CAITLIN - Live at Space Academy, Christchurch

Caitlin Bradley (CAITLIN) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter making a mark on the alternative music scene. Caitlin is known for her skilful lyricism, infectious energy, and her ability to win over audiences with captivating performances.

Her first headline show since 2022 follows the successful release of her alternative pop EP, ‘Legacy’, on the 8th of November, 2024. Her successful folk-pop single ‘Light Leak’ charted on the New Zealand Alt Music Charts and ‘What You Love’ reached #1 on the NZ Student Radio Network Charts.

Caitlin has opened for New Zealand music industry legends such as Jon Toogood (Shihad, The Adults), Jordan Luck (The Dance Exponents), Hollie Smith, and Jamie McDell. 

She has built a strong community of fans in NZ attributing to the success of local headlining shows. Recent performing highlights have included playing the iconic Nostalgia Festival, Single Fin Mingle Festival, Tea Party Festival, opening for There’s A Tuesday and Mim Jensen.

Caitlin is a key one-to-watch in the New Zealand music scene, having received NZ on Air Development Funding and support, career mentorship with APRA AMCOS, and was selected as an artist and songwriter at a songwriting camp at Big Fan (Joel Little’s studio) in Auckland, New Zealand.

Secure your tickets to her show HERE:

LIBERTY 'ARE WE DEAD'

Liberty, breakout singer-songwriter, is making a strong mark in the music industry. Her debut single, "I Wanna," has already racked up over 65,000 streams in just two months, setting the stage for what’s sure to be a remarkable career. Following this success, Liberty’s highly anticipated second single, "Are We Dead," is set to drop on February 21st, through UK-based B-Unique Records (James Bay, Kodaline, Snow Patrol).

Co-written and produced in a collaborative session with the talented Aubrie Mitchell, "Are We Dead" is a powerful follow-up to Liberty’s debut. Reflecting on the experience, Liberty shares, "I was so excited coming into this session—it was the first time I got to work with another female producer, and the energy was incredible." In August last year, Liberty gave fans a sneak peek of the track by leaking it during a TikTok live session, and the response was overwhelming. Since then, "Are We Dead" has become a fan favorite and a regular request on her livestreams.

With a rapidly growing fanbase, Liberty has over 350K followers and 7 million likes across Instagram and TikTok. Her captivating online presence has helped her connect with fans from all corners of the globe.

The new year kicked off with a bang for Liberty as she opened for American band Sublime at their sold-out Hawkes Bay show on January 1st. The momentum from the release of "I Wanna" continues to propel her career, landing her on the front page of local news paper Hawkes Bay Today, and securing appearances on The Hits and The Breeze. She was also featured in NZ Herald and was included in NZ on Air’s “New Tracks” compilation. Liberty reflects, “I’m beyond excited to see where this next song will take me, especially after the incredible success of ‘I Wanna.’”

Liberty’s rise on social media and her unique, creative lyrics quickly caught the attention of B-Unique Records, who invited her to their Los Angeles studios to collaborate with their US-based writers. Reflecting on the experience, Liberty shared, "It really sparked my love for writing with others and how that can bring out ideas I wouldn’t have come up with on my own."

Less than a year later, Liberty was back in New Zealand when she flew to Auckland for a few writing sessions, one of which led to the creation of "Are We Dead." Liberty recalls, "I came into the session and played Aubrie the first verse to see what she thought. She loved it, and within the next hour, we had pretty much finished writing it."

About an hour into the session, Liberty and Aubrie encountered some technical issues with the equipment, forcing them to drive across town to finish the track at Big Fan studios. Liberty reflects, "In hindsight, I think this actually shaped the song’s production. We bonded over a shared love for Gracie Abrams at the start of the session, and during the drive over to Big Fan, we listened to her album The Secret of Us. I think you can definitely hear that influence in the finished track."

The inspiration for "Are We Dead" struck Liberty as she drove through her hometown and noticed that both of the places where she had gone on dates with a guy had closed down. Still thinking about him, she came up with the opening lines: "The places that we dated have both since closed, Like the door to your room, like your eyes in your tomb, And I know that I should even notice, But I can’t seem to lose focus."

Liberty describes the song as a reflection of her own experience with delusion in relationships: "It's about holding onto that tiny bit of hope—that maybe the relationship isn't really over. It's not ‘dead.’"

