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.
Lomez Brown Drops Second Single ‘Watch and Listen’
Music sensation Lomez Brown is back with his captivating new single, ‘Watch and Listen’ an intimate love song blending reggae, Hawaiian, and reggae rock influences.
A Captivating Anthem of Romance and Connection That Builds Anticipation for His Upcoming Album ‘Underrated’
Music sensation Lomez Brown is back with his captivating new single, ‘Watch and Listen’ an intimate love song blending reggae, Hawaiian, and reggae rock influences. This track, filled with positive vibes and smooth rhythms, is the second single release from his forthcoming album Underrated, and promises to charm audiences worldwide.
In ‘Watch and Listen’ Lomez explores themes of love, connection, and deep affection, inviting listeners to fully engage with the bonds they share with their loved ones. The metaphor of reggae music, coupled with turning on ‘eternal lights’ creates a serene yet emotionally charged atmosphere. The smooth, soothing vocals and laid-back energy of the track capture Lomez’s unique sound, blending Polynesian grooves with reggae and soulful R&B influences.
Lomez Brown has made a significant impact in the Polynesian reggae scene since his debut in 2013, earning over 25 million combined views and streams. His hit single "Sweet Lover" achieved double platinum status in 2023 and his 2020 EP The Feels and Groove garnered over 3 million streams in just one year.
Underrated marks his highly anticipated first full-length album, promising a rich exploration of love, culture, and personal growth.
About the Artist:
Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, with Maori/Cook Island roots, Lomez has become a prominent figure in the Pacific music scene. His smooth, soulful vocals paired with infectious rhythms have earned him multiple nominations at the Pacific Music Awards, NZ Music Awards, and the Maori Music Awards, as well as a Cook Island Music Award. Lomez has toured extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and the USA, performing at major festivals like One Love NZ and the Island Reggae Festival USA.
Follow Lomez Brown:
Website |Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
Lizzy Kula shares defiant new music video for recent single ‘afterthought’
Mt Maunganui-based alt-pop rising star Lizzy Kula is showing no signs of slowing down after her sophomore single ‘afterthought’ was released last week - now joined by a cinematic and empowering new music video!
Watch the video HERE
Stream ‘afterthought’ HERE
Mt Maunganui-based alt-pop rising star Lizzy Kula is showing no signs of slowing down after her sophomore single ‘afterthought’ was released last week - now joined by a cinematic and empowering new music video!
In ‘afterthought’, Lizzy’s powerful lyricism takes centre stage and unpacks the complexities of healing from heartbreak, finding her strength and knowing her worth. Combined with edgy instrumentation, skilful production from the artist’s brother Daniel Kulasingham, and now an electric music video made with the support of NZ On Air, it's clear that exciting things await Lizzy Kula!
Made alongside director Luke Penney and Nick White (DOP), the haunting new video takes us deep into the labyrinth of navigating unhealthy relationships, being made to feel like an ‘afterthought’ - but ultimately coming out the other end stronger.
“When you find yourself getting lost in the complexity of that person’s thoughts, it is never a reflection of you - because often, they themselves are lost there too,” says Lizzy. “And after all that has happened, they can look for you everywhere and in everyone, but they won’t ever find you or anyone like you.”
Just a week from the track’s release, ‘afterthought’ has seen love from across Aotearoa (RollingStone AU/NZ, The Listener, The Most FM) and follows the impressive success of Lizzy’s debut single ‘i dreamt about you’ - which saw love from media across Aotearoa (Tearaway, Hype Medium, Welcome To The Gig, Creative Bay of Plenty) and abroad; featuring on Dutch blog Lefuturewave and UK radio station The Sound Lab.
Already making huge waves in her career and with more sonic and visual treats en route, now is the time to dive deep into the world of Lizzy Kula!
Follow Lizzy Kula
AJA returns with timeless single ‘Quiet Storm’ ft. MĀ + announces debut album!
