NZ pop artist Sophie-Maude shares her flirty side, on steamy new single ‘Hotel Lobby’

Flirty, exciting and upbeat is Sophie-Maude’s new single; the rising Aotearoa pop artist today releasing her dance-floor ready anthem ‘Hotel Lobby’.

Already having success in the NZ pop sphere with her 2022 single 'Take Me Away' hitting #1on the NZ Hot 40 Singles Chart, today’s release indicates a shift for the now 22-year old artist, to a more mature site of her artistry and an exploration of her growth.

“This release marks a point of evolution and progression for me as an artist, breaking out of the "G-Rated" pigeonhole that young artists find themselves in,” says Sophie-Maude.

“I want to be taken seriously as a songwriter and artist, and this is the first of many songs that show growth and a new, more mature side of my abilities.”

The artwork for the song was shot by Nicholas Charles at the beautiful Clarence Boutique Hotel in Tauranga, with designer cosmetics, lingerie, a camera and wine glasses all alluding to what happens when you break the 'first-date rules'.

“‘Hotel Lobby’ is about being on a first date and breaking all of the rules (eg. "no kissing/going home on the first date") by ultimately deciding to book a hotel room together,” says Sophie-Maude.

It’s the ultimate track for getting ready for a first date, “when you're fantasising about your crush and hyping yourself up for a big night.

“I have the funny memories of shouting "OH, MY, GOD!" for the bridge over and over in my producer Flynn Adamson’s home studio, while his flatmates were trying to work.”

Sophie-Maude first emerged on the R&B-pop scene with singles ‘Comfortable’, ‘Insane’and ‘Only One’. She also features on renowned Kiwi act Deadbeat’s new single ‘Diamonds’ alongside hip-hop producer and DJ, Joey illah.

Sophie-Maude is a multi-talented artist at the fulcrum of an evolving R&B and pop scene. Already selling out headline shows in Aotearoa, she recently performed as part of Tāmaki Makaurau’s Christmas in the Park, and has opened for Ōtautahi pop princess PRINS and local legend Hollie Smith. Her 2022 single 'Take Me Away' (#1 Official Hot NZ Single Chart, RadioScope NZ Airplay, ZM Locals Only) was followed by 'Vertigo' which spent 7 weeks on the NZ RadioScope Airplay Charts.

Using music as a form of self-expression, Sophie-Maude is a passionate and active advocate for invisible disabilities internationally, largely due to her own experience with Autism, ADHD, OCD, and Tourette’s syndrome. She has raised over $300,000 NZD for neurodivergent charities in the last few months alone.

‘Hotel Lobby’ is a major indication of what’s to come from this emerging star, marking an evolution of an artist that's growing a stronger, more vivid identity.

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Emerson’s “Just Not Into You”: Where brutal honesty and insecurity merge.

“Just Not Into You” is Emerson’s latest pop-rock release, blending sharp, conversational lyricism with a driving guitar-led pop sound. Written in Melbourne with Kiwi producer Ciarann Babbington (Baker’s Eddy), the track captures the awkward emotional territory between honesty and insecurity, turning the uncomfortable act of friend-zoning someone into a hook-driven pop moment.

The collaboration continues Emerson’s working relationship with Babbington, who also produced her previous single “Again,” which debuted at #10 on the Aotearoa Hot 20 Singles Chart earlier this year and secured multiple Spotify and Apple Music editorial playlist placements. Mastered by Seattle engineer Barrett Jones, the track adds further polish to Emerson’s growing catalogue, balancing playful humour with the emotional tension that defines much of her songwriting.

Auckland-based artist Emerson is quickly emerging as one of Aotearoa’s most compelling new pop voices. The Rockquest-winning songwriter began releasing music in late 2024 and has already seen seven of her nine singles reach the Aotearoa Hot 20 Singles Chart, alongside editorial support across Spotify and Apple Music internationally.

Her music has also gained consistent radio airplay across New Zealand while building a growing global audience online. Alongside her recorded releases, Emerson has developed a strong live profile, performing headline shows and national tours while appearing at key industry events including IMNZ’s Going Global and the NZ On Air Music Showcase. She has also secured festival slots including Rhythm and Vines, continuing to expand her presence both domestically and internationally.

