Aotearoa triple-threat Sally Stockwell shares poignant and unsettling single + video ‘Far & Wide’
Multi-faceted Ōtautahi-based artist Sally Stockwell has made a charged return to releasing music with today’s new indie-rock single + video ‘Far & Wide’
Listen to ‘Far & Wide’ HERE
Watch the video HERE
Multi-faceted Ōtautahi-based artist Sally Stockwell has made a charged return to releasing music with today’s new indie-rock single + video ‘Far & Wide’
A blend of her seasoned experiences across theatre, songwriting and performance, ‘Far & Wide’ takes listeners on a vivid journey and paints an exciting new era for Sally’s music. The haunting track uses driving guitars, huge dynamic shifts, raw and gritty vocals, and a pulsing rhythm section to accompany Sally’s intimate navigation through a complicated subject matter.
“It’s about needing to escape from the inner turmoil and conflict of being a parent - struggling with the demands of motherhood and escaping to find self-preservation,” says Sally. “So it’s about wanting independence and identity away from my children, but also the guilt and fear of being perceived as abandoning them, and the redemptive power of a child’s love.”
Today’s release is the first since Sally’s 2015 debut album WEIGHTLESS - a tribute to her late brother which saw much aroha from across Aotearoa (RNZ - NZ Live, The Herald, NZ Musician, Elsewhere, Denizen, Sunday). Since then, she’s seen huge success touring the motu with her theatre shows (Splore, Auckland Festival of Arts, The Ōtautahi Tiny Festival, Taranaki Arts Festival) - including ‘We’ve Got So Much To Talk About’ - the show that inspired much of her new music, and features ‘Far & Wide’.
“Far & Wide’ has taken a lot of renditions. In the stage show, it starts out as a lullaby then goes into a full throttle punk song,” says Sally.
Helping translate the theatrical nature of Sally’s performance into today’s electric single, the track was recorded at LAB Studios alongside producer Eden Mulholland (Ngāti Porou), before it was mastered by Chris Chetland at Kog Studios.
More exciting illustration of Sally Stockwell’s vast artistry, a new music video has been released alongside the track! Further solidifying the deeply personal and intimate nature of her storytelling, the video features Sally and her kids, and was directed by good friend Jacqueline Nairn, with additional collaboration from David Paul (DOP).
“I’ve been a mother for the last 10 years, so my music is a reflection of how I’ve navigated that journey - finding my artistic voice and changing identity alongside being a parent,” says Sally. “It’s been a struggle and I think that’s common amongst mothers, so I want my music to reflect that reality.”
Find Sally Stockwell
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Eve Kelly cruises into spring with warm new single ‘Dreaming’
Aotearoa soul-pop lovers are bound to fall in love with Eve Kelly’s blissful new track ‘Dreaming’ - a love letter to the Bay of Plenty - out today!
Aotearoa soul-pop lovers are bound to fall in love with Eve Kelly’s blissful new track ‘Dreaming’ - a love letter to the Bay of Plenty - out today!
The newly Ōtautahi-based artist hails from Whākatane, and today’s uplifting single is the result of a natural collaboration with Tourism Bay of Plenty - because who better to narrate the beauty of the region than the soulful voice of honey that is Eve Kelly.
“They wanted something to help capture the essence of this dream destination,” explains Eve. “There’s so much natural beauty in the Bay of Plenty, so we really wanted to capture those dreamy, sunshine vibes.”
Eve Kelly has quickly established herself as an exciting Aotearoa talent, known for her sunshine-filled pop hooks with hints of jazz, soul and funk.
Today’s release follows her most recent single ‘Summer Lovin’ (NZOA New Tracks, 13th Floor, JUICE TV), and singles ‘Boy’ (Apple Music New Music Daily, New In Pop (AU/NZ), NZOA NewTracks, The Feed), ‘Mr Big Shot’ (RDU Top 10, SRN, The Project), ‘Dance with Me’ and debut ‘Gotta Let Go’ (2022) - not to mention her classical training and extensive background in musical theatre!