Award-winning, Aotearoa bona fide talent AJA has today shared her breathtaking new single ‘Quiet Storm’ ft. celebrated MC MĀ + announced the release of her debut album KĀWAI - out November!
Listen to ‘Quiet Storm’ HERE
Award-winning, Aotearoa bona fide talent AJA has today shared her breathtaking new single ‘Quiet Storm’ ft. celebrated MC MĀ + announced the release of her debut album KĀWAI - out November!
An introspective reflection on the complexities of confronting pain and finding peace, ‘Quiet Storm’ melts together AJA’s ethereal vocals with the hypnotic and evocative poetry of the two performers, and a lush bed of instrumentation with contributions from some of Aotearoa’s finest.
“Our ‘state of mind’ can be a wild ‘Quiet Storm’ - a raging tempest that overwhelms the inner, but remains serene on the outer,” says AJA (pron.Asia). “Listeners can embrace this song as a process; as part of your own hīkoi, and find strength to carry you through.”
Made with the support of NZ On Air, ‘Quiet Storm’ was produced alongside legendary Aotearoa creative Mara TK, a collaborative friendship that spans the stage, studio, and AJA’s forthcoming debut record KĀWAI - out November!
The track also features celebrated Aotearoa musicians Cory Champion (drums) and Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (strings). ‘Quiet Storm’ illustrates and speaks to a strong kaupapa of collaboration - a key theme throughout the artist’s career so far - receiving the 2022 Maioha Silver Scroll Award for waiata ‘Te Iho’ - a collaboration with Byllie-Jean and Chris Wethey.
“The strength needed to endure the storm comes from those we rely on,” says AJA.
Since then, AJA (Aja Wairere Ropata - Ngāti Raukawa, Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Porou) has enthralled Aotearoa in her quiet storm - she’s toured with L.A.B, headlined Newtown Festival, performed at Cuba Dupa, the Matariki Awards and opened Wellington’s Kia Mau Festival with her self-produced show ‘Manawa Pao’. Her most recent single ‘True Love’ (2023) made several appearances across the RadioScope Airplay Charts, NZ Official Hot NZ Singles Chart, and the SRN Top 10 - peaking at #1 in the latter.
Having already achieved so much, there’s no telling the new heights that KĀWAI will reach upon its release this November. Until then, AJA invites listeners to find peace and reflection in ‘Quiet Storm’.
FOLLOW AJA
Geoff Ong shares climate-conscious banger ‘Where Will We Go When The Ocean Comes?’
Tāmaki Makaurau-based beloved indie-pop artist Geoff Ong has today unveiled a timeless and captivating anthem for climate justice, ‘Where Will We Go When The Ocean Comes?’
Listen HERE
Tāmaki Makaurau-based beloved indie-pop artist Geoff Ong has today unveiled a timeless and captivating anthem for climate justice, ‘Where Will We Go When The Ocean Comes?’
A driving, confronting and catchy exploration of climate anxiety, today’s release combines Geoff’s gifts for songwriting and imaginative pop-production - talents that have garnered the artist attention from across Aotearoa. His debut album MAYBE IT’LL BE ALRIGHT saw five songs in the NZ Official Hot Singles Chart, and he’s seen consistent support from the likes of RNZ, The Edge, ZM, SRN stations, and more.
Now, Geoff is sharing his brand new track complete with pulsing synths, cinematic instrumentation, and layers of stunning vocals that pose the urgent question ‘Where Will We Go When The Ocean Comes?’
“The climate crisis is something I worry about a lot,” says Geoff, “and I don’t often know what I can do about it. This song is something I wrote to try and process those feelings, and hopefully spur myself and others into taking action.”
This stunning new single was originally written for Geoff’s performance with The Exploding Rainbow Orchestra, a 28-piece band which performs with iconic Aotearoa songwriters to share lush arrangements of unreleased songs. Geoff performed with the group last year, alongside fellow kiwi greats Hollie Fullbrook (Tiny Ruins), Don McGlashin, Delaney Davidson, Steph Brown (Lips) and more!
