Michaela Tempers set to release fourth single ‘Saintly’

Aotearoa indie label Home Alone are proud to share Michaela Tempers’ fourth single ‘Saintly’ is out on August 13th. An ode to medieval heroines, legacy, and to owning her own story, the soul-influenced song is accompanied by a richly animated music video inspired by symbols of saints, prayer and self-liberation. Created in collaboration with award-winning animator, Candice Mac, the video unfolds hand-in-hand with the lyrics: I am a heroine going slowly, I am a hundred years of war, I am Henry the VIII of England with his back against the wall. 

“I was raised in an orthodox religion,” Tempers explains, “and this song was written about the very painful, very messy reality of breaking up with your faith.”

‘Saintly’ is the fourth instalment of the Good Woman EP, which is due out later this year. It was recorded at the Surgery Studios with Lee Prebble and an all-star folk band featuring members from French for Rabbits, Dateline and Louis TM, with Chris Armour on guitar, Dayle Jellyman on organ, Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa on drums, Phoebe Johnson on bass and harmonies, and Brooke Singer and Penelope Esplin on additional backing vocals.

Groove Incorporated Share New Pop/R&B Single : “All As One”

AUCKLAND, NZ – Music collective Groove Incorporated has released their latest single, “All As One”, a melodic pop/R&B track that blends smooth vocals, a memorable guitar riff, and reflective lyrics that speak to the current global climate.

The song’s lyrics touch on themes of unity and resilience in the face of global challenges — from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine to climate change and economic inequality. At its core, “All As One” is an invitation to consider how collaboration and empathy can shape a better future.

“We wanted to write something that felt personal, but also relevant — something that could connect across different experiences,” says Groove Incorporated.

Led with female vocals, the track features layered harmonies and a laid-back groove, with a subtle message that encourages collective awareness without preaching.

A music video is due for release on August 16, following the track’s launch on all major streaming platforms.

STREAMING NOW ON ALL MAJOR PLATFORMS

Spotify • Apple Music • YouTube • Tidal

Frau Knotz (NZ) dispenses sophomore EP ‘Digital Plastic Surgery’, alongside banging track ‘Left Eye Lunar’

Ngāmotu New Plymouth-based producer and vocalist Frau Knotz dishes up her sophomore EP, Digital Plastic Surgery — a shimmering mélange of instrumental dance tracks exploring the corners of electronica, concocted in a pressure cooker of concentrated creative output. Alongside the EP, she unveils its final single, ‘Left Eye Lunar’, a mind-bending, relentless 140bpm track that seethes with potential energy.

Hot on the heels of her glitter-showered releases ‘Victory Dance on ZR3’ and ‘Khepri’, this body of work unfolds to lay out her latest ecstatic soundworld in its entirety, allowing listeners to surrender to their imagination. 

Opening with ‘Animistic Ritual’, Frau Knotz transports the listener into a jungle, heaving with life. They awake in the centre of a drum circle, surrounded by gorillas playing a trance-like, polyrhythmic groove, laden with toms. ‘Victory Dance on ZR3’ zips us into a 2D digiverse of a 90’s computer game, with a lead synth that sings above the soundtrack in all its detuned glory. ‘Khepri’ whisks us to a sun-soaked beach with our hearts aglow, while ‘Left Eye Lunar’ captures the juxtaposition of overpopulated chaos in central Cairo against the profound mysteries lurking within the Pyramids of Giza. The final track ‘Consumer Culture’ is a warped, obnoxious commentary of our insatiable desire for material goods, where the only lyrics in the EP can be found; pitch-bent repetitions of the mantra ‘I love it’. 

Frau Knotz shares: “I see this EP as the sonic equivalent to ‘The Breakfast Club’ - it’s an unlikely grouping of quirky characters that form unexpected bonds and reveal their inner struggles.” Mixed and mastered by Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio, Digital Plastic Surgery is a richly diverse EP that serves as part one of a double-EP project. It dives deep into the many corners of electronica, drawing from unexpected wells of inspiration and is shaped by a relentless creative drive to forge something emotionally resonant and sonically bold in a focused window of time.

In celebration of this EP, Frau Knotz will be hosting two exclusive events; a virtual listening party on Bandcamp, 7pm Wednesday 6th August and an in-person listening party on release day, Friday 8th August at Peeps DIY in New Plymouth.

Previous singles ‘Khepri’ and ‘Victory Dance on ZR3’ were swiftly picked up by George FM, Radioactive, Radio Control, RDU, Radio One, The Most FM, 2RRR FM (Sydney), Under The Radar and 13th Floor’s Song of the Day with fans getting behind the Bandcamp exclusive release by pre-ordering the full EP. 

Fresh from her appearance at WOMAD Aotearoa 2025, Frau Knotz has had a stellar year — releasing three acclaimed singles and a debut EP, packing out her hometown premiere for the Nextraterrestrial film, headlining The Stomach in Palmerston North, and captivating a national audience at the Len Lye Centre. With more music and shows on the horizon, Frau Knotz is poised to lift hearts and energise dance floors with her signature blend of deep feeling and undeniable groove.

For media enquiries, please contact frauknotz@gmail.com

Butter Wouldn’t Melt announce new album ‘Where the roots grow deep’ – out August 9th

Old River Records is thrilled to announce the release of the sophomore album from award-nominated New Zealand folk/Americana band Butter Wouldn’t Melt. Where the roots grow deep will be available everywhere on August 9th, 2025.

On the back of a successful thirteen-date national tour earlier this year, Butter Wouldn’t Melt now invite listeners to experience the full album in all its depth and colour. Five singles—Song for Maurice, Woman of Fire, Pieces of You, Take This to Forget, and Tertiary Blues—offered a taste of what was to come. Now, with the release of Where the roots grow deep, the complete story can finally be heard.