With a steady run of new releases planned and increasing international attention, Emerson is positioning herself as one of the next wave of pop artists emerging from Aotearoa.

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Chris Sanders - Hana The Glowworm

Chris Sanders is proud to announce the premiere of his first full scale musical, Hana the Glowworm, following on from the abridged 'Tunes 4 Tamariki' version he launched with Auckland Philharmonia in 2025 and featuring the music from Tūi Award nominated album.

The production is proudly being presented by Centrestage Youth Theatre in Orewa and Angel Star Publishing House.

Hana is the beautiful story of a curious and brave little glowworm with a very bright spirit.

Drawn by the sound of a faraway orchestra flowing through her cave, she begins an adventure to discover the source of the music, along with her new friend, a cave eel.

Deep in the night time forest of Aotearoa they adventure and meet many new friends along the way, including some lost musical instruments! The story is filled with fun that is both daring and dangerous! Can Hana and her friends rescue the concert? Can someone so little save the day?

In 2025, Hana the Glowworm the album was named a finalist for a Tūi Award for Best Children's Artist Album!
Following packed-out performances with Auckland Philharmonia at the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre and Bruce Mason Centre in 2025, this expanded full-length version premieres at Centrestage Theatre - featuring new songs, more storyline and even more adventure!

Performances:

Saturday 26 September till Saturday 3 October.
All tickets $25, Family Pass available for groups of 4 people $22.50 per person. Credit Card Charges Apply.

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NZ pop artist Liberty releases music video after winning Beyond The Beat people’s choice with King’s cover

Emerging New Zealand pop artist Liberty has released the official music video for her version of Don’t Worry Bout It, after winning the fan-voted People’s Choice award in the online music series Beyond The Beat.

The series saw five artists reimagine songs by established Kiwi musicians, with Liberty covering Don’t Worry Bout It by Kings. The process was documented throughout the series before the artists revealed their versions live on radio to the original artists. After a public vote, Liberty was selected as the winner, earning the opportunity to create a fully produced music video for her track.

Liberty was announced as the winner live on air during an interview on The Edge, a moment she says still feels surreal.

“They brought me into The Edge for an interview and made it sound like all the artists had been in talking about the project all day, so I honestly thought it was just another chat. Then, live on air, they told me I’d won, which completely shocked me. Once we started planning the video, we wanted it to feel like a proper story, and we ended up filming most of it in one shot. It meant a lot of rehearsals and a lot of takes, but that’s what made the whole thing feel really fun in the end.”

Directed by Gal Hochman, produced by Chillbox and filmed at Peaches Hot Chicken in Auckland, the video leans into storytelling, following a fast-paced narrative where liberty is a stressed waitress running late for her shift before a chance encounter inspires her to relax, and her energy infects everyone in the diner. The video features mostly a one-shot style performing building to a choreographed musical theatre-inspired ending, bringing the whole restaurant together. 

Originally from Hawke’s Bay and now based in Auckland, Liberty has built a following with her raw, honest songwriting known for lyrics about growing up, relationships and overthinking. With several releases already out, the video marks the start of a bigger run of music planned for the year. 

The Don’t Worry Bout It is out now on all streaming services and the music video is available now on YouTube. 

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kindyRock Creator Judi Cranston waves ‘Goodbye’ to her kids songwriting years with ‘Can You Wave Goodbye’

APRA award-winning children’s music creator Judi Cranston today releases her brand-new song and video Can You Wave Goodbye.

Made with NZ On Air Tamariki support, Can You Wave Goodbye is a catchy goodbye song for educators and families, incorporating body awareness, actions and plenty of fun, made with support from NZ On Air Tamariki. The song also marks Judi’s own wave goodbye to kindyRock songwriting, with her 158th song, as she steps into a new chapter of soul led creative music for all ages after years of building her kindyRock collection.

