Menzies Release Debut Album + Vinyl & Announce New Zealand Tour
Wellington, New Zealand’s crooked alt-country-rock Menzies release their highly-anticipated debut album + vinyl pressing - ‘Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm’, and announce a full NZ tour in July and August. The album captures everything that makes Menzies one of the country’s most exciting emerging acts.
Wellington, New Zealand’s crooked alt-country-rock Menzies release their highly-anticipated debut album + vinyl pressing - ‘Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm’, and announce a full NZ tour in July and August. The album captures everything that makes Menzies one of the country’s most exciting emerging acts.
Part concept-album, part Aotearoa-coming-of-age, Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm plays out as a ferry crossing between two islands, peppered throughout with overhead intercom announcements. Lead singer Chris Brown’s story-led songwriting pulls from deeply New Zealand experiences: Suzy Cato, romantic feelings towards All Blacks, trays of sausage rolls, native bird-song. Menzies deliver a debut that feels deeply personal, wildly universal, and impossible to ignore.
Beyond the studio, Brown’s former life as a working magician is woven into the band’s fabric and acclaimed live performances - 10 pairs of gloves thrown to the crowd and recipients hunt for their glove-mate before the song ends, balloons that have to be kept afloat for the duration of the song or the band stops playing, the crowd all shooting at a basketball hoop mid-set, appearing magic canes. The result is a live experience that is mesmerising, communal, and completely captivating.
New Zealand hasn’t had a band like this since the Front Lawn or The Mutton Birds.
“As a magician I spent years learning how to distract people.. This album really is the complete opposite, looking directly at what feels true, beautiful, and raw.”
Menzies have brought in New Zealand production powerhouses for the album - recorded & mixed by James Goldsmith (Mermaidens, DARTZ) at The Surgery, and mastered by Tūī Award-winning Vivek Gabriel (Avantdale Bowling Club, Onono).
Release and tour dates:
Album release: Friday 8th May, Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is WarmPalmerston North: Fri 3rd July [The Stomach] Whanganui: Sat 4th July [Porridge Watson] Wellington: Fri 17th July [Meow] Christchurch: Fri 24th July [Dark Room] Dunedin: Sat 25th July [Pearl Diver] Auckland: Fri 7th August [Whammy]
Raglan: Sat 8th August [Raglan Town Hall] Support acts to be announced.
With their live shows lauded by the likes of MJ Lenderman himself, this isn’t a tour to miss out on.
LEE MARTIN UNVEILS HER MOST PERSONAL WORK YET WITH NEW ALBUM MARLENE
Ōtautahi-based singer-songwriter LEE MARTIN returns with her fourth studio album, MARLENE — a raw, deeply introspective body of work that traces the arc of a life lived, felt, and remembered. While audiences around Aotearoa and beyond know her as Lee Martin, MARLENE reveals the artist behind the name.
Ōtautahi-based singer-songwriter LEE MARTIN returns with her fourth studio album, MARLENE — a raw, deeply introspective body of work that traces the arc of a life lived, felt, and remembered.
While audiences around Aotearoa and beyond know her as Lee Martin, MARLENE reveals the artist behind the name. Marlene is her birth name — and for this album, she steps fully into it. Each song captures a different phase of her life, from childhood through to now, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the experiences, emotions, and moments that have shaped her.
“This album is me, completely,” Martin says. “It’s the most honest I’ve ever been in my music. Every song is a chapter, a version of myself I’ve lived through.”
Sonically, MARLENE leans into a rich country-soul landscape, drawing comparisons to the raw storytelling of artists like Zach Bryan, but delivered through Martin’s unmistakable voice — powerful, soulful, and deeply emotive.
The album includes one carefully chosen cover: Nikita. A song that sound-tracked many of Martin’s childhood nights, it holds a special place in her story. “That song carried me through a lot growing up. Including it felt like honouring a piece of what formed me.”
The album artwork is as layered as the music itself. A striking collage of eyes fills the cover — each one containing tiny, hidden images from Martin’s childhood and symbolic visuals tied to each track. It represents a life seen through her own lens. In a unique and intimate touch, vinyl copies of Marlene will include a magnifying glass, inviting listeners to quite literally look deeper into the stories within.
