DIGGY DUPÉ AND CHOICEVAUGHAN JOIN FORCES FOR SUMMER-READY FUNK/HIP-HOP FUSION, BROWN VELVET COLLAB EP

Renowned Grey Lynn, Central Auckland-raised rapper Diggy Dupé has returned with Brown Velvet EP, a new project made in collaboration with producer choicevaughan and arriving just in time for the Aotearoa summer season, out Friday, December 12th via DRM. 

Brown Velvet finds Diggy Dupé reuniting with acclaimed Aotearoa producer choicevaughan, following their collaborative history as the minds behind the Silver Scroll and Aotearoa Music Award-winning The Panthers soundtrack in 2021. The 5-track project marks a shift in sound from the rapid-fire raps, Island drums, and hard-hitting 808’s that defined Dupé’s early projects like 2017’s debut album K.O.T.I.C, and 2020’s That’s Me, That’s Team. Brown Velvet transports listeners to the carefree scenes and mellow sounds of a Central Auckland summer, with Diggy’s smooth bars set against choicevaughan’s nostalgic tapestry of disco, funk, soul, and R&B rhythms. 

Brown Velvet’s lead single, ‘Request Line’, set the mood for the timeless soundscapes of the project upon its release in December 2024, with Dupé embracing melodic-rap cadences blended with sleek basslines and disco-funk atmospheres from choicevaughan, with co-production and co-writing from Grammy Award-winning producer Astro. The project's latest single, ‘Big Dawgs Eat’, is a soulful neo-funk anthem speaking to summertime freedom and family values, arriving with an accompanying music video directed by Doughboy Creative and featuring Māori/Samoan singer-songwriter Jordyn with a Why. “All day, seven days a week, gotta mess around, let the big dogs eat,” Dupé barks over choicevaughan’s grooving instrumental. “Let ‘em free, let him find his peace, gotta let him be, let the big dogs eat, unchain, let him off the leash, gotta mess around, let the big dogs eat.” 

On ‘Anything’, Dupé joins forces with acclaimed Māori musician and close collaborator Troy Kingi, who worked alongside Dupé and choicevaughan under the alias P. Smith for The Panthers soundtrack and recently recruited Dupé as a collaborator on his latest album Night Lords. A 90’s inspired g-funk love song, ‘Anything’ fuses woozy basslines with soulful vocals from Troy Kingi declaring devotion to his partner, while Dupé’s laidback bars paint a lively portrait of his ladies summertime shenanigans out on the town. Dupé also recruits Aotearoa R&B artist Sam V’s silky smooth melodies for the infectious hook on ‘Sicily’, a soaring hip-hop and funk fusion with shades of 80’s R&B.  

"We were influenced by funk records. We started off with our usual process, starting real rap-heavy, but we thought this time we'd shift our approach. I had to scrap half of what I wrote, change my entire view of how to write songs, and start approaching it in a pop sense,” Diggy reveals of the project's creative process. “We figured out less is more so I could let the beat breathe. We went heavy on being more lighthearted."

“The whole writing process was very collaborative,” choicevaughan adds. “We approached it more like a traditional funk/soul/rnb/pop project rather than "producer makes the beats, rapper writes the raps", and decisions were made due to what’s best for the song as a whole. We just wanted to make a project people could boogie to over the summer. My summer playlist is almost always funk heavy.” 

Almost a decade on from his 2017 debut project K.O.T.I.C, Brown Velvet EP is an exciting evolution for one of Aotearoa’s most respected rappers, proving Dupé’s ability to sonically shapeshift while always keeping his Central Auckland roots, Niuean culture, and community values at the core of his artistry. As smooth as Brown Velvet, Diggy Dupé and choicevaughan’s latest Summer masterpiece is available Friday, December 12th on all digital streaming services. 

Caru and Brandn Shiraz go Two for Two to close out the year

Caru and Brandn Shiraz return with 'Two for Two', closing out the year with their finest work yet. Recently praised by Rolling Stone as “one of the best EPs of the year”. This new sharp dual-sided release pairs Caru’s slick production alongside Brandn Shiraz’s unmistakable and raw MC energy. Designed as a vinyl-style Side A/B with a mid-track beat switch, it also features synthesizer and Rhodes from jazz pianist and arranger Joe Kaptein to tie it all together.

Taking inspiration from Broken Beat and UK Garage, ‘Two for Two’ carves out a sharp spot in the Aotearoa music scene, built for both club DJs and the dancers who join them. Caru and Brandn Shiraz ditch the contemporary pop-leaning UKG formulas for a slick take that nods to the genre’s underground roots.

Producer Caru says, “We always planned to follow up our first project ‘Back 2 Back’, so it’s definitely come naturally. We’ve taken our time with it to really try to expand and develop on everything we did with the first project. It’s feeling like it’s a step up in every way.”