COUNTRY ARTIST KARRA RHODES RAISES THR BAR WITH POWERFUL NEW RELEASE “See What She’s Worth”

Ōtautahi Christchurch singer-songwriter KARRA RHODES delivers an inspiring and empowering release with new track ‘See What She’s Worth’.

Emerging country-pop artist Karra Rhodes is carving her place in the music scene with her latest release, See What She’s Worth. This raw, unapologetic track explores the reality of domestic violence and celebrates the courage of women who break free. It’s a stirring blend of country soul, pop energy, and rock grit that showcases Rhodes’s ability to tackle life’s toughest topics head-on.

With influences like Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain, Rhodes’s music is rooted in storytelling, with lyrics that hit home. See What She’s Worth is no exception—a song for anyone reclaiming their life and rewriting their story. Combining emotional depth with powerful vocals, the song echoes deeply with those who’ve fought their way through hardship and decided to fight for more.

Behind the scenes, award-winning music producer Greg Haver lends his considerable production expertise to the mix, ensuring that See What She’s Worth hits all the right notes with its contemporary and gritty sound, before sending it off to Sterling Sound in Nashville for mastering.

With a gift for storytelling, Karra is showcasing just what listeners can expect to hear from her upcoming debut album, Hometown Therapy, expected to drop mid-2025.

FLAXXIES ANNOUNCE NEW ZEALAND + AUSTRALIAN TOUR *** NEW SINGLE ‘SURE THING DUDE!’ OUT NOW

Tāmaki Makaurau-based musical adventurers Flaxxies are preparing to cross the Tasman for an eight-date tour supporting fellow Kiwi band Daily J before returning home for seven shows across the North Island. To celebrate their upcoming Australasian tour, today they drop their latest single ‘Sure Thing Dude!’, the first single off their forthcoming EP Growing Pains due out later this year.

After a very successful run of sold-out summer shows and electric festivals across the motu, Flaxxies are ready to hit the Australian road for the first time, with fellow Kiwi indie-psych rockers Daily J. Taking their energetic fusion of surf-blues, psych-rock and reggae goodness to a brand new Aussie audience.

The old high school mates Eric Goodger (lead guitar), Nick Tait (rhythm guitar), Chris Manning (bass/trumpet), Benji Humphries (lead singer) and Neo Lee (drums), recorded ‘Sure Thing Dude!’ at The Lab Studios with help from their friends and regular collaborators Ryan Cruickshank and Oliver Harmer.

With ‘Sure Thing Dude!’ Flaxxies bring the fire with a vibey punk-pop track full of the infectious energy this young band is renowned for. A song that delves into the daunting prospect of having to go along with the flow of getting older, even though you’re not ready for it, or enjoying it.

While ‘Sure Thing Dude!’s surfy-punk-rock sound is a slight departure from Flaxxies skanking reggae counterparts, it’s a sound that is all Flaxxies and the band describe as “infused with an energy ideal for hyping yourself up to hit those double overhead sets on your foam top shorty. This track is a guaranteed charger!”

‘Sure Thing Dude!’ follows the Tiki Taane produced ‘Daywrecker’, and ‘Heart Of Fire’, both radio-friendly instant HOT 20 NZ SINGLE CHART entries for the fun-loving Kiwi chart magnets.

A track bursting with fresh and vibrant energy, ‘Sure Thing Dude!’ is centered around the struggles of breaking into adulthood and getting to the age where life starts to feel really serious, as Benji sings: “…is this a phase, oh; Cause I can’t stop the change…Sure thing dude (will you ever grow up); Sure thing dude (God you’re such a screwup)…”

Flaxxies explain: “It’s like constantly finding yourself lost in nostalgia where the times seemed to be simpler, and longing to hold onto that youthful naivety rather than face the inevitable but somewhat daunting task of becoming a functional member of society.”

FLAXXIES are a must-see act, enjoying a well-deserved reputation for always bringing their infectious fun-filled energy to every show, making them one of Aotearoa’s most in-demand young live bands as they continue to accumulate a solid live following wherever they perform.

Keep your eyes peeled for the video for ‘Sure Thing Dude!’ due out at the end of the month, and head to their website to book your tickets now to make sure you catch these musical larrikins live before summer ends! Go to flaxxies.nz for tickets and all show details.

SEE FLAXXIES LIVE THIS SUMMER!