“It’s about perspective,” she explains. “These are my memories, my experiences — glimpses of life through my eyes.” At the heart of the album is the track ‘I’d Change It All’, which Martin describes as her personal favourite — a song that captures the emotional core of the project.
Martin drew together a slick band of local musicians to record MARLENE with Henare Kaa on Drums; Dru Sione on Bass/Keys/BV’s; Phil Doublet on Guitar and a stellar brass trio of Ben Lill on Saxophone; Sarah Hickman on Trumpet; and Aaron Chandler on Trombone. Recorded at Orange Studios in Christchurch, MARLENE was also produced by Henare Kaa, with Thom O’Connor on engineering and mixing duties.
Following the success of her charting third album Dreamers Dawn, MARLENE feels like both a culmination and a quiet turning point. While Martin isn’t making any definitive statements about what comes next, there’s an undeniable sense of reflection woven throughout the release — a feeling that this body of work is something she needed to say, in full, exactly as it is.
“I don’t know what comes after this,” Martin says. “But I do know that this album says everything I needed it to.”
MARLENE is more than an album — it’s a reckoning, a remembrance, and a release.
CATCH LEE MARTIN LIVE
Proudly Sponsored By GO MEDIA
MARLENE - ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
17 July, The Piano - CHRISTCHURCH
31 July – GREYMOUTH
2 August – BARRYTOWN
14 August – POHARA
11 September - AUCKLAND
Tickets available from: leemartinmusician.com
CASTAWAY IS BACK AGAIN WITH THEIR INFECTIOUS NEW SINGLE“CUCKOO”
Aotearoa’s rising pop-rock force Castaway continue their momentum with the release of their new single, “CUCKOO” - the latest glimpse into their upcoming body of work. Following their recent success opening for SIX60 and Synthony at the One New Zealand Stadium, and the growing traction of recent singles “Heart Attack” and “Her Favourite Song”, Castaway return with “CUCKOO”. This latest single continues a run of releases signalling the band’s rise.
Aotearoa’s rising pop-rock force Castaway continue their momentum with the release of their new single, “CUCKOO” - the latest glimpse into their upcoming body of work.
Castaway are five mates bound by music. Formed in Ōtautahi Christchurch, the band comprises Austen (bass), Jack (saxophone, keys), Jackson (vocals, keys, guitar), Joe (vocals, drums), and Rhys (guitar). The band blends pop-rock with alternative influences, and a boy-band flair. Their sound features driving guitars, punchy rhythms, sax-driven hooks and dual vocals - brought to life through high-energy performances built on anthemic choruses and emotional connection, leaving the crowds singing, dancing, and feeling it all.
Following their recent success opening for SIX60 and Synthony at the One New Zealand Stadium, and the growing traction of recent singles “Heart Attack” and “Her Favourite Song”, Castaway return with “CUCKOO”. This latest single continues a run of releases signalling the band’s rise.
“CUCKOO” is an anthemic indie pop-rock track from Christchurch five-piece Castaway, blending driving guitars, soaring synths, and chant-worthy hooks in the spirit of Bleachers, Sam Fender, and Good Neighbours. Built around a relentless groove, bright guitars, and a singalong chorus, the track captures the raw energy of a band made for festival stages and packed rooms.
At its heart, “CUCKOO” is a story of obsession, longing, and youthful romance. In moments at bus stops, coffee shops, and drinking cheap wine, the song follows a magnetic free spirit who remains just out of reach. Torn between admiration and frustration, the narrator finds himself hopelessly captivated, unable to shake the memory of her smile. Equal parts nostalgic, euphoric, and emotionally restless, “CUCKOO” delivers a larger-than-life indie anthem that celebrates the beautiful chaos of wanting someone you can’t quite have.
Castaway have evolved from university jam sessions to sharing stages with Mitch James and Drax Project, lighting up Selwyn Sounds, and earning spins across ZM, The Hits, More FM, Radio Hauraki, and RNZ. With “CUCKOO”, they continue that trajectory - capturing a band not just on the rise, but stepping confidently into what comes next.
And the five-piece’s rise is already gaining traction! On May 16, Castaway took the stage at the ‘Once In A Lifetime’ opening of One NZ Stadium in Ōtautahi, supporting Six60 and Synthony alongside Kaylee Bell and Cassie Henderson - a landmark moment that signals their arrival on a bigger platform.