Brandn’s reputation has been built through key industry moments, including showcases at SXSW Sydney and Going Global, along with a strong run of summer performances at Cross Street Festival, Cuba Dupa, The Others Way and opening for Wax Mustang. He now heads into a milestone 2025/26 Aotearoa summer festival run, featuring sets with Caru at Northern Bass, Matakanarama, Twisted Frequency and Island Time, where they will showcase their MC/DJ dynamic, and play out their dual EPs.

The single pays homage to DJ culture itself - by going back-to-back, trading two-for-two, to keep the dance floor moving. The ‘Two for Two’ single release is paired with a limited edition run of 7 inch vinyl records pressed by Zenith Records, only 50 available. Buy it on Bandcamp here and releasing on all digital streaming platforms on Friday 12 December.

Caru & Brandn Shiraz Tour Dates

Wed 31 Dec 2025 - Matakanarama - Matakana

Wed 31 Dec 2025 - Northern Bass - Mangawhai

Thurs 1 Jan 2026 - Twisted Frequency - Upper Tākaka

Sat 24 Jan 2026 - Island Time Festival - Waiheke Island

Saturday 31 Jan 2026 - TBA

About Caru

Carl has been performing in Aotearoa's electronic music scene since 2017, as one half of the synth-pop duo Imugi 이무기. In 2022, Carl adopted the moniker 'Caru', channeling his creative energies towards the dance floor. This new direction resulted in a prolific output of tracks influenced by UK Garage, Breakbeat, Jungle, and Electro.

With releases ranging from remixes of '90s and Y2K classics to underground club bangers, Caru's tracks regularly feature in the sets of DJs worldwide - notably Lady Shaka's Berlin Boiler Room. He has released music through UK dance music labels such as IN THE HOUSE Records, Belters, EC2A and Profound Sound Records, as well as local imprints The Big Fresh Collective and Redline Records.

In addition to his original productions, Caru has remixed tracks from local artists including MOKOTRON, Aroha, Young Gho$t, MELODOWNZ and Bavhu.

Recent highlights include a summer DJ residency on George FM, sold-out show at the internationally renowned Boiler Room Aotearoa, Rhythm and Vines, and an Aotearoa tour with Yung Singh. Caru's creative momentum shows no signs of slowing down - with a steady stream of shows, new releases and exciting local and international collaborations on the horizon.

About Brandn Shiraz

Cook Island native and Tāmaki Makaurau based artist Brandn Shiraz is a prominent figure in the local community. Hailed by Sniffers as a leading force in Aotearoa’s hip-hop scene, Shiraz's commitment to pushing creative boundaries is evident in his captivating sound, with many inspirations stemming from his roots in the Cook Islands. He has a number of notable collaborations under his belt, including features on the Home Brew, Troy Kingi and MOKOMOKAI albums. In previous years, he featured on rap projects Shiraz & LSJ and Risera, and also garnered recognition in Redbull’s' 64 Bars series. Brandn Shiraz is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the New Zealand scene, with only more heat to come.

Grief, Desperation, and Dial Tones in Liberty’s Most Personal Track Yet with New single “Call Me Back, Babe” out today

Hawkes Bay / Auckland, NZ - 20-year-old pop artist Liberty peels back the layers of heartbreak in her new single “Call Me Back, Babe” a stripped-back acoustic-pop track that spirals through the emotional chaos of wanting someone who’s already let go.

“It’s about going through a breakup and wanting to talk to your ex, but they won’t call you back,” Liberty says. 

Co-written and produced with Lucid Heist at Parachute Studios, the track pairs Taylor Swift-style songwriting with Gracie Abrams-inspired production, intimate, vulnerable, and raw. Despite working together in Auckland, both artists are originally from Hawke’s Bay, adding a full-circle feeling to their first-ever session.

“Call Me Back, Babe” weaves sonic details that reflect the emotional unraveling, from voicemails and clock ticks to EQ’d guitars mimicking phone calls. But unlike previous singles, Liberty and Lucid kept the production purposefully minimal to let the lyrics cut through.

“I’m really proud of the songwriting on this one,” she shares. “Writing it was healing for me. I hope it can do that for someone else.”

One standout lyric “My friends think I’m crazy, my God they almost hate me” captures the isolation of going back to someone your friends doesn’t understand. It’s that honest, messy emotional space that Liberty is quickly becoming known for.

“Call Me Back, Babe” is her 4th release, coming out 5th December 2025. Liberty’s work has already earned her 350K+ followers across TikTok and Instagram, 110K+ streams on her debut single “I Wanna,” radio support from ZM, The Edge, and Radio NZ, and had music charting at #5 on the Hot NZ Singles Chart.

