ALIEN WEAPONRY & Lamb of God's Randy Blythe Fight the System in New Music Video for 'Taniwha'

New Zealand's ALIEN WEAPONRY recently released their head-turning third album, Te Rā, via Napalm Records! Swiftly, following the announcement of their upcoming USA tour supporting Avatar with fellow openers SpiritWorld, the band has dropped a brand new music video for album single 'Taniwha', featuring an intense guest appearance from metal icon Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God).

In the video, the modern groove metal trio find themselves face to face with puppet masters of corporate greed and overconsumption, providing a thought-provoking backdrop to one of the album's most aggressive, death-metal leaning offerings.

"We are super excited to share something we have been working on for a while.
We felt honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with the mighty Randy Blythe on our song 'Taniwha'; off of our latest album, so it only made sense to have him be a part of the music video too!

We wanted to create something special for this one, and we are stoked with how it turned out!"

ALIEN WEAPONRY - 'Taniwha' feat. Randy Blythe (Official Video) 
Download: https://s.disco.ac/zikbqiarczio

ALIEN WEAPONRY have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Since releasing their acclaimed debut Tū (2018), the band have been lauded for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand. 

With their third full-length album, ALIEN WEAPONRY expand on their hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience while delivering their most massive-sounding, focused musical output ever.

In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth), Te Rā’s gnashing blend of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical skill. Te Rā is a bold, unwavering cry for a future in which we can all take part in the legacy of people like the Māori and others all around us – people who, if they aren’t seen, most certainly need to be heard! Taken as a whole, Te Rā grapples with what it’s like to be caught in the pull of divergent cultures – not just for the descendants of colonized people, but for all of us.

MOKOMOKAI release new album ‘PONO!’

MOKOMOKAI return with the release of PONO!, their third studio album. A slow-burning, soul-infused project that captures mood, memory, and truth, in nine rich and immersive tracks. Led by Manu (Eno x Dirty), alongside producers DUSTY & GHOS, the group continues to define their own lane with poetic lyricism over lush, atmospheric production rooted in soul and Polynesian influence.

In te reo Māori, “pono” can be translated as true, honest, or sincere. Producer DUSTY explains to Laura McInnes from Sniffers in their latest interview: “Back in the day, when we were younger, if someone was telling you something and you thought they were lying, you’d say, ‘Pono?’— and that was always kind of the truth indicator.”

The focus single, THE ONE arrives with a cinematic music video directed by Ray Edwards. Shot between the intimate setting of listening bar Kemuri Hi-Fi and the historic Grey Lynn, the visual immerses viewers in MOKOMOKAI’s carefully crafted universe, where the nostalgic soul of old-school sounds meets the dynamic pulse of inner-city life. It’s a seamless blend of past and present, brought to life through a lens that feels both grounded and visionary.

Pono brings together an exceptional lineup of talent, each artist contributing their raw truths and lived experiences to the project. On HONE SNOW, Lukan Raisey delivers a smooth, introspective verse, while Mā lends their signature soulful spoken word to the title track, PONO. The features finish with a powerful collaboration on WINGS, uniting the distinctive voices of the inimitable Mara TK, Lui Tuiasau (of @Peace), and Tyra Hammond (of Opensouls). It's a powerful showcase of artists to celebrate the rich and diverse artistry flourishing here in Aotearoa.

Building on the momentum of their acclaimed album Whakarehu — which earned a Te Tino Waiata o te Tau Single of the Year nomination at the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards for KUPE — Pono signals a striking evolution for MOKOMOKAI. It’s a bold artistic statement: raw yet refined, unflinchingly original. In a saturated musical landscape, the trio stands out by proving that growth doesn’t mean losing your edge, and that authenticity still cuts through the noise.

Watch THE ONE music video now — made with support from NZ On Air.

Creative Panel Session – Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night

Kiwiradio NZ and Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night invite you to an upcoming creative panel session as part of the Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night project. This event amplifies the voices of Asian youth through music, storytelling, and community dialogue, strengthening Aotearoa New Zealand as a culturally inclusive country.

Kiwiradio NZ and Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night are pleased to invite you to this special session—designed to spark inspiring stories, highlight innovative collaborations, and celebrate cultural identity through music.