BORDERLINE CAP OFF A BREAKTHROUGH 12 MONTHS WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM BORDERLINE FEATURING NEW SINGLE ‘SKYLINE’AHEAD OF NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIAN TOUR IN JULY
The past 12 months have been full of wins for New Zealand band Borderline - taking out the People’s Choice Award at the Aotearoa Music Awards, being named in Rolling Stone’s Future of Music 2026 list, multiple nods from BBC Radio 1, a 14-date North American tour and more - with all their success culminating in the release of their debut album, Borderline, out today via EMPIRE.
The past 12 months have been full of wins for New Zealand band Borderline - taking out the People’s Choice Award at the Aotearoa Music Awards, being named in Rolling Stone’s Future of Music 2026 list, multiple nods from BBC Radio 1, a 14-date North American tour and more - with all their success culminating in the release of their debut album, Borderline, out today via EMPIRE. The album drops in line with Borderline debuting their new single ‘Skyline’, a slick pop song with an accompanying retro-styled music video, and ahead of Borderline’s album tour of New Zealand and Australia that is set to kick off in their hometown of Auckland next week. The incredible trajectory of Borderline is only just beginning.
On unveiling their debut album to the world, Borderline said, “Our self-titled debut album is something we’re all incredibly proud of. It’s the sum of every single corner of musical inspiration from all four of us. Every song has its own character and place for us, shaped through sessions in home studios and late nights, before coming together in the Brick Room of Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios, taking advantage of the vintage synths and time piece guitars, as we explored and refined the overarching soundscape for the project.”
Lead single ‘Skyline’ shows Borderline are not afraid to delve into pop territory, with the band explaining, “‘Skyline’ definitely surprised us. With the album, we wanted to push the boundaries of the genres we could find ourselves in, while still playing as a four-piece band. And after a short obsession with the Justin Timberlake album Justified, we found ourselves chasing the awesome sound that album has and reimagining it into a modern day pop-rock song, and then there was ‘Skyline’. It’s a super slick, funky pop song full of tight drums, funky bass and the most addictive glossy shiny guitar tone imaginable. It was so much fun recording this one in the studio; it was good vibes all day and it came together really quickly. We’re so excited to start playing it live, and hopefully hear people singing along in the chorus.”
The countdown for fans to witness Borderline’s new album live is now on, with the band set to kick off their album tour in Auckland next Friday, July 3rd, before hitting Hamilton, Christchurch, Tauranga and Rotorua, and then crossing the Tasman to play Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
“We are beyond excited to take the album out on the road,” said Borderline. “Ever since we first wrote these songs we’ve been imagining playing them live, and really can’t wait for people to experience it in person. There are so many fun moments in the show that we hope people will love, and we’re really happy to be touring it for the first time at home here in New Zealand and then over to Australia - it feels very special to us.”
And the touring doesn’t stop there. After wrapping their New Zealand and Australian tour, Borderline will then head to the Northern Hemisphere for a run of seven shows in the UK, before playing their debut headline shows in Europe, plus Bittersweet Festival in Poland, proving the love for Borderline has no borders.
With the wait for Borderline’s debut album now over, fans can dive into a collection of 13 songs that explore the band’s love of pop, rock and funk, with Borderline’s incredible musicianship and undeniable chemistry at the fore. Alongside ‘Skyline’, the album includes previously released album cuts ‘When It’s Raining’, ‘Terrify’, ‘Tainted’, ‘Watching It Burn’ and ‘That Girl’.
Hailing from Auckland, Borderline is Ben Glanfield [guitar, vocals, keys], Jackson Boswell [drums, vocals], Matthew McFadden [lead guitar], and Max Harries [bass, sax]. With all their accolades, it’s hard to believe the band members are still only aged between 20 and 21. One thing is for certain, the future is looking more than bright for Borderline.
Borderline 2026 New Zealand and Australia Album Tour
Friday, July 3rd
Q Theatre, Auckland, NZ
Saturday, July 4th
Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton, NZ
Saturday, July 11th
James Hay Theatre, Christchurch, NZ
Thursday, July 16th
Totara Street, Tauranga, NZ
Saturday, July 18th
Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua, NZ
Thursday, July 23rd
Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, July 24th
Lansdowne Hotel, Sydney, NSW
Saturday, July 25th
Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC
Award Winning Maori Artist Troy Kingi to Record at Abbey Road Studios and Play Debut show in London.
