ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS RELEASE NEW SINGLE + VIDEO TOMMY SEES GHOSTS

Just months since the release of their Marlon Williams produced album High Horse, Christchurch's own Adam Hattaway & The Haunters are back with a new single and video, "Tommy Sees Ghosts," accompanied by b-side "Roadside Incident."

Recorded to 2” 16-track tape in an old wool-shed deep in the south of Aotearoa, Tommy Sees Ghosts features a haunting and hypnotic groove reminiscent of the band's earlier music, with one foot in the '70s Stones disco ditch, and a refined focus on vocals akin to their recent album. The band rolls along in a late-night, inebriated haze, threatening to go off the rails at all times but sticking together like glue.

Inspired by true ghost stories, Adam delves into the tale of Tommy who lives close to the wind, getting up in the middle of the night to wave buenas noches to friends or lovers, dead and alive.  In the liminal space between waking and sleeping, he communes with the dead and does whatever he damn well pleases.

What does he want? Everything.

Accompanying the new track is an eerie music video by Hēmi Baker. We follow Hattaway portrayed as a noctule familiar and inspired by Miley Cyrus’ ‘Flowers’, as he dances through Melbourne’s Abbotsford Convent.

Tommy Sees Ghosts/ Roadside incident are available on all major streaming platforms and BandCamp For more information and a listen, visit adamhattawayandthehaunters.com.

Hannah Virk Releases Need You Music Video

On her 30th birthday, Hannah Virk bought a guitar. Getting the guitar unleashed a creative side to Hannah and she challenged herself to create her own songs, a journey that began in May 2024. On the first anniversary of the conception of her debut album Upstairs/Downstairs Hannah is excited to share her debut music video for her single Need You, released on May 24th 2025.

Need You is a song about acceptance of the love and space you hold for someone and what they provide for you. Need You explores Hannah’s personal discovery of her own independence in close relationships. The video presents a contrast between the natural world and the material, showing how we often dress ourselves up or present ourselves in different ways to please others.

JARNA ‘Dumb In Love (Oh Mama)’

Drawing from ‘80s-inspired synths, electric piano, and vibrant percussion, JARNA's latest release is a neon-lit journey through the electric highs and lows of falling for someone you’ve just met. The track’s infectious synth hooks and dreamy lyrics of longing create a playful yet vulnerable anthem for those navigating the uncertain waters of love.

R&B/Pop sensation JARNA has officially made her return to the music scene with the release of her new single, Dumb In Love (Oh Mama), a track that promises to be a game-changer for the artist and her growing fanbase. More than just a song—it’s a heart-pounding exploration of infatuation, vulnerability and the dizzying rush of love at first sight, blending nostalgia with a contemporary twist that will leave listeners hooked from the very first beat.

"Dumb In Love (Oh Mama)" is a love letter to the thrill of that magical moment when you meet someone who could change your life, but it’s all still uncertain. The '80s-inspired vibes and the lyrics dripping with longing add the perfect amount of excitement, but it’s the feeling of losing yourself in someone else that really pulls you in. – JARNA

Known for her ability to effortlessly blend pop and R&B with modern production, JARNA’s latest offering continues to showcase her sultry, high-energy voice that has garnered attention and admiration across the music industry. But Dumb In Love (Oh Mama) isn’t just another track—it marks the beginning of what is sure to be an exciting year for the artist, with a highly anticipated album on the horizon..

As she prepares for the next phase of her career, JARNA is undoubtedly an artist to watch, and her music will continue to captivate the world one release at a time.

About JARNA
JARNA, R&B songstress from New Zealand, is making waves in the music scene. With hits like "Chill", "Crush", and "Do Mi Dirti", JARNA’s music blends infectious hooks with emotionally driven lyrics. Her unique style has earned her critical acclaim, including the Pacific Music Awards 'Philip Fuemana Most Promising Artist’ award. With a growing international fanbase and collaborations with local and international artists, JARNA’s journey is just beginning, and with each release, she proves that her music isn’t just heard—it’s felt. Keep an eye on her as she continues to captivate and inspire.

Connect with JARNA
Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Apple | Spotify

Nickels&Dimes, Justin Devereux

In his debut album Nickels&Dimes, Justin Devereux presents a well-produced, musically polished collection of Americana and country influenced songs that showcase both his lyrical sincerity and the talents of a skilled supporting cast.