‘Dreaming’ was written alongside regular collaborator and guitarist Jason Herbert, before being recorded at Wyre Studios in Tāmaki Makaurau, with some of Aotearoa’s finest musicians Tom Broone (drums), Chip Matthews (bass), and Christian Mausia (trumpet). Another regular collaborator, Christian Tjandrawinata, worked his magic as engineer and producer to bring the lush track to life.
“I wanted to lean into a real ‘kiwi’ vibe with ‘Dreaming’,” says Eve, “and having such incredible NZ musicians play on the track, really gave it that feel.”
A genuine and sweet love letter to her home, and a testament to Eve Kelly’s gift for uplifting songwriting - ‘Dreaming’ is bound for your summer soundtrack!
Find Eve Kelly
Tusekah paints dreamy picture of being in love with new single + video ‘Baby’s Breath’
Tāmaki Makaurau-based RnB star Tusekah has today released her heartfelt, groovy new single ‘Baby’s Breath’ - alongside a stunning new music video!
Listen to ‘Baby’s Breath’ HERE
Watch the video HERE
Tāmaki Makaurau-based RnB star Tusekah has today released her heartfelt, groovy new single ‘Baby’s Breath’ - alongside a stunning new music video!
A fairytale depiction of being in love, ‘Baby’s Breath’ sweeps listeners off their feet with tender and romantic lyrics, soulful vocals and lush instrumentation. “I feel like I don’t actually know that ‘Baby’s Breath’ is realistic,” admits Tusekah. “I wrote it when I felt the most genuinely in love I had been with a person, but I also felt the relationship was coming to an end for many reasons.”
Perfectly capturing the feeling of getting lost between reality and fantasy, the track follows what has already been a whirlwind career for the South Africa-born, Dunedin-raised artist. A delicate mesh of neo-soul, RnB and pop sensibilities, her singles have regularly been playlisted across commercial and student radio in Aotearoa and South Africa, and seen play on Triple J (Aus) and BBC Radio One (UK). She’s a regular in Spotify editorial playlists, and this year, Tusekah headlined her first tour of Aotearoa following the release of her empowering latest single ‘I’ve Changed’, and opened for celebrated US artist PJ Morton!
Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘Baby’s Breath’ was written after Tusekah and producer Ethan Jupe hit it off at a writing night hosted by Parachute Studios. “We arranged a studio session at Parachute for the next day where ‘Baby’s Breath’ was written.” Produced and engineered by Ethan, additional elements were recorded at his studio in Tāmaki Makaurau, before the track was mastered at Downbeat Mastering.
Also released today is a stunning new music video, made alongside director Taylor Nixon, capturing the ‘honeymoon phase’ of a relationship, an “exaggerated, heightened, love-rich version of reality”. Filmed at popular Auckland dining spot Coco’s Cantina, the music video stars Tusekah and Theo Shakes.
“It’s not the full story of a relationship, but I hope people can enjoy the moment in isolation,” says Tusekah. “I hope people use this as their wedding song.”
Today's enthralling release is bound to see love from across Aotearoa and beyond, and Tusekah is not an Aotearoa artist you want to miss!
Find Tusekah
Volt's Highly Anticipated Debut Album Set to Release on October 18th
Featuring some of their earlier singles, including the recently released radio hit "Make Up Your Mind," Volts invite listeners to explore a sonic landscape filled with energetic riffs, emotive melodies, and introspective lyrics.
Volts are thrilled to announce the release of their debut self-titled album, set to hit streaming platforms on October 18th. With a powerful collection of tracks that showcases the band's distinctive sound, this album marks a significant milestone in their musical journey.
Featuring some of their earlier singles, including the recently released radio hit "Make Up Your Mind," Volts invite listeners to explore a sonic landscape filled with energetic riffs, emotive melodies, and introspective lyrics.
