RISING SINGER-SONGWRITER JENNI SMITH ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER NEW ZEALAND TOUR ‘GIRL NEXT DOOR’

Auckland-based singer-songwriter JENNI SMITH is hitting the road for her first-ever New Zealand tour! Named after her upcoming album, the Girl Next Door tour will be an intimate acoustic experience, bringing Jenni’s signature blend of country and pop to audiences across the country. 

With her charting single T-Shirt, debut EP Nightfall, and brand-new release Laugh Louder—a sassy, sunshine-filled anthem about leaving toxic relationships behind—Jenni has been making waves in the New Zealand music scene. Now, she’s stripping things back for a raw, heartfelt, and up-close evening of storytelling.  

Tour Dates: 

🎶 Palmerston North – Snails Artist Run Spaces | Saturday, July 5 
      Opening acts: Shannen Georgia Peterson, Renée Therése  

🎶 Tauranga – The Jam Factory | Saturday, July 12 
      Opening acts: Rachel Stevens, Aisha & Bebe 

🎶 Auckland – MoveSpace | Saturday, July 26 
      Opening act: Ms. Mia  
 

All shows are all ages, and tickets are $20. 

Expect an intimate night of acoustic performances, personal stories, and the kind of warmth that makes you feel like you’ve known her forever. 

Secure your tickets now—you won’t want to miss this! 

Purchase tickets here: 

Palmerston North - https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/95817/The-Girl-Next-Door.utr  

Tauranga - https://www.theincubator.co.nz/event-details/jenni-smith-plus-support-at-the-jam-factory  

Auckland - https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/gig/95839/The-Girl-Next-Door.utr  
 
WATCH JENNI’S LATEST MUSIC VIDEO ‘LAUGH LOUDER’ HERE 
 
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. 

FOLLOW : 

INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE |FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | AMAZON MUSIC 

Meet Your New Favourite Pop-Rock Band: Castaway Drop Pretty Little Liar

After a year of building momentum, Ōtautahi pop-rock band Castaway are back with the final chapter of their EP Nondual, the addictive, mischievous new single Pretty Little Liar.

This marks the band’s sixth release in just 12 months, capping off a breakout year that’s seen Castaway open for Drax Project, land on the NZ Hot 20, receive airplay across major stations ZM, More FM, and The Hits, and sell out a nationwide tour including a headline spot at Selwyn Sounds. With support from NZ On Air, who awarded funding for several recent tracks (including this one) and a spot in the upcoming NZ On Air May Showcase, Castaway are solidifying their place as one of Aotearoa’s fastest-rising acts.

Much of Castaway’s rapid development can be traced back to their time working with Sacha Vee at SOLE Music Academy. Through SOLE’s Artist Development Programmes, the band refined their sound, honed their performance skills, shaped their image, and gained critical industry knowledge and connections.

“These boys came to me while still in uni with a big dream,” says Vee, SOLE’s founder and a respected artist. “They’ve continuously shown up with purpose, passion, talent and great attitudes. Seeing that pay off as they carve out their space in the industry has been so rewarding to watch.”

Produced by Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Melanie C), Pretty Little Liar channels the charm of One Direction, the edge of 5SOS, and the vibe of The 1975, delivering Castaway’s most confident track yet. Dripping with energy, self-awareness, and undeniable hooks, the song dives into the all-too-familiar feeling of falling for someone you know is trouble.

“It’s about being pulled in, spun around, and laughing at yourself after the fact,” the band explains. “We’ve all had our ‘what was I thinking?’ moments — and this song turns that into something fun and cathartic.”

A cheeky younger cousin to their earlier track It’s Not Your Fault, this latest single balances polished pop with the band’s trademark live energy — a hallmark of Haver’s production.

The release also comes with a high-energy music video, filmed at Wunderbar in Lyttelton. Set inside the surreal mind of a heartbroken bartender, the video captures the chaos and colour of youthful regret through a fever-dream lens.

With a growing fanbase, undeniable on-stage chemistry, and what they call their “next-door boy band” energy, Castaway are poised to become one of the most talked-about bands in New Zealand.