Together, this ensemble creates a sonic backdrop that is at once smooth and skillful, reflecting both the polish of the studio environment and the collective experience of a group of musicians who know their way around a song.

With a mix of acoustic introspection and full-band polish, Devereux delivers an album that is steeped in classic songwriting forms, executed with top tier musicianship and a complementary visual aesthetic of grainy film, denim shirts, and vintage hats.

Devereux proves to be a songwriter worth watching.

DEBUT ALBUM NICKELS&DIMES IS OUT NOW ON ALL MUSIC PLATFORMS

Link below:

https://linktr.ee/justindevereux

FRANK ON TAP’S LATEST SINGLE, MARY & ME, MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER

Following the success of their first single of the year, RUSH, rising indie rock band Frank On Tap return with Mary & Me — a bold and emotionally charged new release that marks the beginning of a compelling new chapter for the Tāmaki Makaurau-based group.

Mary & Me is a raw and honest portrayal of the battle against addiction, cleverly wrapped in an upbeat, feel-good sonic package. The track personifies the substance as a seductive figure — a "Mary" who lingers in moments of weakness, always threatening to return. It's a deeply personal story of temptation, relapse, and the fight to stay clean.

Driven by a hypnotic bassline and a trance-like instrumental melody, Mary & Me explores the duality of addiction: its alluring surface masking a destructive force beneath. The track captures the relentless tug-of-war between craving and control, pairing emotional vulnerability with the band’s signature indie groove.

With Mary & Me, Frank On Tap showcase a new depth to their songwriting — fearless, vulnerable, and as infectious as ever.

LISTEN TO - Mary & Me | LINK TREE

The award-winning Georgia Lines evokes a sense of stillness on her new single ‘Wonderful Life’

Up for an impressive four awards at this year’s Aotearoa Music Awards, singer and songwriter Georgia Lines has released her first single of 2025, ‘Wonderful Life’, alongside a heartwarming video.

Listen to ‘Wonderful Life’ HERE / Watch the video HERE

‘Wonderful Life’ holds onto the softness and vulnerability that’s become a key part of Georgia’s trademark songwriting style and sound. But it also sees the critically acclaimed artist shifting into new sonic landscapes, with a more ‘lived-in’ feel, layered with 60s inspired drums and acoustic guitar. Adding to the magic and character of the song, are its intentionally kept imperfections.

“It leans into something more organic and textured,” says Georgia, who co-wrote ‘Wonderful Life’ with UK singer-songwriter and producer Matt Hales, when she was in a “strange little studio” in Los Angeles. “It wasn’t glamorous at all - more like we’d walked into someone’s garage. I remember picking up this wonky nylon guitar with a strange tuning and started playing a chord progression that would later become the chorus. In about 20 minutes, we had the chords, the melody, and the bones of the song. It felt like it all just poured out.”

The song is built around the mantra - “It’s a wonderful life” - which Georgia kept returning to during a time when she needed to remind herself of those words. “It became a way of pulling myself forward toward the life I wanted to live, even when things didn’t feel all that wonderful.”

It’s a sentiment that’s echoed in the video, which was shot at a farmhouse in Manawatu. “You see me writing mantras on the walls - phrases that have kept me company over the years. It’s not flashy or overly stylised, but instead gentle and reflective, much like the song itself. It captures the in-between moments, the stillness, and the quiet determination that sits just beneath the lyrics.”

‘Wonderful Life’ is the first new music from Georgia since her debut album THE ROSE OF JERICHO, which secured four #1 chart hits and was a finalist in this year’s prestigious Taite Music Prize; alongside collecting four nominations in the upcoming Aotearoa Music Awards. The song ‘The Letter’, which is on the 10-track album, also saw Georgia up for the 2024 Silver Scroll Award, showcasing her exceptional songwriting talent.

The new single marks a new chapter for the critically acclaimed artist from Mount Maunganui, who will be performing her biggest show to date on June 15, when she curates a special performance - Under The Stars With Friends - with members of Auckland Philharmonia as part of Auckland Live’s Cabaret Festival. The show will feature renowned fellow NZ artists Hollie Smith, Louis Baker and Nikau Grace.