In addition to existing fan favourites, the album will also include a selection of brand-new tracks that represent the band’s musical evolution.
"We've poured our hearts and souls into this album, and we can't wait for everyone to hear it," said vocalist, Lorna Coll. "It's a culmination of our experiences, emotions and progression as band. We hope it resonates with people."
To celebrate the album release, Volts will be hosting an exclusive launch party, at A Rolling Stone in Christchurch on Saturday 19th October.
4Sepi 'PTSD'
Coming from a loving, caring, immigrant household with deep values, Kam was given an understanding of how important it is to represent the indigenous culture that he comes from while speaking what he believes. 4Sepi fuses his love of music with activism.
Kam AKA 4Sepi is an up and coming rapper based in Brisbane. He was born to a Persian family but raised in Aotearoa where he grew up in the 90’s heavily influenced by Hip Hop & Rap culture.
Growing up Kam always had a passion for writing music and poetry and used these as tools for self-expression that gave him a way to navigate through life and the challenges that inevitably come. He witnessed his friends dying at a young age, falling victim to their bad choices, and this was a wakeup call for him.
Coming from a loving, caring, immigrant household with deep values, Kam was given an understanding of how important it is to represent the indigenous culture that he comes from while speaking what he believes. 4Sepi fuses his love of music with activism.
In December of 2021, Kam tragically lost his Number #1 fan, his youngest sister, Sepi. She was the youngest of three siblings, Kam was the eldest and someone Sepi looked up to as a role model. They shared an unbreakable bond.
Sepi was a victim of domestic violence, leaving behind a beautiful 5-month-old baby girl.
Sepi is the inspiration behind all of 4Sepi’s music, his first single released earlier this year “I miss You” captured the attention of multi-platinum selling, grammy nominated record producer, Scott Storch, who shared the song on his social media, along with Actor/Singer Rotimi.
His 2nd single “PTSD” is dropping on the 17th October and features New Zealand’s own R&B star Vince Harder on the hook. Again, the song is inspired by Sepi and her story.
A collaborative effort, “PTSD” started with a beat from Egyptian producer Dathunnybeats then lyrics and melody were crafted by 4Sepi, Vince and legendary songwriter Ron La Pread, an original member of The Commodore’s.
Listen to PTSD here.
BETH TORRANCE 'Tiny Flowers'
This deeply personal collection of songs explores the dynamic interplay of heartache and connection to the environment one inhibits, bringing forth a rich tapestry of sound and imagery.
Beth Torrance, the enigmatic and emotive Tāmaki Makaurau based artist, announces her second EP, ‘Tiny Flowers’, set to release Friday, 18th October.
This deeply personal collection of songs explores the dynamic interplay of heartache and connection to the environment one inhibits, bringing forth a rich tapestry of sound and imagery.
‘Tiny Flowers’ is a reflective exploration of Torrance’s teenage years in Thames, a coastal town that serves as the emotional heart of the EP. “The first song I wrote was ‘Danby Field’ in 2021. Its emotional range encapsulates the EP’s essence, from bright catharsis to potent quietude, reflecting the fluctuating nature of heartache.”
The EP is imbued with themes of nostalgia, loneliness, and a profound connection to the whenua and the sea. Torrance describes the process of songwriting as a means to articulate and understand her feelings: “Often, it’s only once I’ve written a song that I’m able to fully express what I’m feeling. The EP explores enduring heartache and the struggle to reconcile reality with desire, particularly when you’re physically present in the place where it all happened.”
The recording process for ‘Tiny Flowers’ was a blend of intimate home recordings and studio sessions at Bigpop Studios, with Jacob Rush engineering the project. Noteworthy collaborations include Los Angeles-based musician Rigby, who contributed dreamy vocals to “Ankle Socks,” and violinist Pearl Hindley, whose contributions added a folky richness to tracks like “Angeline.” Torrance’s innovative approach is also evident in “Oh, Isn’t It So Beautiful, This Life?” – a spoken word piece recorded live to capture its raw, cathartic energy.