Perfect for families at home, and for educators everywhere, this will be a must for mat time and gentle goodbyes at kindy drop off. The song is matched with a whimsical animated video, created by Auckland’s Ardi Alemi, to augment the song’s purpose - encouraging participation and fine motor skill development with simple and repetitive actions.

Judi is the founder of kindyRock, with a mission to help early childhood educators be more confident and creative with running their music sessions. Her fun and memorable musical resources help little kids learn through music, and they also help big people use music in ways that improve learning. In 2024, Judi won APRA Best Children’s Song (Preschool) along with her co-writer Levity Beet. 

For more than 18 years her music has been played by generations of kids and their parents, grannies and music groups alike. Judi is blown away to see how widely her music has travelled in this time; having started on CDs in 2008, the catalogue now has over 65 million streams on Spotify, and 12.5 million YouTube views. Along the way, support from NZ music industry bodies like NZ on Air Tamariki has recognised the importance of creating for a younger audience, backing the production and promotion for this song and video, and a number of other kindyRock singles since 2018.

Judi says, ‘My slant has always been to educate the educators, so they are empowered with new ideas to run their music classes in a fun and helpful way’. To this end, Judi also launched a kindyRock app with support from Creative New Zealand in 2020, responding to the need to make music sessions during the covid lockdowns more accessible to everyone at home. Additionally, with support from NZ Music Commission, her Rock Your Music training programme was created for teachers to develop their creativity, confidence and expertise in delivering music to kids themselves.

‘I created a goal in 2009 - that my music would be accessible to any child in the world. I wrote it on a little piece of paper and stuffed it in my drawer. Then I found it 15 years later when I changed my bedroom around and realised it had already happened. Since I began, the music industry here has exploded with amazing content for kids, beautiful networking through the Kiwi Kids Music community, and the growth in industry support for the genre. I am so glad to see so many people inspired to follow this path too’

Judi's music is a favourite at library rhymetimes and mainly music classes, and generations of kids have grown up knowing songs like Wibble Wobble and Sit on the Mat and Clap, among many more. 

Her top song on Spotify, Wibble Wobble, has over 9,500,000 streams!

The kindyRock catalogue will always remain accessible on streaming platforms in support of early childhood communities. Can You Wave Goodbye will help children practise calm, confident farewells through a catchy blend of repetition, rhythm and melody. This song continues Judi’s legacy of creating music that is not only joyful, but truly useful for the audience.

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BREAKTHROUGH NEW ZEALAND BAND BORDERLINE UNVEIL ANTHEMIC NEW SINGLE “WATCHING IT BURN”

Fresh off the back of supporting Teddy Swims on his New Zealand tour and picking up ‘Track of the Week’ on BBC Radio 1, breakthrough New Zealand band Borderline today unveil their anthemic new single “Watching It Burn”. “Watching It Burn" sees the genre-blurring quartet go back to their rock roots with a wall of sound that culminates in an epic sax solo, and proves why this young band, barely out of their teens, are being tipped as ones to watch globally.

“Watching It Burn” is one of our favourite songs,” explains Borderline. “It hits you with this colossal wall of sound, huge distorted guitars and massive drums that takes us back to our rock roots.  It’s so much fun to play live as a band, especially with the saxophone solo at the end, which Max absolutely crushes. This is the Borderline track we want people to turn up loud and sing while driving with the roof down. It’s about watching something that you’ve worked so hard to build just burn to nothing. Whether it’s someone or something, it's an area so many people can relate to in their own way.”

Hailing from Auckland, Borderline is Ben Glanfield [guitar, vocals, keys], Jackson Boswell [drums, vocals], Matthew McFadden [lead guitar], and Max Harries [bass]. The four musicians and songwriters have been best mates since childhood, releasing their debut single “Spinning” in 2022 as fresh-faced 16-year-olds still in high school. “Spinning” hit the Hot 40 Singles chart and the Radioscope Most Added charts. The band, now only just into their 20s, are already making waves internationally with their mix of pop, rock and funk, bringing their undeniable chemistry together to make music you can groove to.