“That live show was one of the biggest highlights of my whole musical journey so far, I can’t even explain it.”
Since its debut performance, ‘Where Will We Go When The Ocean Comes?’ has undergone an impressive journey of translating orchestral energy into the epic anthem released today. Entirely self-produced, mixed and mastered at Geoff’s home studio, the single joins an expansive discography of grassroots music, created entirely by the talented artist.
“I love making music at home - it’s such an integral part of my process now that I can’t imagine doing it any other way!”
Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube | Spotify | Apple | Bandcamp
A self-proclaimed “popstar for dorks”, Geoff Ong has spent the last four years cultivating a passionate fan base through a combination of online engagement, electric live performances, and his own brand of quirky pop songwriting. Recognition for Geoff’s art is catching like wildfire: with five songs from his 2020 debut album MAYBE IT’LL BE ALRIGHT placing in the Official NZ Music Charts Top 5, consistent airplay across Aotearoa from commercial and independent radio stations alike, a featured performance for the Exploding Rainbow Orchestra in 2023, and performances at Cross St Music Festival and Newtown Festival. His songwriting explores thought provoking themes - with 2023 single ‘When It Get’s Easy’ unpacking the complexities of growing up and mental health. Much of Geoff’s mahi within the Aotearoa music industry weaves together with his advocacy for greater Asian representation and racial diversity in mainstream media, performing at Asian(SOUND)Scapes music festivals and serving as a mentor for Asians In Music NZ.
Today, October 11 Aotearoa band Revulva release their hotly anticipated self-titled album
Following on from their first EP, Girls Gotta Eat (2022) and the road-rage jazz-funk and orgasmic uptempo R&B of recent singles ‘Beep Beep’ and ‘Bush Bash’, Revulva’s self-titled debut album is a musical snapshot of the hijinks, realisations and adventures they’ve lived through over the half-decade.
Today, October 11 Aotearoa band Revulva release their hotly anticipated self-titled album.
Following on from their first EP, Girls Gotta Eat (2022) and the road-rage jazz-funk and orgasmic uptempo R&B of recent singles ‘Beep Beep’ and ‘Bush Bash’, Revulva’s self-titled debut album is a musical snapshot of the hijinks, realisations and adventures they’ve lived through over the half-decade. Recorded at Doctor Lee Prebble’s Surgery Studios in Wellington, its ten-song tracklist captures the dynamic energy and juxtapositions that power their percussive grooves, spellbinding horn section and Johnson’s silky smooth songcraft and spoken word strut.
Described by Rolling Stone Australia as “strangely alluring,” the femme-fronted eight-piece formed in Wellington under the de facto leadership of the composer, lyricist, bassist and vocalist Phoebe Johnson in 2019. Since then, Johnson and her clown van full of hyper-busy musical collaborators, Lily Rose Shaw, Toby Leman, Hector McLachlan, Kaito Walley, Lennox Grootjans, Mysty Cooke, and Zane Hawkins, have won over bar, nightclub and festival audiences across New Zealand.
“This album is the culmination of five years of growing pains and hard work” shares Phoebe Johnson. “I started this project in 2019, as I wrapped my honours year studying jazz bass at Te Kōkī / New Zealand School of Music. I had written these songs primarily around frustrations I was having. At the time the jazz school had a male heavy cohort, and there were no female tutors - I felt like I had travelled back in time. Most bands I was seeing perform in Wellington had no women in their lineups. I wanted to make something that I wanted to see - a funky, exciting, fun, live set that was led by a woman.”
For five years the band have played live shows across the motu, refining their sound, and nuanced vibe, and becoming better friends each step of the way. “Each of the members is jazz-trained, and their incredible ears, musicality, empathy, and trust have shaped this project into something more layered, funky, and beautiful than I could have imagined" shares Johnson. “Even though we share a musical language, each of us comes from a different tasting palette - this has expanded the sound beyond anything I could have forged on my own.”
