dropper - Be a Little Kinder OUT NOW

‘Be A Little Kinder’, the debut album by Pōneke-based alt-rock outfit Dropper, is available now, via Bigpop Records’ boutique label Particle Recordings. 

Musically, Dropper’s songs are cinematic in scope and intimate in feeling. ‘Be a Little Kinder’ draws on the feeling of hopelessness, confusion and being stuck in unhealthy thought patterns. Written collaboratively by Jude Savage and River Hann-Ellen, the album was a creative outlet for the two artists who, after experiencing the highs of performing in a celebrated teenage band, now had to navigate the grief and loss of bandmate and friend, Otis Hill. “It all happened over a very strange time, and the friendships and common focuses got us through. It was [also] my first time doing a full-on collaboration with someone on songwriting”, says Savage. 

Across the album’s eleven tracks, Dropper showcases their ability to take pop melodies and polished songwriting and distort them to the point of becoming agitated; the kind of songwriting reminiscent of the late 90s and early 00s American and New Zealand alternative scenes. “It's angry and frustrated, masked behind happier melodies”. 

This is clearly reflected in the opening and focus track of the album, ‘Anchor’, written as a call to the band to keep moving forward. “I feel like the song captures the feelings of the record really well, which is why it makes sense to go first, a real tone setter”. 

Songs like ‘Through Your Teeth’ observe dislocation and disorientation from the outside looking in, while ‘Pinwheel’, a duet with Lilith Ercolano (Eveline Breaker), showcases a different kind of lyrical tension and tonal contrast. But it’s ‘Breathe Through the Wire’ that defines the record’s emotional heart.

‘Breathe Through The Wire’, a “Frankenstein song of old unused Bleeding Star guitar parts. The song stemmed from the opening riff, which was found after my late friend and collaborator Otis Hill had died. His mum sent me the riff out of the blue, mentioning I should use it for a song. I re-learnt it and started putting together the song by digging up old unfinished songs I had written with Otis. In my eyes, it's almost “the final Bleeding Star song”, a true farewell to a friend and to the record. It's a thank you to Otis. The song lyrically is about not being able to help someone you care for, which seems very fitting.”

“The following track, 'Be A Little Kinder’, closes the record in a 1:20-second blaze of fury. It's almost the encore to the record, with ‘Breathe Through The Wire’ being the true closer”, explains Savage.

Accompanying the release is a visualiser for ‘Anchor’, which captures that push-and-pull energy visually. Edited by Lou Tobin at Bigpop Studios, with footage by Anky Live and Tom Grut (who also graded the video). The visualiser shows the band transitioning from a relaxed showcase set at Wellington’s famous Athfield House to a performance at Auckland’s iconic venue, The Powerstation (opening for UK indie legends Wunderhorse). 

Bringing all of this together, the album was recorded and mixed by River Hann-Ellen and Arran Cargill-Brown at Massey University, and features performances from Flinn Bellam on bass and Walter Martin on drums. “All of these people shaped the album into what it is today, and we couldn't have done it without them”.

Track Listing

1. Anchor

2. Through Your Teeth

3. Pinwheel

4. Is the Worrying Working?

5. You Do You

6. Whatever Works For You

7. Your Face Says it All

8. Didn’t Want to Be Your Light

9. Bleed Out

10. Breathe Through the Wire

11. Be a Little Kinder

Dropper’s music carries both the weight of loss and the urgency of renewal. The project has become a vessel of resilience and an emotional outlet for the band. Savage’s writing, taking inspiration from the likes of Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü) and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs), found new strength in Hann-Ellen’s intricate arrangements, merging raw and unfiltered sounds with an alt-y, hardcore-adjacent restlessness. Joined by new members, Dropper has taken final form as: Savage on vocals and guitar, Bellamy (guitar), Walter Martin (drums) and Toby Gracewood-Easther (bass).  

They stand as proof that out of heartbreak can come beauty, power, and a renewed sense of purpose. The friendship between the members, paired with their commitment to the music, strongly carries through in their performances and songwriting. ‘Everyone genuinely really likes each other in the band, which I think shows on stage.’ - Toby Gracewood-Easther  “It’s really refreshing, just a band focusing on something simple -  as Jude would say, to serve the song. We’re not trying to prove anything to each other, it’s really song-based music.” -Walter Martin. 

With this chemistry translating powerfully to a live setting, Dropper have jumped between local stages at San Fran and Meow and some of the nation’s most renowned venues, supporting There’s A Tuesday (NZ), shame (UK), Office Dog (NZ), Twine (AUS), Wunderhorse (UK), and The Lemonheads (USA). Audiences and critics have embraced Dropper’s intensity on the stage: “high energy stage performances punctuated by flawless musicianship and songwriting skills that seem beyond their years,” wrote Daniel O’Brien from MuzicNZ. Dropper will be showcasing the album across several Aotearoa stages this summer, before kicking off in 2026. “We always make sure to give it our all no matter the place or size of the crowd”.