Catch Castaway live:
📍 Space Academy, Christchurch – June 19
📍 Go Live Festival – August 23

JENNY MITCHELL OPENS THE DOOR TO FOREST HOUSE

Watch the Video : "Little Less Lonely" Here 

Listen to the Album Here 

Buy the Album Here 

Southland born storyteller, Jenny Mitchell, opens the door to her fourth album; Forest House. Ten years after releasing her first album at age 15, Forest House is a pensive reflection on relationships, personal journeys, and the hearts that make houses into homes and families strong.

Released via Melbourne based label Civilians, the new album was recorded in a house in Pirinoa (Wairarapa) and explores all of the experiences that can happen within four walls; the welcoming, heartbreaking, healing and everything in between. The official video for track one, Little Less Lonely, is released today—offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Forest House. 

From the album’s powerful centrepiece Heart Like A House to the quiet warmth of The Curse, there’s no doubt this album will be a game-changer for Jenny. Though country and folk are still very much the foundation of Mitchell’s sound – witness the rollicking cheek of No Cash, No Meal -- the introduction of horns injects a warm dose of soul into songs like Little Less Lonely and Dirt. Her drift into swampy, Southern territory with Where The Water’s Cold (inspired partly by the illicit moonshine history in her hometown of Gore) and the raw, plaintive Square and Plain, speak of an artist moving boldly into singer-songwriter territory.

Now based in Melbourne, Jenny is currently touring Australia with country music royalty Kasey Chambers. Jenny will have played in every Australian state by mid-June, with 32 tour dates in total. Most well known for her number 1 hit Not Pretty Enough, Kasey recently told Country Music Capital news, “I was so excited when I discovered Jenny, and we've had her music on high rotation in our van and at home ever since. It was a no-brainer to ask her to open for this tour,” and says her new album Forest House is a, “journey of depth and emotion. It’s everything I love about Jenny Mitchell.” 

On a brief break in the tour, Jenny returns to her hometown for the Bayleys Tussock Country Festival in Gore. On Saturday May 24, Jenny will play a one-off show titled MITCHELL; a unique show featuring her sisters The Mitchell Twins, country music loving Dad Ron Mitchell, and songs from Forest House.  Tickets Here 

ABOUT JENNY MITCHELL: 

Having carved herself a strong following in both her home country of New Zealand and here in Australia, Jenny Mitchell’s forthcoming ‘Forest House’ album release follows a busy past year for Jenny which included the release of her singles ‘Where The Water’s Cold’, ‘Square & Plain’, ‘Sister’, a performance at the Groundwater Country Music Festival on the Gold Coast and a tour support slot with Australian country star Adam Harvey across NSW. Jenny also received a scholarship from the Australian Academy of Country Music and Sister Cities Nashville, to perform at Nashville’s iconic AmericanaFest and co-write with Nashville locals in September last year and has been the special guest for Kasey Chambers on her national tour since early 2025.  

Originally from Gore, Jenny’s musical upbringing was firmly planted in country but her songwriting and material is a unique blend of folk, Americana and country. After winning the NZ Gold Guitar Award at just 18, Jenny has steadily carved herself a place in the New Zealand and Australian music scenes. Her 2022 album ‘Tug Of War’ earned her a legion of new fans in Australia, showcasing her emotive songwriting. With an Aotearoa Music Award and 2 x Australian Golden Guitar nominations under her belt, the future is bright and bold for this unique artist.

NZ TOUR DATES: TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

ON TOUR IN AUSTRALIA HERE 

New Zealand Artist Murmur Tooth Teams Up with Berlin’s Lars Moston & Mat.Joe for Deep House Rework of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Today” — A Nostalgic Anthem Reimagined for the Dancefloor

As Aotearoa settles into the winter months, a fresh burst of summery nostalgia arrives from one of our own. Murmur Tooth — the moniker of New Zealand’s Leah Hinton — has teamed up with Berlin-based producers Lars Moston and Mat.Joe to release a deep house reimagining of The Smashing Pumpkins’ alt-rock classic “Today.”

This genre-blurring collaboration began a few summers ago, when the three artists, friends and Berlin-based creatives, came together in search of a sound that captured the joy of memory and the pulse of now. “We were chasing something nostalgic yet fresh,” says the trio. “Something that felt like golden hour on the best day of your life.”