Album #10, the finale of Troy Kingi's 10|10|10 project (ten albums in ten genres in 10 years) closes with the most ambitious project yet: recording at the iconic Abbey Road Studio, the most fitting place to round off this project. Troy, a huge film fan, has written the treatment to 10 imaginary Bond films from across the decades of the franchise, and then created the theme songs with orchestral arrangements.
Album #10, the finale of Troy Kingi's 10|10|10 project (ten albums in ten genres in 10 years) closes with the most ambitious project yet: recording at the iconic Abbey Road Studio, the most fitting place to round off this project.
Troy, a huge film fan, has written the treatment to 10 imaginary Bond films from across the decades of the franchise, and then created the theme songs with orchestral arrangements.
Accompanied by his band mates Treye Liu and Markia Hodgson, Troy will record these tunes at Abbey Road Studio this August.
You can Pre Order the Album Here
Limited Special advanced edition of the 10th Album in Troys 10|10\10 series of albums being recorded this August at Abbey Road studios in London.
This very special limited edition vinyl purchase will help fund Troy and the bands trip to record this incredible record.
Troy Kingi
A genre-bending artist and a cornerstone of contemporary Kiwi music
Troy is a musician, actor, and storyteller, a man with many hats. He has undertaken the 10/10/10 series — ten albums, in ten genres, over ten years — an ambitious project that has become one of the most distinctive catalogues in Aotearoa music.
Each release has explored a new style in depth:
Guitar Party at Uncles Bach (2016) – Indie Garage
Shake That Skinny Ass All the Way to Zygertron (2017) – Psychedelic Space Soul
Holy Colony Burning Acres (2019) – Indigenous Political Roots
The Ghost of Freddie Cesar (2020) – Funk
Black Sea Golden Ladder (2021) – Folk
Year of the Ratbags and their Musty Theme Songs (2022) – 80s Synthpop
Timewasters: Soundtrack to Current Day Meanderings (2023) - Instrumental Soundscape Soul
Leatherman and the Mojave Green (2024) – Desert Rock
Night Lords (2025) - Hip Hop
Yort, Ignik Yort ( 2026) - Film Themes/Orchestral
The series has earned him multiple awards and nominations: the Taite Music Prize, APRA Silver Scroll, Maioha Award, Aotearoa Music Awards, Māori Music Awards alongside vast collaborations across film, theatre, and television.
With one album left to complete the cycle, Kingi has created a discography ambitious in scale and significant in its contribution to New Zealand’s musical history.
"it seems very strange indeed to be planning the last in the 10|10|10 series. Time has past so quickly, each project despite their complexity, something wonderful to look forward to, and figure out how to help Troy have the space, resources and team, to bring his next creative child into being.
There is no doubt that combined with a deep sense of accomplishment at the end of this project, there will be a hole where the next album we need to bring to life in the next 12 months once lived.
Its been such a privilege and joy to be on this Hikoi with a man who inspires me and an artist who's work touches the heart of so many people. Troy's ethic and mahi are inspiring up and coming artist to believe and extend themselves beyond what they thought was possible. I know this from the experience of speaking to fans and musicians alike. It feel like a true legacy beyond just the music. What a ride!"
TeMatera Smith -AllGood Absolute Alternative Records
Delaney Davidson releases “Tumbleweed ft. Kommi “ out NOW
Baby Heavyweight, born in a kitchen in Switzerland, is Delaney Davidson’s 11th solo album. Somewhat more groovy than his previous releases, this is the second album he has made with Merk (Mark Perkins). Building on the smooth depth of the previous album “Out Of My Head”, and taking it into a new realm of story telling and emotive music.
Tumbleweed is film collaboration between Falling Films, Martin Sagadin and Chris Reddington. The miniature footage of the train is all my dads train set that I ended up inheriting. I remember thinking I am sure I can do something with this.
We spent some time in old childhood haunts of mine. Woolston railway tracks and the Port Hills. It’s amazing how many old threads are woven through this song and how much of it feels like rediscovering things in a new context.