Be A Little Kinder – Album Release Mini Tour

• Wellington – Meow, November 21 (Album release show).

• Whanganui – Porridge Watson, November 28 (supporting Model Home, Yon Loader and Pining Radiata).

• Auckland – The Others Way Festival, November 29 (headlining the all-ages stage).

• Twisted Frequency Music Festival – December 30th to January 3rd.

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark a new chapter for Dropper, with plans already underway for more writing, more touring, and more chances to get their music in front of the people it was made for. Energised by the release of Be A Little Kinder, the band steps into the new year with renewed drive and purpose, ready to keep growing, connecting, and building the world they’ve carved out one show at a time. ‘The music is constant, we’re all going to want to keep playing. I want to be a 70-year-old rocker’ - Jude Savage.

‘Be a Little Kinder’ is out now, through Particle Recordings. Physical CDs and T-shirts are available to purchase via Bandcamp or at Dropper shows alongside the release!

“I hope people can find something to relate to in the lyrics and enjoy the intricate instrumentals. I would love it if someone obsessed over the record as much as I’ve obsessed over other New Zealand bands' records.”  - Jude Savage 

tee. unveils dream, if you please An Alternative R&B confession from a dreamer

Artist and multi-instrumentalist today shares dream, if you please, the second single from a larger body of work quietly taking shape. A tender alternative R&B lament wrapped in electronic soundscapes and emotive haze, the track floats like a dream you can almost touch, blurred at the edges but impossible to forget.

The essence of dream, if you please lives in that dreamlike form: something not quite tangible yet emotionally impossible to let go. It is the feeling that lingers even as memories bend, blur, and fade. This new release is a confession from a dreamer to other dreamers, and an intimate offering for anyone who has ever held onto a moment long after it passed.

The single follows tee.’s debut solo release BURNOUT, shared earlier this year. BURNOUT introduced a powerful alternative-pop moment. dream, if you please leans into a quieter, darker tenderness, revealing another facet of tee.’s evolving sonic identity.

Though emerging as a solo artist, tee. is no stranger to Aotearoa’s music scene. As one half of sibling duo Ersha Island 二沙岛 with Danielle Hao-Aickin, tee. has spent recent years exploring and expanding through collaboration, weaving violin strings, songwriting, and emotion across the duo’s work. This year marks the beginning of both siblings stepping further into their individual expressions while continuing to nurture their shared creative world.

Produced by Carawei, dream, if you please serves as an introduction to tee. in a new light, a glimpse of what is to come in the year ahead. Ethereal, fluid, and emotionally rich, tee. is shaping an artistic universe that promises to surprise, evolve, and quietly captivate.

dream, if you please is not available on all streaming platforms.

CREDITS

Songwriting, Vocals & Violin: Tee Hao-Aickin 郝婷婷 ‘tee.’

Lead Guitar: Carawei Gao

Production, Mixing & Mastering: Carawei Gao

Distributor: Precise Digital 

PR Support: Creative Pwele 

Makeup Artist for Single Art:Elizabeth Creed

REB FOUNTAIN REIMAGINES STEVE EARLE’S CHRISTMAS FOLK CLASSIC FOR AOTEAROA ‘CHRISTMAS IN WELLINGTON’

Christmas is the perfect time to re-envision an Xmas song to bring good cheer to folks and raise funds for charity to boot.  Reb Fountain shares Christmas in Wellington; a poignant reimagining of Steve Earle’s classic, ‘Christmas in Washington’. Christmas in Wellington is set in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Only the names have changed but the sentiment is the same. In these times we need a guiding light to shine the way.  Come back Woody Guthrie to us now. 

In 2023, Reb Fountain released her cover of, ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’, by John Lennon and Yoko Ono; a beautiful rendition of a classic tune calling for peace that rang resonate in our current times.  This year, in the spirit of the great folk singer Woody Guthrie, award-winning New Zealand artist Reb Fountain shares her powerful reworking of Steve Earle’s ‘Christmas in Washington’. In Christmas in Wellington, Reb reflects on where we are, where we might be headed and the role of the artist in navigating challenging the road ahead. 

Calling upon the spirit of folk singer and activist Woody Guthrie, Reb summons beloved kiwi heroes, urging them to rise again and guide us toward a brighter, more unified future.  

With the backdrop of recession, increasing inequity, breaches of Te Titiri, inaction over climate change and genocide and the ongoing hardships experienced by creative artists, communities and ecosystems across the country, Reb has reverently evolved Earle’s lyrics to reflect the unique struggles and hopes of life in Aotearoa, whilst celebrating the resilience of it’s people and environment. 