Chart topping Kiwi pop starlet PRINS drops powerful new single ‘HEAVEN OR HELL’

After shooting to the top of the charts last month with her recent single, ‘COOL’, PRINS is back with another absolute banger, ‘HEAVEN OR HELL’.
 

The driving, pop track infused with liquid drum and bass is also the title for her hotly anticipated EP, due out in 2026. Watch this space!
 

The new single finds the New Zealand powerhouse in a contemplative mood and standing steadfast in her determination to keep pushing the boundaries with her distinctive brand of electro-pop that has taken the global music scenes by storm.
 

Sitting bang smack in the middle of strength and vulnerability, ‘HEAVEN OR HELL’ captures PRINS’ artistry in its purest form. “I’ve always been drawn to contrast: light and dark, power and pain. ‘HEAVEN OR HELL’ is honest, cinematic, and unapologetic, which is exactly how I approach my music and my career. I don’t shy away from the messy parts of chasing a dream. I translate them into something beautiful and real. That balance between chaos and clarity is the core of who I am as an artist.”

'HEAVEN OR HELL' is also a reflection of the last couple of years of PRINS’ life: “Chasing a dream in LA, feeling all highs and lows at its most extreme. It captures the constant push and pull between euphoria and exhaustion, confidence and doubt, faith and chaos. It’s about surrendering to the process, trusting that even when you’re standing in the fire, it’s shaping you into who you’re meant to become.” she says.

“More than anything, I hope listeners feel seen in that space between the highs and the heartbreak - the part where you’re fighting for something bigger than yourself and still learning to let go.”

Written in LA, PRINS explains that ‘HEAVEN OR HELL’ went through a few iterations before she landed on the exact sound and vibe she was after, which fans can also expect on her upcoming EP.

“It ended up being reproduced four times before it finally felt right. I reworked the entire track alongside the rest of the EP. The process was long, but it mirrored what the song represents - evolution, surrender, and learning to trust timing,” she says.

“As the title track of my upcoming EP, HEAVEN OR HELL, it captures the last two years of my life navigating the LA scene, chasing big dreams, and finding peace in the chaos.”

WEST AUCKLAND’S DOUBLE PARKED SHARE RAUCOUS LATEST SINGLE, ‘BUTTERCUP’

Off the back of last month's cathartic single release ‘Necklace’, West Auckland post-surf rockers Double Parked have shared another new single, ‘Buttercup’. 

Drenched in distorting reverb, gritty guitar riffs, and heavy drums, ‘Buttercup’ jolts with anxious and urgent energy, meshing half-spoken, half-sung verses with a raucous, high-charged hook. “Light me up a cigarette, I can’t feel my face, suck it up, buttercup, am I even breathing?” Vocalist Tom cries. Co-written between the whole band, the track's melancholic songwriting embodies the feeling of being on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “‘Cause I’m loyal like a dog, you can cut me up and bruise me, and you know I’ll never leave, you can fuck me up and use me”. 

“This song might make people realise the breakdown is right around the corner,” Tom reflects. “But also that we all go through those things, and a broken bone heals even stronger than before. So take every failure as a lesson and a blessing to grow. Life’s hard, but you never know when the tables turn and you’ll be exactly where you need to be.”

In the past two years since the success of their 2023 debut EP Lost in the Groove, Double Parked have cemented themselves as one of New Zealand’s most exciting acts on the rise. The group have quickly developed a cult following with their rowdy live shows, festival sets, and tours with celebrated local and international acts including The Butlers, Lazy Ghost, and most recently supporting Australian indie-rock band The Terrys across their New Zealand tour this past September. This Summer, the band are set to perform at the country's biggest new years festival Rhythm & Vines, and perform a headline show at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on December 13th.

Pushing forward the traditional surf-rock sound with their own genre-defying fusion labelled “post-surf”, Double Parked are redefining the subgenre for a new generation. While making music that’s quintessentially rooted in New Zealand, the group pull from a melting pot of global influences including Indie, Alternative, Post-Punk, Psych and Surf, laced together from their distinctly West Coast lens.  

Friday 5th December: Emerson Wraps Up 2025 With Her 6th Release, “Amy”

Amy marks Emerson’s fifth collaboration with producer Harry Charles and her sixth release of 2025. Their partnership has already delivered four singles that charted on the NZ Hot 20, including her breakout track You Really Must Hate Me, which passed 100,000 Spotify streams, was spotlighted by Beats Per Minute (US), and secured four Spotify Editorial placements. The momentum continued with Tip of My Tongue, which landed on four Apple Music and two Spotify editorial playlists, alongside a strong sub-A rotation on ZM.  