Borderline ended 2025 with two singles in the top 10 NZ songs on radio in New Zealand, with “New Romance” hitting #1 on the Hot Aotearoa Singles and claiming the #1 New Zealand song on radio for a whopping 14 weeks. “New Romance” and “Tainted” were both also named ‘Track of the Week’ on BBC Introducing on Radio 1 - huge accolades for the young band who are already garnering key tastemaker support around the world.

With Teddy Swims declaring that Borderline "just rip it out there" on the live stage, and Ash London saying “Borderline are without a doubt future superstars of indie pop,” the band are amassing fans on home soil and internationally. Having already notched up scene-stealing performances at SXSW Austin and The Great Escape in the UK in 2025, the global trajectory of Borderline is just beginning with an extensive North American tour locked in for April. 

Stream “Watching It Burn” now, check out the official music video directed by Tom Grut here, and stay tuned for New Zealand and Australian tour dates very soon. 

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SOLA ROSA ANNOUNCES LOSING TIME FEAT. MUROKI - OUT NOW

Andrew Spraggon, a.k.a. Sola Rosa, has unveiled Losing Time, the third single from his forthcoming album In The Mids. Co-written with Muroki shortly before his move to Berlin, the track rides a mid-tempo, four-on-the-floor groove anchored by Kenji’s slick, atmospheric guitar and Lewis McCallum’s hooky horn arrangements — evoking the spirit of a 70s horn section while driving the track’s infectious energy. Simon Gooding’s mix lets each element breathe, highlighting both the rhythm and the space within the track.

Lyrically, Losing Time explores a tension familiar to many Kiwis: the pull between loving home and chasing opportunity abroad. There’s a subtle melancholy beneath the funk, balanced with wry reflections on ambition, movement, and the smallness of Aotearoa for an artist with big ideas. The result is rhythmically compelling, effortlessly groovy, and far funkier than it has any right to be — a track that rewards repeated listens and sits comfortably in both headphones and DJ sets.

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Harry Charles releases his third album, NOVA

Harry Charles returns with NOVA, his third full-length album and second on Loop Electronic.

Written with the dancefloor in mind, NOVA captures a new chapter in Charles’ evolution, one that leans into immediacy, rhythm, and the shared experience of live performance. Following the singles ‘The Luck’, ‘Zero Zero’ and ‘Great Pages’, the album sees Charles refining his sound into something brighter and more direct.

“After finishing my sophomore album Movement, I felt the pull to write something more direct, a body of work I could take straight to the festival stage. I was curious about the energy I was hearing on dancefloors at the time, but I never wanted to lose the slower groove that has always been part of my sound. Because of that balance, Nova became the fastest body of work I’ve made, while still feeling grounded in where I come from musically.” - Harry Charles 

An album written for the dancefloor, the sunset, and the moment when everything falls into place, NOVA was written to be experienced live.

“At its core, all I want my music to do is make people feel good and make them want to dance. In the past, I leaned heavily into long, cinematic soundscapes with extended intros and breakdowns. For this album, I shifted focus and wrote tracks that get to the point more quickly, and that could work naturally in DJ sets, without losing warmth or emotion.” - Harry Charles

NOVA builds on the foundation laid by 2025’s MOVEMENT, trading expansive ambient passages for tighter arrangements and driving grooves. Where his earlier work often unfolded patiently, this album moves with purpose, shaped by dancefloor energy. It's electronic music designed not just to be heard, but to be experienced collectively.

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About Harry Charles
Hailing from New Zealand, Harry Charles made his mark in Berlin, where he honed his craft and developed an electrifying style characterised by downtempo beats, slow house rhythms, live instrumentation, and heartfelt vocal performances. He has releases on a dozen boutique European labels, as well as spots on the lineups of prestigious festivals and clubs across Europe.

Now based back in Aotearoa, Harry released his second album MOVEMENT on Loop Electronic in May 2025, which saw him consolidate his palette into a 10-track, 46-minute journey of organic house, ambient textures, and intimate songwriting. Charles has established himself as a key member of the underground electronic scene in NZ, and his upcoming album will look to solidify his growing reputation.