The release of ‘Christmas in Wellington’ is not just a call for reflection but also a meaningful action for change. All profits from the song will be donated to MusicHelps, an Aotearoa-based charity that uses the transformative power of music to support hundreds of projects across New Zealand. MusicHelps has positively impacted the lives of thousands of New Zealanders offering aid to those in need through emergency assistance to music people experiencing hardship.

This holiday season, join Reb Fountain in celebrating the power of music to inspire, heal, and unite. 

Visit Bandcamp to download ‘Christmas in Wellington’ and donate to MusicHelps.

Chanelle & Friends Release Fun, Foot-Stomping New Single “Creature Groove” Featuring Tami Neilson and The Topp Twins

Chanelle & Friends are bringing the barn dance to the backyard this summer with their new single Creature Groove. 

Featuring legendary kiwi icons The Topp Twins, powerhouse vocals from Tami Neilson, and a hoedown-worthy fiddle solo from Marian Burns, the track is a riot of rhythm, humour, and heart — a toe-tapping celebration that invites everyone, big or small, to get up and dance. Equal parts country banger and kids’ party anthem, Creature Groove is bursting with playful energy and kiwi spirit.

“This song got more and more wild with every artist that jumped on, it makes me so happy every time I hear it!” says Chanelle. “It’s about letting loose and having fun together - dancing, singing - joking around, we all need more of that!”

A Comeback Rooted in Resilience

After releasing her first children’s album, The Little Green Turtle And Other Songs for Kids! in 2017, Chanelle’s creative journey paused as she navigated motherhood, the pandemic, and personal transformation.

“When my marriage ended in 2023, I felt completely lost and burnt out,” she shares. “Then NZ On Air announced their first funding round for kids’ music — I was lucky enough to receive a grant to make an album and It reignited everything. At 42, my joy is back and I’m living my best life again.

Creature Groove and Other Songs for Kids! marks her vibrant return to the world of children’s music.  The 12-track album drops January ‘26 and features guest appearances from famous friends including Suzy Cato, Craig Smith (The Wonky Donkey), Claudia Robin Gunn, Music with Michal, Loopy Tunes Music, and The MikMaks (AUS).   

Chanelle weaves together pop, country, blues and reggae, while singing about things that are unmistakably Aotearoa - our love of chips and road trips to encounters with native creatures like the giant wētā, glow worms, and pekapeka.

Creature Groove - produced by Morgan Samuel and Chanelle Davis.  Recorded at All Round Audio, Te Awamutu.  Written by Chanelle Davis, Daniel Munro(Lead Vocals/Guitar) and Hayley Munro(Backing Vocals).

The single is released through DRM New Zealand and will be available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music from Friday, 21 November.

TALI RETURNS WITH UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE “LIFE ON THE LINE”

Internationally acclaimed vocalist and lyricist Tali is back  with a powerful new single, “Life on the Line” - a vibrant,  emotionally resonant liquid drum & bass anthem that signals a  bold new chapter in her artistic journey. 

The track, produced by the talented Polaris, drops soon via  Ranger Records and is the first taste of Tali’s forthcoming  album, Empress Era.  

“Life on the Line” is both a personal statement and a  collective rally cry - a track that lifts listeners while  encouraging them to disconnect from the pressures of digital  life and reconnect with what truly matters: presence,  authenticity, and real-world connection.  

“With this song, I wanted to talk about the emotional  exhaustion that can come from constantly being online, chasing  validation, and feeling like your life always has to be ‘on  display,’” says Tali. “It’s about the power of stepping back,  breathing, and remembering the value of real relationships and  self-worth beyond the screen.”  

Polaris’ smooth, shimmering production provides the perfect  sonic backdrop - gliding breaks, lush textures, and soulful  melodies carry Tali’s message, blending introspection with  optimism in true liquid DnB fashion.  

The single is the first from Empress Era, Tali’s upcoming  album - a body of work that marks a period of transformation  and empowerment in her life and career. The project promises a  deeper, more refined sound that reflects both personal  evolution and a renewed creative vision.

SYLVEE RETURNS WITH STIRRING SINGLE ‘BEFORE I MET YOU’ FEATURING SAM HESELWOOD

New Zealand singer-songwriter Sylvee continues to redefine her sound with the release of ‘Before I Met You’ an emotive country-pop track featuring Sam Heselwood, out November 21.

Following her debut country single ‘Ice Grit’ (August 2024),  ‘Before I Met You’ marks the next chapter in Sylvee’s evolution as an artist. Blending soulful storytelling with heartfelt expression, the song explores the moment after heartbreak when you long to feel like yourself again.

“Country music has definitely been a bit of a genre shift for me, but it’s where I feel the most at home,” says Sylvee. “Storytelling, emotion and past experiences have helped to mould this story.”

