’m drawn to music that feels real and honest,” says Ella.
Ella explains that ‘A Name I Knew’ is about “holding onto someone who has already started to feel like a stranger. It captures that in-between stage where nothing has fully ended, but everything has changed. Memories still feel close, but the connection doesn’t.”
With a mix of nostalgia, vulnerability and quiet acceptance woven throughout the track - produced by Nigel Mauchline - ‘A Name I Knew’ also sees the talented singer and songwriter delving more into a moodier and atmospheric soundscape; showcasing an artist who’s not resting on her laurels but rather honing her craft and pushing into new sonic spaces.
Ella is one of Lil Sister’s Rising Stars - an initiative which aims to shine a spotlight on Aotearoa’s newest and brightest emerging acts. And this powerful new song sees Ella living up to her reputation as one of New Zealand’s most exciting new talents.
At their core, Midwave Breaks are a Rock band — but their record collection and live shows often tell a more complex story, and for this latest release, they found inspiration from an unexpected source. After watching I'm Tim — the documentary about the life and death of Swedish DJ and producer Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii — Bruce and Paul found themselves drawn to one of his most recognisable songwriting traits: a simple, powerful melodic phrase that anchors the entire track. That influence runs through the heart of A Thousand Years, providing a strong, repeated central motif that sticks long after the last note fades.
The band are longstanding and enthusiastic supporters of NZ Music Month, regularly using the platform to shine a light on work from fellow local artists, both past and present. This year, they're proud to be adding their own new music to the conversation.
A Thousand Years is available from Friday May 1st on all streaming platforms, and downloadable from bandcamp.com.
Midwave Breaks arrive at this release with real momentum behind them - previous single Waste of Time is still turning heads on rock radio across Aotearoa. Now, with A Thousand Years adding to a growing string of successful singles, the band are closing in on something bigger: their debut full-length album of all new material, currently in it’s final stages, independently produced in the hills overlooking the Bay of Plenty, is due to land in the coming months.