Details

June 11th Wednesday, 6:00–7:30 PM (Doors open 5:30 PM)

Venue: Covert Theatre, 51 Mackelvie Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland

Join us for live music, conversations, and a creative panel session featuring:

Industry Panel – “Building Real Support”

MusicHelps – Mental health support for musicians

Soundcheck Aotearoa – Safer, fairer music industry

Mixit – Arts-based programme for migrant youth

EnBeat Dance Academy – K-pop dance and cultural expression

Artist Panel – “Our Stories, Our Sound”

Glxria

Newko

Sabreen

Han Lee

Papercity

This creative panel event will cover:

What Asian music festivals in Aotearoa New Zealand mean to the participating artists for Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night

Cultural identity, creativity, and emotional wellbeing

Challenges and opportunities in the music industry for Asian youth

The role of public health in supporting creative expression

New possibilities for collaboration across sectors

Media, music industry professionals, music fans, advocates! All are welcome!!

Please RSVP via the following link to help us accommodate catering and seating no later than 5pm, Tuesday 10 June 2025

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MOwISNFWKDP74FWs_sIUw-PgZEC5LZenynUAr71veHM/edit

In addition, get your Pan-Asian Music Showcase Night tickets for 28 June at https://moshtix.co.nz/v2/event/pan-asian-music-showcase-night/177061

Black Comet ‘We Can Call It Love"

The intergalactic funk rockers are back! 

After the release of ‘Episode One: Looking For A New Planet’ in 2024, Black Comet launched into festival season featuring WOMAD (doing TWO sets!), CubaDupa and Ripe Wanaka Wine & Food Festival. Amongst all of this, they were also busy writing and recording their next album.

Black Comet blasts into the cosmos with ‘We Can Call It Love’. The bittersweet tale about unrequited love, the track follows a starstruck soul chasing the gravitational pull of a love that never lands. With shimmering synths, cosmic guitar riffs, and a bassline that pulses like a distant quasar, ‘We Can Call It Love’ captures the emotional weightlessness of loving someone who doesn't feel the same — and the desperate hope that maybe, just maybe, they’ll change course

This meteor shower of catchy funky rhythms will have you singing along immediately.

Stay tuned for the next episode….

Links:

Single Link: (embargoed until 6th June)

https://dashboard.precise.digital/share/bGl9dDVo5NIjpYnvzULa

Pre-save Link:

https://precise.fm/wecancallitlove

Press Photos:

https://tinyurl.com/blackcomet-2025

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRB9_R4jz81mhD6CJi0yzpQ

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/61np11Ikm9fN1ytvbBSTmF?si=7Vc6Hv3DSq6_63sqOgeVeg

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/blackcometband/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/blackcometband/

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@blackcometmusic 

Bandcamp

https://blackcometband.bandcamp.com/  

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 ‘STUCK ON YOU’ 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. 

New Underwire single "Wish I Was A Cowboy"

Wellington band Underwire have built a reputation for cranking live sets and punchy earworm songs, and their new single ‘Wish I Was A Cowboy’ keeps their genre-shattering spirit front and centre.

‘Wish I Was A Cowboy’ is a primal countrypunk howl for simpler times, the deep-seated wish to be somewhere or someone else that we can all relate to. “It ain’t rocket scientology but it sure is good fun!” says songwriter Johnny Mills. “Some songs just beam in, if you’re lucky, and that’s how ‘Cowboy’ came along”

Shades of rawhide, beans and badlands, and echoes of Gene Krupa - add the wizardry of producer Scott Seabright and you’ve got a weapon of the old warped west. With 8 singles now in the world, Underwire have been recording with Scott again, and will release their debut album later this year.

Underwire play like they mean it, with a distinctly fun, stormy, alt-rock sound – hints of surf punk, garage rock, swampy blues, psychobilly and ska. Formed from the collision of Clash and Pixies covers bands, Underwire quickly became a popular live act on the energetic Wellington indie music scene. Since their debut single ‘Gravity’ in 2023, Underwire have released a string of singles produced by Scott Seabright; clocked up over 27,000 YouTube views of their self-made videos; received airplay on indie radio around New Zealand, Australia, the US, UK, and mainland Europe; and have spent more than 12 months on Apple’s global New Rock and other playlists.