During the writing process, Sylvee immersed herself in country influences, listening almost exclusively to artists such as Morgan Wallen, Ernest, Hardy, Ella Langley, Lainey Wilson and Tami Neilson, a deep dive that helped shape the song’s sound and storytelling style.

Lyrically, ‘Before I Met You’ captures the ache of trying to find yourself again after love fades. Lines like “I  just wanna feel ok again, without moving away or cutting my hair”  lay bare the quiet, relatable moments of heartbreak.

Written by Sarah Ryland, Samuel Ryland, and Sam Heselwood, and completed with Heselwood’s distinctive touch, ‘Before I Met You’  brings together some of New Zealand’s finest talent. Produced by Dan Martin (Keenan Te, Reuben Fleetwood), the track features Tom Broome and Neil Watson,  both touring musicians for Tami Neilson, adding an authentic country texture with live drums and pedal steel.

“The song is about going through a breakup and wanting to feel normal again,  but also finding healthier ways to move forward,” Sylvee explains.

Adding another layer to her artistry, ‘Before I Met You’ isn’t drawn from personal experience instead, it tells a completely fictional story, a refreshing point of difference in a genre often rooted in autobiography. The song captures the universal emotions of loss and healing with authenticity and grace, showing Sylvee’s gift for empathy and imagination.

The collaboration with Sam Heselwood, a Christchurch artist now based in the UK known for his soulful melodies and genuine connection with audiences, adds depth and warmth to the track, a meeting of two voices that blend seamlessly in tone and spirit.

“I absolutely loved being a part of ‘Before I Met You’” Heselwood shares. “Country music has always been where my heart lies, I’ve always wanted to dip my toes into the genre and when Sylvee sent the song over it instantly felt right. Can’t wait for the next one!"

Sylvee’s single ‘Before I Met You’  is out November 21 and available on all streaming platforms. 

Lavvender Announces New Single “Candid”

Following the emotional depth of her recent single “Tend to Your Wounds,” Aotearoa indie artist Lavvender returns with “Candid” - a brighter, more upbeat chapter that pairs self-reflection with a summery, free-spirited sound. Produced by Ben Woolford, “Candid” shimmers with a jaunty 6/8 groove and jangling guitars reminiscent of The Sundays and Fleetwood Mac. Beneath its breezy rhythm, the song explores the tension between honesty and uncertainty - the desire to stay true to yourself while trying not to let someone down. “Candid is about being honest, even when it hurts,” Lavvender explains. “It’s that moment where you’re trying to figure yourself out, but you don’t want to hurt someone in the process. It’s messy, but real.” With this release, Lavvender continues to carve out her place as one of the most emotionally resonant voices in the local indie scene. The song marks the next step in her artistic evolution - a candid look at growth, guilt, and the courage it takes to tell the truth.

“Candid” is available on all streaming platforms from November 21, 2025.

About Lavvender

Lavvender is a Tāmaki Makaurau–based singer-songwriter who has been writing and performing since a young age. Her music has evolved into thoughtful, melodic songs with a unique blend of indie/folk-pop sweetness and alt-rock edge. With a strong, emotive voice and striking lyrical detail, her songs are both compelling and beautiful. Her recent single ‘Tend To Your Wounds’ is out now on all platforms.

NEW SINGLE BADTAB

Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s BADTAB are carving out their own kaleidoscopic corner of the music world. Weaving together synthesisers and swirling guitar strums with rock-inflected, jazz inspired drum beats, BADTAB creates a unique and refreshing sound. The neo-psychedelic project of multi-instrumentalists Ethan Downing (Vox & Gat), Hamish Mckinley (Drums), Manaaki Tibble (Bass), Kahukuranui Hunter-brown (keys) and Louis Nixon (synths), has been turning heads since their formation in 2022, quickly establishing themselves as one of Wellington’s exciting emerging acts.

After a year-long release hiatus, deep in the creative cave writing for their upcoming album, comes the first single Cannibal for release Friday 21st November. Cannibal was one of the first tracks to emerge from their writing sessions, a successful attempt to craft something soulful and sexy. It started with Manaaki laying down a smooth bass line, which immediately set the tone for the track. Louis began experimenting with a Roland organ drum machine and tape delay, giving the track a lo-fi dub feel, until Hamish hopped on the kit and the track found its soul. What followed was a magic evening of writing where everything clicked, building on the song collaboratively.

Cannibal reflects a period when money was dominating the band’s conversations. With some members hunting for work, others landing jobs, and a few remained stuck in the ones they hated. The song captures that strange relationship we have with cash, how consuming it is once it starts to flow and how quickly it disappears. Cannibal captures the fleeting nature of something we’re taught to value above almost everything else, delivered with BADTABs signature blend of groove and finesse.