Tablefox announce new single ‘Runaway’ - out Sept 26

Alt-rock band Tablefox return this September with their new single Runaway (out September 26).

Runaway is a story of escape - leaving behind pain, pressure, and the past. It traces the emotional journey of someone overwhelmed and lost, choosing to run not just from a place, but from a version of themselves.

But at its core, Runaway is about return. Through the light of human connection - friendship, love, empathy - the runaway finds their way back. Not just back home, but back to themselves.

With soaring guitars, heartfelt vocals, and Tablefox’s signature mix of raw energy and emotional depth, Runaway captures both the weight of leaving and the hope of rediscovery.

BENJAMIN ‘WESTSIDE’

“WESTSIDE is a love letter to the city I'm from and the people in my life that I feel I have to depart from in order to grow.  It is a romanticised story on change, and the existential realities of out growing what I know. Made in my home studio in my bedroom, written by myself and produced by NWAK. We cooked this one up in one sitting over probably about 40 mins and instantly knew that it was one of them ones.” – BENJAMIN

Hailing from Central Auckland, Rapper BENJAMIN is an artist that has had his foot on the gas in the local underground music scene over the last couple of years. Growing up, BENJAMIN was blessed enough to have had music embedded in his surroundings from the start, which has since been fostered to harness a unique passion and love for what he does.

Stylistically, his sound leans into a montage of east coast golden era rap, upon a set of modern cadences to forge a lethal arsenal of familiarity, smooth flowing pockets and head knocking frequencies. BENJAMIN is a narrator, and a true storyteller at heart, balancing his own life experiences and lessons. There is a strong sense of social responsibility in his verses that clearly point to a purpose not only at a personal level, but at a place of influence he foresees for his own future.

BENJAMIN. will follow up the DSP release with an Official Music Video (release date TBC).

Bittersweet indie rock single “Wash” captures the emotional push-pull of growth, change, and letting go in your twenties.

Aotearoa singer-songwriter CAITLIN returns with “Wash”, a bold and emotionally raw single that marks a shift into more driving, indie rock territory. The track explores the bittersweet tension of longing, personal growth, and the courage it takes to walk away from people and places you love in search of change.

Wash reflects the internal push and pull many face in their twenties - the yearning for new experiences and the grief of what gets left behind. Inspired by the wave of peers leaving New Zealand and the pull of London, the song wrestles with the regret and longing that can exist on both sides of a decision to go or stay.

Caitlin references Baldwin Street (the world’s steepest residential street in Dunedin) as a symbol for the uphill emotional labour of choosing growth and how easy it can be to slip back into comfort. The river is painted as both liberator and threat, a current that can carry you forward or sweep you away on a path that’s not driven by intentional choices. The chorus echoes this uncertainty, with the lyric: “Water your own pasture, it’ll turn green someday. Or the river will wash you away.”

“Wash” builds on the momentum of CAITLIN’s recent EP Legacy and her 2024 single What You Love, which charted at #1 on the NZ Student Radio Network and was featured on Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlists including New Music Friday AU/NZ and Equals.

As a self-managed artist, Caitlin continues to grow her presence in the alt-pop and indie scenes across Aotearoa and beyond. The release of Wash marks the beginning of a new chapter, with more singles and a new EP to follow later this year.

“Wash” is available to stream on all platforms from 29 August 2025.

dān dān end of august (hand-pulled noodles) Saturday 30 August

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland-based folk-pop artist dān dān returns with her second solo single, end of august (hand-pulled noodles).

A bittersweet reflection on distance, desire, and the quiet ache of making peace with something as it slips away.

As one half of wasian sibling duo Ersha Island 二沙岛, dān dān has been known for her bilingual storytelling and emotionally rich compositions. Her solo work leans into the playful and poetic, exploring food, identity, and culture with softness and clarity.

Following the success of her debut single ‘pressure cooker’ supported by NZ On Air and featured on Rolling Stone Australia/NZ - dān dān continues to craft a distinct space for diasporic voices in contemporary indie-pop.

”‘end of august (hand-pulled noodles)’ is about the feeling of knowing something’s ending before it actually does, and being okay with that. It’s about turning what could be bitter into something tender, something sweet, something worth savouring, even as you watch it inevitably slip away.” dān dān shares. 

Produced by Dan Martin with strings featuring sibling Tee Hao-Aickin, the track blends warm acoustics with layered harmonies and ambient textures, sitting somewhere between Lizzy McAlpine and a favourite comfort meal.

With an accompanying visualiser shot in Xi’An Food Bar on Dominion Road, end of august (hand-pulled noodles) sets the stage for dān dān’s upcoming debut EP — a gentle, self-assured project about food, love, and growing up between cultures.

Thabani Gapara Releases ‘Matunga’ Music Video Ahead of Dzindza NZ Tour

Following the announcement of his Dzindza NZ Tour and his recent nomination for Best Jazz Album at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards, acclaimed saxophonist and composer Thabani Gapara today shares the official music video for "Matunga" directed by Flora Driessen.

A highlight from his 2024 album Dzindza, "Matunga" is a dedication to Gapara’s father.

“Matunga is about honouring the people who shape who we are,” says Gapara. “For me, it’s my father, my family, and the traditions they passed down. I wanted the video to carry that same warmth and joy the song was born from.”