Tumbleweed started in the old house I first moved to in Switzerland. It used to belong to my great Aunty in law and is now the Kendra Jane Patrick Gallery. Beginning with the rhythms of Tone Loc I worked with Pierre Omer (originally from the Dead Brothers), and it grew to be a representation of fresh beginnings and the idea of there always being a new opportunity.
Baby Heavyweight - The Album
Baby Heavyweight, born in a kitchen in Switzerland, is Delaney Davidson’s 11th solo album. Somewhat more groovy than his previous releases, this is the second album he has made with Merk (Mark Perkins). Building on the smooth depth of the previous album “Out Of My Head”, and taking it into a new realm of story telling and emotive music.
Delaney pitches himself headlong into the realm of shaman and trickster, navigating themes of trauma, loss, heartache, poison and cynicism and love, reinventing himself song after song to give a fuller and more multifaceted picture than we have ever seen of him before. Collapsing roles as quickly as they are introduced the albums fluidity and movement is at times cathartic and others polemic.
The theme of Lucifer seeking his own redemption through recontextualising his past, is the strongly themed undercurrent that weaves the albums 13 songs together. Universal concepts such as coming to terms with the roles we have been cast, learning to see our own trials as heroic, accepting love and surrendering the anger that masks the pain, are abundant.
Charting through a heady mix of influences, Delaney weaves a circular story of the hero’s journey circling the full gamut of emotional experience. Featuring co-writes with Kommi, Barry Saunders, Marlon Williams, Sean Wheeler ( LA’s Westcoast skater punk scene), Tami Neilson and old Dead Brother - Pierre Omer, Delaney shows again his diverse range of musical connections and versatility as both songwriter and collaborator.
Delaney Davidson On Tour in July
Hitting the road with a stacked band featuring Heather Webb, Cass Basil, Alex Freer and Ryan Fisherman, Delaney sets his sights on a show that will deliver the album in all its complexity and nuance. Truly something to be witnessed. Do Not Miss Out.
This nationwide tour is possible thanks to NZ On Air funding and the support of the NZ Music Commission.
Banished Music Presents - Delaney Davidson - Baby Heavyweight NZ Tour
Fri 03rd July - Auckland Cabaret Festival, Wintergarden: The Civic
Sat 04th July - Auckland Cabaret Festival, Wintergarden: The Civic
Wed 08th July - Last Place, Hamilton
Thurs 09th July - 4th Wall Theatre, New Plymouth
Fri 10th July - St. Peter’s Hall, Paekākāriki
Fri 17th July - The Boathouse, Nelson
Sat 18th July - Meow, Wellington
Sun 19th July - War Memorial Centre Concert Chamber, Whanganui
Fri 24th July – Hanover Hall, Dunedin
Sat 25th July - James Hay Theatre, Christchurch
Thur 30th July - The Small Halls Sessions, Pukehou Church, Hawkes Bay (DUO)
Friday 31st July - The Small Halls Sessions, Te Awanga Hall, Hawkes Bay (DUO)
Sat 01st Aug - The Dome, Gisborne (DUO)
Sun 02nd Aug - Ātea, Whakatāne (DUO)
Tickets from Banished Music Subscribe to Banished presale
SOUTH AUCKLAND SINGER-SONGWRITER LUANA GORDON SHARES HER MOST VULNERABLE SINGLE YET ‘WAITING FOR YOU’
South Auckland singer-songwriter Luana Gordon releases her heartfelt new single, ‘Waiting For You’, accompanied by an official music video. Created alongside her brothers Peter and Oliver Leupolu and supported by NZ On Air New Music Pasifika funding, ‘Waiting For You’ explores loss, longing, and the people who continue shaping us long after they're gone.
South Auckland singer-songwriter Luana Gordon releases her heartfelt new single, ‘Waiting For You’, accompanied by an official music video.
Created alongside her brothers Peter and Oliver Leupolu and supported by NZ On Air New Music Pasifika funding, ‘Waiting For You’ explores loss, longing, and the people who continue shaping us long after they're gone.
The track marks Luana's most emotionally candid songwriting to date. "I wanted to lean into melancholy with this track," says Luana. "It's about missing somebody, knowing that your paths will never cross again, and accepting that you may miss them forever. I wanted to capture pensiveness and regret, but also an edge of frustration."