The track took shape across seasons — starting as a spark one summer, then evolving further between tours the following year. It finally came together this May, as Berlin emerged from winter and the sun began to own the sky — the perfect moment to finish a song born of long days and longer nights.

Originally from Dunedin, Murmur Tooth is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter whose musical journey took her through London, before settling in Berlin, where she has been dabbling in electronic music. Her work often reflects both her classical roots and her rock band travels — a blend of depth and edge that shines in this new collaboration.

Lars Moston brings his underground, groove-driven style honed through years in Berlin’s club scene, while Mat.Joe contributes the peak time polish that’s made him a favourite from Ibiza to Tulum.
The result is a deep house version of “Today” that honours its emotional heart while giving it new life on the dancefloor — a nostalgic anthem reborn for the party.

Out 16 May on all major platforms: https://listen.murmurtooth.com/today

TAMI ENLISTS COUNTRY ICON ASHLEY MCBRYDE ALONG WITH SHELLY FAIRCHILD AND GRACE BOWERS ON NEW SINGLE "BORROW MY BOOTS" OUT TODAY

WATCH THEM PERFORM "BORROW MY BOOTS" LIVE ON THE GRAND OLE OPRY HERE

NEW ALBUM NEON COWGIRL OUT JULY 11 ON OUTSIDE MUSIC

Today, Canadian native and New Zealand musical royalty Tami Neilson is releasing the second single from her upcoming album release Neon Cowboy. "Borrow My Boots" is an exuberant, high-octane track celebrating female empowerment and giving a sister a leg up; it's written by Tami and features Nashville powerhouses Ashley McBryde, Grace Bowers and Shelly Fairchild. The Grand Ole Opry is releasing a video performance of the gals tearing it up live performing the song at Tami's Opry debut. Watch the video HERE.

STREAM / PURCHASE "BORROW MY BOOTS" HERE

PRE-SAVE/ PRE-ORDER NEON COWGIRL HERE

Tami shares how the single came together: 

"After getting to perform on an absolute dream show with an all-star lineup singing the music of Patsy Cline at the Ryman, I woke up the next morning to a DM from one of my favourite country stars, Ashley McBryde. She’d been on the line up and after seeing me perform, she had immediately dug into my catalogue of music and wrote to me to lift me up and encourage me, saying she was a fan. A few weeks later, she tagged me in a post of her getting ready for the red carpet of the CMAs, playing “Careless Woman” as her hype song! A couple months after that, she asked for permission to create a t-shirt with my photo on it and a line from that song, “I Wanna Be Her When I Grow Up” so she could wear it around town as she hosted CMA Fest and champion my music.

That’s how you say, “Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots.”

So, when I had a song idea about women supporting and empowering each other, she was the first person who came to mind. I asked if she would do a long-distance writing session and she invited powerhouse songwriter and artist Shelly Fairchild to join us and “Borrow My Boots” was born, and recorded on the album the next week. I met Grace Bowers back when she was 15 and had just moved to Nashville and I asked her to play her first paid gigs with me at Americanafest - we had to hide her backstage because she wasn’t old enough to be in the venues. She’s rocketing to stardom now and after playing with everyone from Dolly and Slash, to rocking the Grammys, I didn’t know if she’d have time for a little guitar solo on my album. Not only did she contribute a blistering solo, she changed her flights in the middle of a tour to join me, Ashley and Shelly to perform this song at my debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

That’s how you say, “Hey Sister, you can borrow my boots.” — Tami Neilson

NEON COWGIRL will be released on July 11 on Outside Music, with Tami and her band joining Willie Nelson, and then Willie and Bob Dylan, on this year's Outlaw Festival tour. She will also be playing Willie's Fourth of July Picnic, and will return to the Grand Ole Opry stage in June. Also in June, Tami will hit Europe for shows in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Her huge, glorious voice and powerful live performances have won the admiration and support of some of country music's biggest names and fans worldwide. Check this space for tour dates: https://www.tamineilson.com/tour