The EP offers the focus track, “Ankle Socks”, a standout song that explores themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. The song captures the poignant feelings of revisiting a familiar place or encountering a triggering scent, the story enhanced by its surreal, dreamy music video. Described as sprawling with its evolving structure, “Ankle Socks” was recorded at Bigpop's Drake Street Studios with engineer Jacob Rush and features raw demo vocals preserved by Torrance herself, re-recorded guitar parts, and plucked strings by Pearl Hindley. The music video, filmed at the artist’s home and Muriwai Beach, visually amplifies the song’s expansive and surreal nature, reminiscent of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. The artist hopes the song resonates with listeners, evoking a deep sense of place and memory.
THE VEILS RELEASE NEW SONG & VIDEO FOR ‘THE LADDER’
Having just announced their seventh studio album, Asphodels - due out on January 24th, 2025 on V2 Records / Banished From The Universe - The Veils give us a taste of what’s to come with the release of first single ‘The Ladder’
The Veils are an English/New Zealand rock band fronted by singer and songwriter Finn Andrews. Having just announced their seventh studio album, Asphodels - due out on January 24th, 2025 on V2 Records / Banished From The Universe - The Veils give us a taste of what’s to come with the release of first single ‘The Ladder’
‘The Ladder’ was initially inspired by the crazed and mystical paintings of Hieronymus Bosch, who often painted ladders as routes to psychological exploration. Andrews explains, “It’s about the longing to transcend the relentless chaos of our world, I suppose. But don’t let that description get you down, it’s also a jaunty little number.”
To accompany the first single, The Veils have released a music video filmed on location at Parihoa on the west coast of Auckland, halfway between Muriwai and Te Henga. Director Tu Neill explains “When Finn first sent me the track, I kept thinking about big, beautiful landscape paintings and how many times I've looked at that view and how surreal it appears, like a painting. The song has a beautiful simplicity and is really stripped back like much of the album so it felt appropriate to make a video that reflected that pared back feeling. We joked about how this must be what middle age is like. Less noise, more to the point and feeling at ease with letting things speak for themselves.”
Asphodels was recorded live to tape over five days at Roundhead Studios in Aotearoa New Zealand, in the spring of 2023. “After almost two decades of writing songs exclusively about love and death, it's nice to finally write something about home DIY equipment. This is unfortunately only partially true and it is ultimately, of course, a song about love and death.” says lead singer and songwriter Finn Andrews.
The Veils debut album The Runaway Found turned 20 last year which provided lead singer/songwriter Finn Andrews with a healthy dose of existential dread. “I feel as though this album is the end result of a now disconcertingly long career in music,” says Andrews. “I think after your 7th album, much like turning 40, you should really just stop counting. I’ve learned a lot along the way, which I suppose is the whole point, and I’ve really distilled it all into these 9 songs.”
The album takes its name from the Ancient Greek flower of the Underworld, and lyrically, Andrews draws more from poets like Federico García Lorca, Ted Hughes or Louis MacNeice than he does from the well of more traditional rock and roll songwriters. The collaboration between Andrews and string arranger Victoria Kelly is also a central aspect to the record, and as with the band’s previous album …And Out Of The Void Came Love, Kelly plays a large role in bringing the songs to life. Andrews says “I really wanted the string arrangements to behave like another member of the band. We even fleshed the character out, like an actor playing a role. It’s this collaboration with Vic that is really at the centre of this record I think.”
The Veils made their glorious return to the stage in 2023/24 with sold out shows across Europe, North America & Australasia. The band will begin touring significantly again in support of Asphodels in early 2025.
Asphodels will be released on January 24, 2025 on V2 Records/ Banished From The Universe.