"I started thinking about how much of who we are is shaped by people who may no longer be in our lives," says Luana. "Even when relationships end, parts of those people stay with us. 'Waiting For You' grew from that idea and the feeling of carrying someone with you long after they've gone."
The stunning music video directed by Christian Tjandrawinata was filmed entirely at Auckland Muriwai Beach.
Raised in a close-knit Pacific-European family in South Auckland, Luana writes and creates music alongside her brothers and fellow musicians Peter and Oliver Leupolu. Her songs centre on themes of love, relationships, home, and work, delivered through an evocative yet grounded sound that moves between indie pop, alternative rock, and folk.
Drawing on her background in classical music and creative writing, Luana combines thoughtful lyricism with understated vocals to create music that finds meaning in both life's everyday moments and its emotional turning points.
'Waiting For You' follows the release of 'Got Me Good' (2025), 'Working The Weekend' (2024), and her debut single 'Drunk In The Living Room' (2023), continuing to showcase her growth as one of Aotearoa's emerging songwriting voices.
'Waiting For You' was made possible with support from NZ On Air New Music Pasifika funding.
Luana Gordon's new single and music video, ‘Waiting For You’, are available now on all major streaming platforms.
ABOUT LUANA GORDON
Luana Gordon is a singer-songwriter and creative artist from Auckland, New Zealand. Combining her lifelong passions for music and writing, she crafts songs that explore connection, identity, relationships, and the places we call home.
With a background in classical music and creative writing, Luana's work blends thoughtful lyricism with melodic storytelling. Her music moves between indie pop, alternative rock, and folk, creating a sound that is both intimate and reflective.
Working primarily from home studios with her brothers Peter and Oliver Leupolu, Luana creates music that is deeply human, inviting listeners to find themselves in the stories she tells.
Waiting For You Credits: Luana Gordon (Vocals, Songwriter). Peter Leupolu (producer/piano), Dixon Nacey (guitar), Marika Hodgson (bass), Stephen Thomas (drums), and Tom Broome (engineering).
INTRODUCING ‘TWO DOLLAR TRIO’AND THEIR DEBUT SINGLE ‘ISN’T IT UNFAIR’
Born from a shared love of country music, soul, and three-part harmony, The Two Dollar Trio brings together three New Zealand songwriters now based in Melbourne and Christchurch. The band's debut single ‘Isn’t It Unfair’ is out today. A tongue-in-cheek meditation on the burden of carrying other people's problems.
Born from a shared love of country music, soul, and three-part harmony, The Two Dollar Trio brings together three New Zealand songwriters now based in Melbourne and Christchurch. Adam Hattaway (Adam Hattaway & The Haunters), Nick Armstrong (Sin City/The Cavemen), and Dillon Feeney (Smokestack Slim)
The band's debut single ‘Isn’t It Unfair’ is out today. A tongue-in-cheek meditation on the burden of carrying other people's problems. "Isn't it unfair I'm stuck here singing everybody's tunes?"
With Exile on Main Street inspired guitars, swooping fiddle lines and rich turnabout vocals. A classic country-soul track serving us a solid taster of what’s to come.
The origins of The Two Dollar Trio trace back to a chance connection in Melbourne in 2024. Having previously been introduced through producer Delaney Davidson, Hattaway and Armstrong eventually crossed paths with Feeney. What began as evenings spent singing old country songs together soon evolved into a songwriting collaboration and, ultimately, a band. Something of a fantasy project for all three musicians.
To celebrate the release of their debut single, The Two Dollar Trio will perform a special one-night-only show at Melbourne's Merri Creek Tavern on June 19.
Two Dollar Trio
One lonely evening in Melbourne in 2024, Dillon Adam and Nick found each other and the Two Dollar Trio was born. All from different parts of NZ, Adam Hattaway (Adam Hattaway and the Haunters) and Nick Armstrong from Sin City had been previously introduced by Delaney Davidson who produced both of their records a few years back. Nick then had the stroke of genius to introduce Adam and Dillon Feeney (Smokestack Slim) They immediately started singing three part harmony versions of old country songs, and eventually started writing together. Something of a fantasy band for each of them, with a shared love of country music and soul, the Two Dollar Trio delves deep into both genres while their respective bands outside of the trio walk other musical paths.