The release of "Matunga" builds anticipation for Gapara’s upcoming Dzindza NZ Tour, where he will bring a powerful celebration of African jazz fusion to audiences across Aotearoa.

MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS

Thabani Gapara - Artist 

Flora Driessen - Director

Creative Pwele - Project Management

Tafry Ambadar - Director of Photography

Leyla Marandi - Assistant

Cameron McCormick - Editor

Vion Slinger - Drummer 

Jabulani Moyo - Bass Guitar 

Elijah Wilson - Keyboard 

Adrian Brown - Guitar

Kisha September - Choreographer

Madison Kaycee Tipene-Thomas - Dancer

Faith Su'a - Dancer

UPCOMING SHOWS 

Tickets available at www.thabanigapara.com 

FLYNN ADAMSON RELEASES NEW SINGLE “HONEY”

Flynn Adamson was born and raised in Lyttelton. Now based in Auckland, he’s an artist who does it all: writing, producing, singing, mixing, mastering, and performing. Music is how he makes sense of the world. His sound is rooted in the music he grew up on: “basically my mum’s faves... and everything she didn’t want me listening to.” All of it comes through his artistic voice that cuts through the sea of 2025 pop music. Whether he’s playing to tens of thousands at Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park or selling out his own headline shows, there’s a warmth Flynn carries that never gets lost in the crowd. Over the past two years, he’s shared stages with NZ icons like Will Swinton, The Butlers, PRINS, Foley, Vince Harder... the list keeps growing.

“Honey” is Flynn Adamson’s latest release and is his hopeless romantic take on the honeymoon faze of a teen relationship that guarantees butterflies.

From his unique storytelling, vibrant production, ripping guitar, and charming voice, “Honey” is set apart.

The track draws inspiration from the likes of America, SuperTramp, Harry Styles, Tame Impala, and his Lyttelton small-town folk music upbringing.

At 12 Flynn started songwriting, performing, producing, mixing and releasing. Now at 19, “Honey” is a testament to the years spent working at his craft.

Will McClean Unveils Raw New Single “The Bubble Will Burst”

Aotearoa hip-hop artist Will McClean continues his streak of powerful, soul-baring releases with his brand-new single “The Bubble Will Burst”. Known for combining introspective lyricism with evocative melodies, McClean once again opens a window into his personal journey — one marked by loss, resilience, and growth.

At its core, “The Bubble Will Burst” is a meditation on grief and healing. The track finds Will grappling with the passing of his father, vividly recalling the funeral in lines like: “drove from home to the church to the cemetery in the back of the van he worked.” This raw honesty is paired with his trademark flow, weaving together themes of family, legacy, and the difficult process of confronting pain through music.

Speaking on the track, he says:

“This song is about confronting the moments you can’t escape — grief, addiction, the harsh truths of life. But it’s also about finding the strength to keep going. The whole song poured out of me over the course of one night sitting at my desk.”

This single marks the first track of the year Will McClean has released that is not self produced, however the signature blend of jazzy undertones and grounded, heartfelt delivery, allows “The Bubble Will Burst” to sit at the crossroads of classic hip-hop storytelling and deeply personal confession. It’s a track that resonates not only as music, but as a statement of vulnerability and resilience.

With his recent album HIGH GROUND, and a growing list of major festival appearances and support slots, “The Bubble Will Burst” reinforces Will McClean’s reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most authentic and moving hip-hop voices. 

Listen here : https://music.drm.co.nz/tbwb 

Something They Call Myth Unveil a Live Folk EP ‘Too: Matheson Bay Sessions’ In Collaboration with Ms. Mia And Amylia

Something They Call Myth are set to release Too: Matheson Bay Sessions, a live-recorded, four-track folk EP created in collaboration with fellow New Zealand artists Ms. Mia and Amylia. 

Captured over a single weekend in a cosy bach in Leigh, this collection distills the warmth of togetherness, late-night conversation, and shared musical moments.

With no overdubs or added production, and the subtle presence of creaking floorboards and off-mic laughter, the EP is real and intimate. The stripped-back soundscape was recorded only with two acoustic guitars, cajón, and rich three-part harmonies captured with six microphones. 

"This is the sound of friendship in real time," says Clarissa Chai from Something They Call Myth. "The aim of this project was not about reaching perfection, but rather the presence of the current moment”. 

The full EP is set to release September 25, with advance duet singles "Embers" with Ms. Mia out now and "Jack" with Amylia due to release September 12. Full tracklist: 

1. Embers - 28 August 

2. Jack - 12 September 

3. Magic Place - September 25 

4. House of Friends - September 25

About Something They Call Myth 

Something They Call Myth creates music steeped in melancholy, drawing on memories and conversations between friends for inspiration. The project began when New Zealand-born Malaysian, Clarissa returned to Auckland after a musical sojourn in South Korea, joining German-born Canadian, Lea whose search for adventure brought her to New Zealand upon finishing her studies in Architecture. While they draw from a vast range of experiences, their music is deeply rooted in the New Zealand landscape and the songwriting collaboration blossomed on a road trip of the South Island. Something They Call Myth’s multi-layered, atmospheric indie-folk sound is influenced by artists such as Bon Iver, The Japanese House, Sufjan Stevens, Great Lake Swimmers, Mumford and Sons, Dustin Tebutt, & Fleetwood Mac.