Get tickets HERE

Fans can also expect more new music on the horizon from the captivating singer-songwriter, who has fast become one of Aotearoa’s most exciting musical talents.

AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN MOHI DROPS NEW SINGLE ‘JUST KIDS’ & CONFIRMS RELEASE DATE FOR MORE NEW MUSIC IN 2025

Hot off the back of releasing his single Flowers in Hendo in April, award-winning musician and Aotearoa’s neo-soul lover boy MOHI (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Te Rangi and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa) has this week delivered a second track - Just Kids - and announced a release date for more tracks ahead of his full album later in 2025.

Available now, MOHI’s second single Just Kids speaks to the experience of four kids growing up in West Auckland.

MOHI says: “Just Kids was written in one morning. I couldn’t get the picture out of my head of us kids jamming bullrush in the parking lot at our old school. I started writing about things that were significant to me at that time like Purple Starz, lolly bags we’d smash before touch rugby at Strid Rd, and $2 hot chips with my mates and cuzzies.”

MOHI’s new music, which is being released under the umbrella title of The Flowers That Grow, comprises ‘Side A’ of a year-long project which will see him continue to release more fresh tracks throughout the year to complete his personal storytelling journey.

Side A - The Flowers That Grow will be available on all major streaming platforms on May 23. Featuring singles Flowers In Hendo, Just Kids and his 2024 Waiata Anthems track My Love, The Flowers That Grow will also feature two brand new songs which continue to highlight MOHI’s evolution as an artist through heartfelt and meaningful storytelling.

While Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa (NZ Music Month) is in full swing, MOHI is currently part of a contingent of Kiwi artists who are representing Aotearoa in Focus Wales Indigenous Artists Festival where he is showcasing his latest mahi to an international audience. When he returns to Aotearoa, he’s excited to share his latest and most personal singles with fans and beyond.

MOHI shares: “I’m so stoked with the feedback of my first single Flowers in Hendo. Every song on this EP is everything to me. It’s taken three months to write, but a lifetime to get to this stage in my life to release this music. This music is for me, for mine, for the people that resonate with the message, for the people it is meant for.”

Just Kids is now available on all major streaming platforms. LISTEN HERE.

MOHI’s full five tracks The Flowers That Grow (Side A of the full album coming later this year) will be available on all major streaming platforms from May 23.

Just Kids and The Flowers That Grow were produced with the support of NZ on Air

ISRAEL STARR RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE “LOVE IS ALL WE NEED” Ft. 'SIANNE'

LISTEN HERE

Aotearoa’s multi-platinum, gold-certified artist Israel Starr (Ngati Porou)  returns with a powerful new collaboration — this time alongside rising soulstress Sianne — in a heartfelt new single, “Love Is All We Need”, set for release on Friday, May 23 across all major streaming platforms.

Blending Roots Reggae, Soul, and World Music, “Love Is All We Need” dives beneath the surface of a traditional love song. It’s an emotionally rich offering, exploring not just joy, but the deeper hues of yearning, melancholy, and the quiet strength found in acceptance.

“This isn’t just a love song — it’s a frequency check. A spiritual and emotional reminder of what really matters.”
— Israel Starr

Produced by Israel Starr, with soulful horn arrangements by @unclesilverback and
deep, grounding bass by @lomezbrown, the track’s layered instrumentation delivers emotional depth and sonic elegance. From its meditative groove to its soaring vocals, this track is built to uplift, connect, and resonate long after it ends.

Israel Starr is one of Aotearoa’s most respected musical voices — a cultural storyteller, Rasta rootsman, and festival favourite. With accolades including Best Roots Artist (NZ Music Awards) and 2× Best Reggae Album (National Māori Music Awards), his music continues to uplift communities and awaken consciousness. He’s shared stages with global legends including Steel Pulse, Third World, and Katchafire, always grounded in kaupapa Māori and Rastafari.

Joining him is Sianne (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tahu) — a soulful rising star whose voice is turning heads across Aotearoa and the Pacific. First making waves with her breakout single “Azalea” at just 17, Sianne has since been featured on Kaupapa Anthems, known for her stunning live performances and ability to move seamlessly between R&B, Reggae, and Roots.

“Love Is All We Need” is more than a collaboration — it’s a sonic statement and a timely reminder in today’s world.

FOLLOW ISRAEL STARR
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