TOUR DATES 

*Outlaw Music Festival Tour 2025

WED 25 JUN - Franklin, TN @ FirstBank Amphitheater*

THU 26 JUNE - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry

FRI 27 JUN - Memphis, TN @ Radians Amphitheater @ Memphis Botanic Garden *

SAT 28 JUN - Maryland Heights, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater *

SUN 29 JUN - Ridgedale, MO @ Thunder Ridge Nature Arena *

TUE 1 JUL - Oklahoma City, OK @ Lucky Star Amphitheater *

FRI 4 JUL - Austin, TX @ Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic

SAT 5 JUL - Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion *

SUN 6 JUL - Houston, TX @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion *

Greta O’Leary draws listeners into the obscure, dreamlike world of her debut album, RIVER DARK

Listen HERE

Buy the vinyl record HERE

Aotearoa “spook-folk” singer-songwriter Greta O’Leary has today unveiled her highly anticipated debut album RIVER DARK. Tender, steadfast and unravelling, the arresting nine-track record which includes the new single, ‘IDKALA’ is available in a limited-edition vinyl LP version and on all streaming platforms.

RIVER DARK is a project created against the odds, that sees Greta invite listeners into the soft, dark and idiosyncratic corners of her inner world. Through soaring instrumentation, astute (sometimes absurd) lyrics of self-reflection, and her clear and unmistakable tone, Greta O’Leary’s debut body of work is a remarkable sonic collection of confession, truth and poetry.

“My first record, a collection of personal, ridiculous and truth telling songs. It took a long time to get here. I was a child shy and unclear, completely confused, absolutely not onboard with future, with goals or activity. I was in the field below the house, I was at the pond with the dog, I played make believe longer than most. I was taught to be quiet”

RIVER DARK includes Greta’s breakthrough 2024 singles ‘Baby I’m a Singer’ and ‘Baptised at the Desktop Computer’ - the bold and unapologetic tracks that each shot to #1 in the Student Radio Network Top 10, the latter of which also topped the RadioScope Alt Airplay Chart. Recent 2025 releases ‘Prelude’ (TAHI FM, RollingStone AU/NZ, SRN, UTR) and ‘The Greatest Peace I’ve Known’ (Radio Active video premiere, R1, The Most FM) also decorate the record with Greta’s signature songwriting.

Also featured on the record is new focus-track single ‘IDKALA’ - a comforting yet haunted ode to the desolate, featuring additional vocals from celebrated indie songwriter ARAHI. Their transporting voices intertwine in the gentle lament of Greta’s poignant lyrics;

‘I don’t know about love anymore,

What's wrong with the quiet,

I don’t mind it’

Fans can expect yet another captivating self-directed music video from Greta, to accompany ‘IDKALA’, in the coming weeks.

Written during what Greta describes as “a very inward year, where I turned away from everything except music,” RIVER DARK was curated with the support of Greta's APRA mentor Tom Healy, before being brought to life at The Lab Studios alongside producer Jol Mullholand. Dynamic and soaring instrumental layers were built with indie superstars Cass Basil, Alastair Deverick, Callum Passels, and Anita Clark. Additional recording for ‘Baby I’m a Singer’ took place at Roundhead Studios alongside De Stevens and Dave Khan, and the record was mastered by Joe Lambert in New York.

Casting rich spells of self-expression, finding power in softness, and inviting listeners deeper into her ethereal world, Greta O’Leary is set to turn heads across Aotearoa with her astonishing debut album RIVER DARK - out now on all streaming platforms and vinyl!

To celebrate the release of RIVER DARK, Greta will be playing an enchanting release show at Old Folks Association Hall, Tāmaki Makaurau - alongside her full band! Tickets and more info from UTR.

Find Greta O’Leary

Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Spotify | TikTok | Apple | Website | Youtube

Announcing the release of “Afterglow” by Don and The Divorcees

“Afterglow” , the second single from Don and the Divorcees, will be available on all major online platforms from 16 May.   Written by Beans Wright, who also does lead vocal,   ‘Afterglow is a wistful love letter from an introvert, the kind that never makes it as far as the postbox. ’

Don and the Divorcees is a collaboration among Te Whanganui a Tara singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Don Mackay, Hollie Wright and Beans Wright (no relation).  Beans as a soloist was one of the main stage guests at the 2023 Wellington Folk Festival.  

