Acclaimed Aotearoa musicians Elizabeth de Vegt and Hamish Jellyman (Ngāi Tahu) return as The Flow Collective with their deeply personal new EP Black Swans, releasing on Friday, 16 May 2025, in celebration of New Zealand Music Month and de Vegt’s birthday.

The Waikato continues to grow its reputation as the hub for original Made-in-New Zealand rock music.   This week we heard the announcement that the famous Jim Beam Homegrown festival will return to its origin of Hamilton in 2026.   Waikato’s own Rise The Wicked, who self-describe as working-class rock & metal are among the many who fist-pumped, or more aptly gave the horns rock-on to the news.  

Taonga pūoro band IA teams up with award-winning artist Rei to launch their latest single, "He Piko He Tuna," an R&B-infused earworm fresh out now, marking the vibrant beginning of New Zealand Music Month.

Christchurch’s very own rising country-pop star Steffany Beck has released her first song of 2025, the rocking ‘n’ rowdy anthem, ‘Country Strong’. 

Hot off her appearance at Nostalgia Festival and following her country-tinged track ‘Mad Woman’ comes ‘It’s My Pleasure’, an explicitly fun and fizzy ode to sex and sexual desire.

Your hand holds on to the moment , just before you learn to let go, I stand at the foot of the mountain , I climb against my will, born free

Chart-topping New Zealand country artist Miranda Easten unveils her most moving release to date with When I Dream - a hauntingly beautiful ballad that captures the bittersweet ache of longing for someone who has passed on.

Dónal Gunning’s next single Losing Weight drops on the 10th May on all streaming platforms.  The Irish Musician (Dublin), now New Zealand based, is churning out some great tunes in 2025.