Like TLC, Revulva is CrazySexyCool, but they’re also puzzled by driver behaviour, mad at landlords, cheeky jokers, unashamedly feminist, and all too well aware that sometimes CrazySexyCool ends in CrazySexyAwkward.
The final single is the closing track to the album ‘Nigel’. ‘Nigel’ is based on the gannet of the same name from Mana Island, off of the north west coast of New Zealand (opposite Kapiti Island). Nigel was a lonely gannet selective about the friends he made, and refused to befriend any sea birds. Only a concrete gannet, that the Department of Conservation introduced, would Nigel hang out with. He died in late 2018 surrounded by the replica birds on the uninhabited island.
Johnson, draws comparisons to the experiences of being in your mid-twenties and seeing all your friends leave the town you spend your early adulthood in - to that of Nigel's. “The song explores themes of grieving a chapter of your life, feeling behind, but also contentment in learning to accept loneliness.”
Taking cues from Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, Jamiroquai, Steely Dan, Herbie Hancock, Minnie Ripperton and Prince, Revulva reimagines the anything-goes energy of New York City’s 1970s downtown scene and London’s 1990s funk and soul renaissance through an antipodean lens informed by the deadpan humour and the realities of 21st-century life in New Zealand. The result is a hedonistic whirlwind of acid jazz, avant-funk, disco, AOR and art-pop, where polished playing leaves room for improvisation in the heat of the moment, and real statements come bundled up with just enough laughs to soften the snarl.
To celebrate their self-titled album, releasing on October 11, Revulva will play a nationwide tour this October and November.
REVULVA NZ ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
31st October - Space Academy, Christchurch
1st November - Yours, Dunedin
2nd November - Secret Garden, Hāwea Flat, Wānaka*
*address to be released to ticket holders upon purchase
7th November - The Yard, Raglan
9th November - Neck of the Woods, Auckland
16th November - Porridge Watson, Whanganui
23rd November - San Fran, Wellington*
Tickets are on sale from undertheradar.co.nz & *Moshtix for Wellington
The album release is accompanied by a run of 200 records via Holiday Records' new crowdfund campaign. The record comes with a 12 page photo/lyric zine designed by the band’s close friend and designer, Daniel Kingston. The band will also be doing a small run of DIY CDs again, after selling out their run of 100 Girl’s Gotta Eat CDs in 2022.
Revulva’s self titled album is out now. (October 11)
QUEENDOM by Kenzie From Welly
QUEENDOM is a reminder to peel away western beauty standards piece by piece, a calling to activate internal indigenous wisdom and a surge of energy to jumpstart the heart.
QUEENDOM is a reminder to peel away western beauty standards piece by piece, a calling to activate internal indigenous wisdom and a surge of energy to jumpstart the heart.
Kenzie From Welly is the product of life challenges, self-belief, and ‘90s hip hop. Like her name proudly states, Kenzie was born in Wellington, Aotearoa, to Māori and Samoan parents, who, along with her Grandparents and culture, shaped her to become the strong woman she is today. From openly freestyling in the garage to developing her style in the privacy of her bedroom, Kenzie’s love for the hip hop artform blossomed. As her confidence grew, she began experimenting and started to collaborate with her family which include her brother Cole and well-respected MC out of Apia, Samoa, her cousin, Poetik. Once she found her feet with writing and rapping, Kenzie delved into production, engineering and ghostwriting; further cementing her as a well-rounded artist. Kenzie thrives in the space found somewhere between tradition and not conforming to society’s expectations; from her unique style of fashion to her firm understanding of her cultural roots to her unwavering sense of community and activism to, of course, her writing and performance. All of which can be found in the character she plays in the New Zealand drama miniseries, The Panthers, and her forthcoming debut album, Greenstone Door. As inspired as Kenzie is by world affairs, global music and travel, there is no place like home. Her love for music and her culture is embedded in her heart, soul, and mind state.