The three friends had from time to time performed together in various combinations.  This gave rise to the decision to try working together as a trio.  Each brings their own compositions to the table and we then work together to make the most of them.

As we each tend to write a slightly different style of song, the unifying element of our sound comes from the arrangements featuring tight vocal harmonies over multiple stringed instruments.  While this gives breadth and variety to our live performances, it does make us, in marketing terms, seriously genre non-compliant. 

We are a bit “old school”.   Our songs are strongly centred on the lyrics, which tell stories or paint pictures, and are designed to be listened to.  The instrumentation is built around a variety of acoustic stringed instruments (guitars, violin, mandolin, cello and bass).  The whole approach is pretty “wooden” and low tech. We see ourselves as “spiritual folkies” performing contemporary songs.

Since we debuted the lineup during the winter of 2023 we have performed regularly around the broader Wellington area, at music venues, around the local folk scene, and at local festivals (most recently headlining on the Songwriters Stage at the Newtown Festival 2025).

If you want to check out what we sound like live you can follow the link https://www.youtube.com/@DonandTheDivorceesBand.   You will find live recordings of five songs from a gig in April 2024.  This includes “Seventeen” and 3 other songs that will be on the “Bit Players” album.

“Seventeen” was recorded in June 2024.  Recording and mixing was by Warwick Donald, and the recordings were mastered by Mike Gibson. 

What next?

“Afterglow” is the second online single from the forthcoming album “Bit Players”, following “Seventeen” in March.  The full album (7 songs) is currently available as a CD only limited edition.  For details of how to get your copy email donandthedivorcees@gmail.com.  A further online single release is planned for June, before the full album is released online in July.

The Flow Collective Release New EP Black Swans

An intimate reflection on memory, identity, and relationships

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.

Black Swans is a contemplative body of work that reflects on personal histories and how our identities are shaped by past events and relationships. Written and recorded in 2024 at The Stomach in Palmerston North, the EP draws on themes of memory, family, and resilience. The songs express the complexities of navigating the emotional terrain of transformation, and the determination to resist disassociation.

“These songs come from a place of honesty and looking back,” says de Vegt. “They are about recognising how the past lives in us and shapes who we are today, especially as artists.”

This EP represents the first in a duo, where the underlying threads of past, present and future will link them together. While their previous release Flow was expansive—drawing on the poetry of Airini Beautrais and a collective of musicians—Black Swans is paired back and raw. With lyrics written solely by de Vegt, the EP is grounded in storytelling and emotional vulnerability. Her powerful vocal performances and melodies complement Jellyman’s multi-instrumental compositions, showcasing his skills on bass, synth, brass, guitar and keys.

The result is a strikingly intimate record that sits within the evolving tradition of contemporary New Zealand folk, yet remains firmly rooted in personal experience.

Artist Bios

Elizabeth de Vegt is a composer, sound artist, singer-songwriter, performer, and researcher based in Whanganui. She is a vocal and piano teacher and holds a Master of Music with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato, where she also completed doctoral research supported by a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship. De Vegt’s work spans contemporary classical, electroacoustic, theatrical, and folk genres. Her compositions have been performed across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and the USA. She is a recipient of the Gill Presland Award for Excellence in Teaching and holds multiple certifications in adult education and professional coaching.

Hamish Jellyman is a Whanganui-based composer, educator, and multi-instrumentalist. He completed a Bachelor of Music in Classical Performance (Trombone) at the New Zealand School of Music and has performed throughout New Zealand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Australia. His credits include the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal NZ Air Force Band, Auckland Jazz Orchestra, and bands such as Niko Ne Zna and Spiral Jazz Collective. Hamish is also a dedicated music educator, teaching in schools across the country and directing jazz and concert bands. His studio work includes recordings with Shapeshifter, Gareth Thomas, and others.

Black Swans will be available on all major streaming platforms from 16 May 2025. This EP offers a resonant and courageous take on songwriting from two of Aotearoa’s most thoughtful and experienced musical voices.