In their current lineup, Underwire features members of Wazzo Ghoti / Wazzo Clash, Proxies, Shanakie, and Head Like a Hole: with founding members Johnny Mills (guitar, vocals), Jane Brimblecombe (vocals), and Mark ‘Spike’ Roxburgh (guitar, vocals) being joined by Mark Hamill (drums), and Steve Tremewan (bass)

Award-winning T. G. Shand steps back into the spotlight with the hypnotic ‘The Deadpan Break’

Ōtautahi’s fine purveyor of shoegaze-meets-dream pop, T. G. Shand, returns with her first single of the year, ‘The Deadpan Break’.

Listen to ‘The Deadpan Break’ HERE.

The award-winning T. G. Shand, which is the brainchild of Annemarie Duff (formerly of the Melbourne band Miniatures) has been forging her own path in Aotearoa’s alternative scene with her signature blend of dream-pop, shoegaze and lo-fi.

‘The Deadpan Break’ is a sparse, yet warm, hypnotic tune that builds to a searing disco atmosphere. It’s about “breaking the deadpan,” says Annemarie.

‘The Deadpan Break’ sees Annemarie collaborating with a cast of top musical talent. This includes producer and mix engineer Tom Bell, who famously turned the renowned Chick’s Hotel in Port Chalmers into a recording studio. Up to this point, Annemarie has self-produced all of her T. G. Shand records, and describes the studio experience as “life changing”.

“Being able to work with a world class collaborator like Tom, give the song the best possible treatment, go down all the musical and production rabbit holes with someone who really understands the style, elevated it to a new level.”

Others who worked on ‘The Deadpan Break’ include Wellington-based Cory Champion (Electric Wire Hustle, Shocking Pinks) on drums and engineer Bevan Smith (Glass Vaults, Over the Atlantic, Skallander). The track was mastered at the Grammy Award-winning studios, The Lodge (New York) founded by Emily Lazar (David Bowie, Morrissey, Angel Olsen).

Helping to elevate the vibe and message of ‘The Deadpan Break’ is an equally atmospheric and hypnotic, layered abstract animation created by Spencer Hall, with input from Magda Wojciechowska and Riley Cooper,

Watch the animation here.

About T. G. Shand:

T. G. Shand makes unique sonic soundscapes, which blur the lines between shoegaze and dream-pop. T. G. Shand’s self-produced 2023 project, CINNAMON, topped the NZ Alt Charts and landed the Student Radio Network award for ‘Best EP’. T. G. Shand has opened for Blonde Redhead and performed at The Others Way and Nostalgia festivals.

ALLANA GOLDSMITH RELEASES HOATA - A STIRRING CELEBRATION OF PURPOSE AND WISDOM

ALLANA GOLDSMITH RELEASES HOATA - A STIRRING CELEBRATION OF PURPOSE AND WISDOM THIS AOTEAROA MUSIC MONTH

Listen to "HOATA" 

Watch HOATA music video 

"HOATA is a song of inspiration using our Māori sayings, and our relationships with our ways of living and being," says ALLANA. "‘HOATA’ is a moon phase when the moon is small…. It's a good day with energy for mahi."

As Aotearoa Music Month wraps up, Māori singer-songwriter ALLANA Goldsmith shares her breathtaking new single HOATA - a waiata born from the maramataka, steeped in ancestral wisdom, and guided by the whakataukī of those who walked before us. The single marks the final instalment of her Te Māngai Pāho-funded reo Māori trilogy.

Co-written during Reo Māori SongHubs ki Pōneke, the waiata features contributions from Tawaroa Kawana (mātanga reo), AJA, Thomas Te Taite (producer/engineer), and ALLANA herself. Its lyrics are woven with whakataukī that speak to intention, effort, and the pursuit of one’s goals.

"The chorus uses the whakataukī ‘He manako te kōura i kore ai’  meaning, ‘a crayfish won’t jump in your net just because you wish it in there’. It’s about doing the mahi " - ALLANA 

The single is released alongside a beautiful black-and-white music video, directed by Shivani Karan. Visually rooted in the energy of the hoata moon, the video brings to life the tension and harmony found in the maramataka, where movement mirrors the moon's pull.

"It’s a dance between the music and the moon phase," says ALLANA. "The waiata was written in this phase, a time of clarity and movement, I wanted the video to reflect that energy”

A graceful close to Aotearoa Music Month, HOATA is now available on all streaming platforms.