Her rising momentum has also taken her onto some of Aotearoa’s biggest industry stages, including IMNZ’s Going Global Showcase and the NZ On Air showcase series. To close out the year, she’ll step onto the Rhythm and Vines stage — her first ever festival appearance and a major milestone in a breakout year.  

Artist Bio

Winner of the 2024 Smokefree Rockquest Solo/Duo category, Emerson has spent 2025 cementing her place as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new pop voices. In the past year, she’s opened for Borderline, Will Swinton, and Frankie Venter, completed her first national tour with Dani Josie (Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland), and two headline shows at Big Fan and The Tuning Fork.

A multi-instrumentalist and seasoned performer, Emerson grew up in musical theatre and competitive dance, bringing that same powerhouse stage energy to every show. Since 2022, she has sharpened her artistry through a string of successful local indie bands—switching between bass, rhythm guitar, and lead vocals—before stepping fully into her own as a dynamic pop artist and songwriter to watch.

Beyond her solo work, Emerson has become a sought-after collaborator, writing and toplining with artists such as Frankie Venter, Teo Glacier, Keenan Te, Macey, Rosetta, Ladyhawke and Gin Wigmore. She was selected for Parachute Studio’s Song Week, curated by Alice Ivy, where she collaborated with icons Gin Wigmore and Ladyhawke. She has also spent time in Melbourne and Sydney writing with a range of artists and producers through Unified Music Group and Mushroom Music Publishing, further sharpening her craft and expanding her creative network.

MILES CALDER Shares New Single + Video ‘Go Slow’

Today, songwriter Miles Calder shares new single ‘Go Slow’ and accompanying music video.

As the latest single from his forthcoming Keeping Up EP, ‘Go Slow’ continues Miles’ collaboration with producer Samuel Flynn Scott (The Phoenix Foundation) and Tui-award winning engineer Lee Prebble (The Phoenix Foundation, L.A.B, The Black Seeds), recording and mixing the song at his studio The Surgery.

A cinematic and sparse meditation on taking time and choosing your pace of life, ‘Go Slow’ shifts between distinct movements: The murky opening guitar hook and spacious verses give way to soaring choruses and floating jam sections. The richly layered arrangement showcases long-time bandmates Nick George (drums), Steve Moodie (bass), Chris Armour (guitar) and Dayle Jellyman (keys) as well as layered backing vocals from Deanne Krieg aka WHIM (Congress of Animals, Dawn Diver, Ida Lune).  

The otherworldly music video plunges us into a surreal ocean, with Miles playing in slow-mo waves and blown out colours. Making the video himself, Miles “simply cobbled together some footage from holiday and played with the edit and colour until it felt it fit the different vibey parts of the song”. It transports the viewer and sinks us into the trippy underwater calm. 

Miles Calder released his solo debut album Autopilot Life in 2021, a self-reflective delve into waking up from an unexamined life, dressed in a psychedelic folk-rock palette that evoked late-era Beatles as much as contemporaries like Kevin Morby and Father John Misty. The album won over new fans and critics alike & led to a nomination for a prestigious Aotearoa Music Award (Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa | Best Folk Artist 2022). 

PICKLE DARLING Expands the World of Bots with Companion EP crumple zones

Following the release of their fourth album, Ōtautahi’s own Pickle Darling reemerges with crumple zones, a companion EP that reimagines and expands the sonic world of Bots. Following a track record of acclaim — from 2023’s Laundromat, featured in Rolling Stone AU/NZ’s “80 Best New Zealand Albums of the Decade So Far,” to 2025’s praised Bots — the EP affirms Lukas Mayo’s reputation as one of Aotearoa’s most inventive indie-pop voices. While Bots was meticulously assembled, this new collection embraces a more immediate, live-inspired energy, offering alternate takes, acoustic reinterpretations, and a collaboration with Father/Daughter labelmate, Anna McClellan.

The EP’s focus track, ‘massive everything (alternate version)’ explores the ways we protect ourselves utilizing our emotional crumple zones. “The original version of the song is much more synthetic, but I recently discovered Nashville guitar tuning and was playing everything with that tuning. I wanted a lush, guitar filled version of this song to exist in the world too” shares Mayo. Delicate finger picking carries ‘human bean (alternate version),’ a cute, stripped-down rendition of the original. ‘pinwheels (featuring Anna McClellan)’ is a long-awaited collaboration brought to life in a delightfully messy, acoustic-first approach. Anna’s vocals were recorded casually on a phone, background sounds intact, evoking a sense of immediacy and nostalgia, the kind of small, carb-filled comforts that define personal memory. 

The EP also plays with the visual side of music-making: artwork inspired by layered woodcut prints explores alternative colors and textures, mirroring the experimental spirit of the songs themselves. Pickle Darling approaches this project as a weekend workshop rather than a full-length album’s labor, letting the process be playful, expansive, and free from pressure.