Australian Tour February – March ’25 - (Supporting Daily J)

Feb 26th - Wollongong @ La La La's

Feb 27th - Newcastle @ King Street

Feb 28th - Sydney @ Factory Theatre

March 5th - Gold Coast @ Miami Marketta (Headline sideshow)

March 6th - Sunshine Coast @ Solbar

March 7th - Brisbane @ The Brightside

March 8th - Melbourne @ The Corner Hotel

March 9th - Torquay @ Torquay Hotel

Sure Thing Dude! New Zealand Tour March – April ‘25

March 14th - Matakana @ The Stables

March 15th - Waiheke @ The Heke

March 22nd - Mount Maunganui @ Totara St

March 29th - Raglan @ The Yard

April 5th - Auckland @ Double Whammy

April 25th - Gisborne @ Smash Palace

April 26th - Hawkes Bay @ Peak House

For more information and tickets, go to:  https://flaxxies.nz/

Folk trio Bidibids announce debut EP

Wellington-based folk trio the Bidibids are excited to announce their self-titled debut EP, available right now on streaming platforms. The record collects a handful of lush, intricate ballads and bluegrass-inspired toe-tappers which have become staples of the band’s set lists over the last few years. Sarah’s honest, intimate songwriting and Brendan’s blazing musicianship combine to create songs which are eccentric and irreverent but also heartfelt and moving. 

Album link

Since 2021, the Bidibids have become regulars in the Wellington folk scene. With Sarah August on banjo and guitar, Simon Carryer on cello-banjo, and Brendan Schenk on mandolin and guitar, they are steeped in bluegrass and Americana, but inspired by the idea of creating an authentic home-grown folk sound. Their debut EP was recorded in a small home studio in New Zealand’s rural heartland, with stripped-back and spare production to give the feeling of sitting in the room with the musicians.

These are songs about love and fear, and joy and sadness. I think everyone who hears them will be able to connect to those feelings.” - Sarah August

The band will be touring in support of their EP in March 2025, with shows in Wellington, Picton, Nelson and Christchurch.

March 1st - Vogelmorn Upstairs, Wellington (with Butter Wouldn’t Melt)

March 7th - Le Cafe, Picton

March 8th - Mussel Inn, Onekaka

March 9th - Rīwaka Hotel, Nelson

BODY OF WORK RELEASES 'SECONDHAND BLUES', TRACK 4 & TITLE TRACK FROM THE SECONDHAND BLUES EP

Body of Work has released its fourth single from a collaboration with Manchester artist Dan B. Hill. 'Secondhand Blues' is the title track from a small collection of break-up songs, Secondhand Blues.

A summery bop, it plays with themes of time and distance, eliciting both the bittersweet pang of letting go – and Berlin day club vibes. There shall be remixes!

The musical project of Sarah Illingworth, Body of Work has released three earlier singles – 'Remember My Decision For One Day', a reminder that the cloud will always lift; 'Maudlin To None', a reflection on the pull between places a person can feel; and 'Bottle To Go', which communicates the pursuit of connection within the context of loneliness.

Birthed in 2019 by the Birmingham-born, West Yorkshire-based Hill, who asked Illingworth to write lyrics for some pop tracks he'd banged out on Logic, the songs have finally been finished – several years after she moved back to Aotearoa c/o Covid.

With initial support from Cam Ballantyne (We Were Dangerous, Nude Tuesday), the songs were rearranged as live entities, mostly performed and entirely produced by Shannon Fowler (Tom Lark, Shannon Matthew Vanya, The Fuzzy Robes). Fowler engineered the tracks, assisted by Maude Morris (Lexxa, LIPS) on 'Bottle To Go' and 'Thinking Of You'. Julien Dyne (himself, The Circling Sun, Half Hexagon) plays drums on all but 'Secondhand Blues'. Jeremy Toy (Leonard Charles, She's So Rad, Leonard Simpson Duo) mastered them. Thanks also to Big Pop and Big Fan for being supportive and generous, and providing studio space.

"I've been a band girlfriend a few times, and this was meant as a cheeky tap at that, in a way that's intended to give myself – and other women that have done that dance – a little dignity and agency in the situation," says Illingworth.

"You're not a stereotype following someone else around, you're navigating you're own life, career, hopes and dreams – while someone else is hell bent on theirs. It may still be a man's world, but women should always fight for theirs in whatever way feels right to them."

Secondhand Blues will be released in full later this year.