Where the roots grow deep is the first chapter in a two-part album journey, to be followed by Beneath the Stars Above in 2026. Together, these albums form a story in contrast—two sides of the same mountain, two worlds intertwined: one bathed in light, the other steeped in shadow. Both records showcase Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s signature local storytelling and rich harmonies, weaving contemporary folk, country, bluegrass, and Americana into a sound that is as timeless as it is deeply personal.

Fans and collectors can look forward to a limited edition sunshine-yellow vinyl, available now for pre-order via the band’s website. The vinyl will also be stocked at select record stores across the motu, including Slow Boat Records (Wellington), Herbes (Wellington), Relics (Dunedin), and Southbound Records (Auckland).

Also accompanying the release is a striking set of oracle cards, with each card tied to a song from Where the roots grow deep. Designed as a creative companion to the album, the deck invites listeners to engage more deeply with the stories behind the music. Each card includes the lyrics and chords so you can play along, a digital download link, and a short song story, and an affirmation to start your day—blending music, meaning, and mindfulness into a truly immersive experience.

Finalists for the 2023 Best Folk Artist Tūī | Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa, Butter Wouldn’t Melt features Andrea Reid (vocals, rhythm guitar), Nick Burfield (vocals, lead guitar), Cara Brasted (fiddle, vocals), Marz Connelly (double bass, vocals), and guest vocalist Kim Bonnington.

After breakthrough single releases, sold out shows across the country, Dónal Gunning releases his Sophomore EP, Zero Bucks Given.

Dónal is going from strength to strength in 2025, releasing two singles, Losing Weight & Your 1, both exceedingly well received across the globe. He achieved international radio play, successful playlist campaigns and astute critical acclaim - catapulting his fanbase to an all-time high.

The singles blended with additional contagious,high-energy rock songs, make for an EP that packs a serious punch. Zero Bucks Given will be available on all major streaming platforms Friday, August 29th. Dónal and his bandmates,The Bucks, will be hitting the road for a 14-date tour across Aotearoa to promote and celebrate the release this spring. 

See pre-save link (here), to keep up to date with Donal's tour dates & social media click here.  Dónal is currently working on his debut album, set for release in 2026.

ADAM HATTAWAY & THE HAUNTERS RELEASE NEW TRACK & VIDEO TWO ROADS + RELEASE PRE-ORDERS FOR UPCOMING ALBUM HOT VARIETY

Adam Hattaway has covered a lot of  ground. From the indie noise of his debut album, to the lo-fi, country, soul of his double LP Rooster, and the dark, stripped-back ballads of last year’s High Horse. The forthcoming album, Hot Variety, brings all these elements together.

Recorded to tape, Hot Variety is a fully analog affair. Hattaway reunites with his band The Haunters, but with an entirely different approach.The arrangements are stripped back, the sound is dry and unadorned, the playing is looser and captures the immediacy of the moment.

Today, Adam Hattaway and The Haunters release the second single from the upcoming album: Two Roads. One of the darker tracks on the record, it was partially written in Adam’s sleep and takes inspiration from the haunting true story behind Heavenly Creatures. Hattaway’s acoustic guitar is played with aggressive abandon paired with ghostly layers of Hammond organ and bowed guitar. The track evokes the unsettling feeling of being stuck at a crossroads - right on the edge of something.

The accompanying music video by Max Liautaud and Gina Johns, features the band performing live in the studio, interspersed with striking birds eye footage of co-writers Adam and Elmore sprinting along gravel roads towards one another.

Hot Variety is out September 5th on all digital platforms, with a very limited vinyl release (100 copies) via Leather Jacket Records. Pre-orders are available now.

“FRANK ON TAP OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM, AT SIXES & SEVENS, ALONG SIDE GRITTY NEW SINGLE SURRENDER”

Driven by urgency and emotional weight, “Surrender” is a high-energy anthem that captures the tension between conflict and acceptance. The track explores what it means to lean into chaos and still find connection.

“We didn’t want to shy away from the chaos. The whole track is built around that energy — fast, raw, a bit relentless. It’s not about resolving everything neatly, it’s about finding some kind of connection within the mess”.

It’s a bold glimpse into the themes of the upcoming record — raw, vulnerable, and unafraid to sit in discomfort.

“…it’s hopeful. It doesn’t wallow, it reaches forward. There’s a sense of clarity, like you're slowly figuring it all out”.

Frank On Tap’s debut album At Sixes & Sevens is due for release September 26th 2025. “Surrender” is out now on all streaming platforms.

Imani-J’s new single ‘Part of Me’ out now!

“This song is about making sacrifices to stay true to yourself and the conflicting sense of wanting to do what’s expected versus wanting to do what’s best for you.” - Imani-J 

At just 17, Imani-J is already carving out a powerful voice in the R&B and Afrobeats scene. An artist in the truest sense of the word - singer, songwriter, dancer and performer - she tells stories of her own unique journey and experiences as a young Kiwi/Haitian woman in NZ.

Imani-J fuses infectious Afrobeats with soul-baring lyrics on her new single, ‘Part of Me’. Reflecting on her decision to leave school and pursue music, the track blends raw storytelling with vibrant rhythms. An introspective anthem for anyone forging their own path. 

On July 30th, Imani-J will be following up with an Official Music Video release, a large production in collaboration with driven young creatives. 

Imani-J’s debut EP ‘EXPECTATIONS’ [embargoed] is set for release in September 2025. With her talent and dedication she is poised to make a significant impact on the NZ and global music scene.