Preorders are now available from theveils.com/shop
A Brief History of The Veils
Since being signed to Rough Trade when lead singer Finn Andrews was 16 years old, The Veils have now released seven studio albums: The Runaway Found (2004), Nux Vomica (2006), Sun Gangs (2009), Time Stays, We Go (2013), Total Depravity (2016), ...And Out Of The Void Came Love (2023), Asphodels (2025). Finn’s debut solo album One Piece At A Time was released in 2019.
The Veils have toured consistently throughout their over twenty-year history and garnered a formidable reputation as one of the world’s greatest live bands. They have also been praised by film directors Paolo Sorrentino, Tim Burton and David Lynch who have all used their music on their soundtracks.
Finn now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand with his wife and daughter.
Previous praise for The Veils:
“Refreshingly passionate... Andrews rages with a Herculean intensity.” Guardian
“Horse-whipped, lightning-crash clamour... magnetic.” Pitchfork
“Finn Andrews doesn’t breathe the same air as the rest of us… essential for anyone who likes their music to stand metaphorically on a mountaintop and rage at distant stars.” The Observer
“One of the finest songwriters of his generation.” Drowned in Sound
KIRSTEN MORRELL SHARES FEEL GOOD SINGLE ‘AVIGNON’
Kirsten Morrell, celebrated singer and co-writer from iconic NZ band Goldenhorse releases ‘Avignon’ the third single from her forthcoming album ‘Morrellium’.
Kirsten Morrell, celebrated singer and co-writer from iconic NZ band Goldenhorse releases ‘Avignon’ the third single from her forthcoming album ‘Morrellium’.
Morrell describes the track as “Disco with a new twist.”
‘Avignon’ follows the release of singles ‘Strawberry Fool’ (15 September 2023) and ‘Harry’ (10 November 2023).
‘Avignon’ draws inspiration from all forms of creativity “art, theatre, yoga, performance, french pop artists” all feed in to the song, as well as experiences Morrell encountered while on a “visual art adventure” backpacking through Europe as a teenager, and in particular a cubist painting by Picasso which inspired themes of the song.
“The painter chose to shift our reading as a viewer. It got me thinking, I guess he was tired of systems of class, corruption and that sort of thing” shares Morrell. “I guess the sense of my song is a celebration when the chips are down. Plus I'm starting to use my french and that feels great, it's a shift I'm enjoying."
As well as drawing inspiration from her time in the enchanting French city of Avignon, this song also honours a philosophical place “a place where I take the pressure off myself and say ‘listen to that young girl , don’t listen to me, just dance, have fun!’” reflects Morrell.
This feeling is at the heart of Avignon. “This song tells you to dance” says Morrell “ to for a while forget about the daily grind, shake your booty and groove!”
Morrell wrote this song during covid “during lockdown it was so tranquil and quiet” she shares. Like many of us during this time Morrell sought solace in the simple things like yoga and gardening.
Art and fitness are intrinsically linked for Morrell, “the heart of meditation is about taking ourselves a little less seriously” she shares.
Morrell is well known for her sparkling career with Goldenhorse who released three multi-platinum selling albums and have been covered by everyone from Harper Finn to Hans Pucket and Erny Belle.
Goldenhorse achieved triple platinum status in New Zealand with their debut album Riverhead (2002) and double-platinum sales with Out of The Moon (2005). Riverhead went to number one on the album charts and spent 70 weeks in the Top 40 chart in New Zealand. It has sold over 50,000 copies. Out of The Moon debuted at number two and sold over 30,000 albums. The band gained international record deals and worked territories such as Germany, Canada, and London UK.
Morrell then released a solo album, Ultraviolet (2010) which revealed some of her best songwriting and music production abilities.
Kirsten Morrell’s new single ‘Avignon’ releases today, October 17, 2024.
‘Avignon’ is out now and available on all streaming platforms.
‘Avignon’ music video coming soon.