RISING SINGER-SONGWRITER JENNI SMITH SHARES EUPHORIC NEW SINGLE ‘LAUGH LOUDER’

Tamaki Makaurau-based pop-country singer-songwriter JENNI SMITH reveals her new song ‘LAUGH LOUDER’, a sassy, sunshine track about leaving toxic relationships behind and finding personal joy and freedom again. The perfect new year song, ‘Laugh Louder’ beautifully sums up letting go of the old and moving on to have a fun-filled fresh, new start.

‘Laugh Louder’ is a celebratory break-up song, revelling in the fact that leaving someone doesn’t always end in heartbreak, but can lead to a rediscovery of freedom and sense of self, and the knowledge that life can get better because sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side!

Jenni says: “’Laugh Louder’ is written about my personal experience of leaving a relationship with a toxic person, someone who wanted to dull my light. When I left the relationship I thought I should feel sad but instead I felt free and like I could finally be every part of who I am. Writing this song was the most therapeutic thing ever. I started out writing a brassy, revenge song but I ended up writing a light-hearted song about leaving negativity behind and moving forward to enjoy my freedom.”

Written by Jenni with the help of her friend Agustina Rivas, Laugh Louder’ was recorded, produced, and mixed by Jenni’s regular collaborators: renowned engineer/producer Scott Seabright (Mumford and Sons, Broods, Six60), musician Neo Aiono-Fukushima, and mastered by Chris Shetland of KOG Studio. The track is also accompanied by a charming video directed by Connor Magatogia, with cinematographer Riley Aitken, and co-starring Nikolai Pasichnik.

 “I started writing this song, completed a verse and a half, then got stuck. I called my friend Agustina and she helped me finish the song. She encouraged me to embrace my sassy side and let the anger I had about the relationship show in the song. And I’ve worked with Scott and Neo together on many projects - they are the dream team. Their ideas helped give this song the uplifting sound it needed.”, says Jenni.

The 24-year-old singer-songwriter happily embodies the girl-next-door trope with her romantic, personal song-writing style being a perfect match for the pop-country genre. Jenni lives and breathes music, and since joining New Zealand’s vibrant country music scene at the age of 12, she can lay claim to a couple of notable achievements: taking out Songwriter of the Year at the 2018 NZCMA Entertainer of the Year Awards, and 2024’s song ‘T-Shirt’ landing at #3 on the Official NZ Singles Chart.

There's something for everyone in Jenni's country- influenced writing; whether you want a hoedown, to cry for hours, get sassy, or confess love, you can bet she's got a song for it! Jenni will be touring nationwide this July, so keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground for tour dates and catch this uniquely talented young singer live.

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ARAHI delivers dreamy golden hour tune, ‘Baby’s Back’

ARAHI invites listeners into a dreamland of indie rock and pop on his latest single, ‘Baby’s Back’, out today.

Listen to ‘Baby’s Back’ HERE.

Packed with shiny guitar tones and solid, unwavering drums, ‘Baby’s Back’ paints a vivid portrait of yearning and melancholy, with a hopeful and almost reckless energy. Its driving and dreamy surface glistens above the darker undercurrents of intense longing, and reckless self-destruction.

“For all 4 minutes 14 seconds of ‘Baby's Back’ I hope the listener can escape into a dreamy, blissful world and drive that hopeful, euphoric horizon line,” says ARAHI.

‘Baby’s Back’ was one of the first songs ARAHI wrote when he moved from his home in Haumoana, Hawkes Bay to Tāmaki Makaurau two years ago.

“It’s endured since then, and in some ways it’s indicative of someone who has recently moved from the country to a big city,” explains ARAHI.

Working alongside award-winning producer/engineer Jol Mulholland, ARAHI says  ‘Baby’s Back’ is a significant point in his journey.  “It feels like a milestone in terms of the kind of music I’m creating and why. In the past I’ve often felt one step behind the music I want to make, whereas this song seems like one triumphant step forward.”

As a nod to ARAHI’s hometown, the song’s video was shot on a hot summer’s day in Haumoana by Hawkes Bay videographer Floyd Pepper.

Watch the video HERE.

‘Baby’s Back’ follows last year’s release of ‘We’ve Seen Better Days’, with both songs providing a glimpse of what’s still to come on ARAHI’s upcoming full-length album, which is set for release later this year.

In the meantime, fans of ARAHI can catch him live at this year’s CubaDupa in Wellington, as well as his three-date Small Halls Tour in Hawkes Bay, which kicks off tonight. Tickets here.