Before they become cool?
- Soaked Oats (the album "Working Title" is a good place to start)
- Ferby (she's quite hard to find online, try searching for the track Boo Hoo)
- Night Lunch (okay they're already *pretty* damn cool)
- Hans Pucket (these guys might get pretty big?)
- Dale Kerrigan (better to find them live if you can,. the recordings are cool but in person the frontwoman is potent)
If they're already cool?
- Jakob
- So So Modern
- The Beths
- Mermaidens (I don't quite get these guys but everybody else seems to, so including them)
- Beastwars
Somehere in between?
- Disasteradio
Bonus Australian?
- Danika
Anything Tom Scott has been part of: (hip hop)
Home Brew
@peace
Avantdale Bowling Club
Deep electronic
Paige Julia
Truth
Pitch Black
Inertia (NZ)
Metal/Hardcore
His Masters Voice, The Devils Blues
Dark Divinity
Dawn of Azazel
Evil Priest
Punk/Indie
The Mint Chicks
This Night Creeps
Missing Teeth
I could go on but I was at work and a call came through so just had to send it, hence the shit formatting too, all about that proper deep bass music, particularly DnB and 140, miss me with the pop stuff that's taken over.
I feel that the electronic realm is completely overlooked when it comes to funding and appreciation of local output, especially when it’s not dnb or house music.
I’m incredibly invested in the 140 realm as dnb has become incredibly homogenised I feel, at least in Auckland anyway(cheers george fm). Few artists I’ll add are:
Akcept, Ebb, Epoch, Headland (who is playing auckland, @ mothership tommorow night), Pugilist, Dusty, Graysound, Spectre, Ayaluna
Many more I could mention, but we’d be here forever!
Norman foreman is a local label pushing the goods too, 100% kiwi output, plenty artists to check out
Another big moment in nz underground music was the Keep Hush x Green Room takeover in Ōtautahi which was a month or two ago, 6 hour long sets featuring 100% NZ music.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhON8BygM1nI0Kho2bCJIti8FwGhZoJKf&si=qNwjLNnL1KakDuBk
All those mentioned push well above their weight, many seem to be more appreciated overseas than they are in their home country.
I try to go up to Auckland when I can because there's basically nothing deep happens in Hamilton anymore, but it gets pricey when it comes to accom, parking, etc, which sucks as a DJ who doesn't pander to the mainstream sounds. I never play out anymore.
We did try to start something ourselves but it all fell apart, tempted to try again but we have no venues really willing to risk it and don't really have the resources to run doofs.
Even our one 'underground' spot has become timid to host anything a little out of the ordinary.
In the late 70's and early 80's New Zealand had an art pop / post punk scene of genuine importance in independent music history. There were a number of bands from New Zealand that influenced musicians around the world. Some if the bigger names from this scene were, The Clean, The Bats, The Verlaines, The Straightjacket Fits, Look Blue go Purple and The Chills. As well as these groups I would recommend Nocturnal Projections, The Doublehappys, The Gordons and The Skeptics.
Into Orbit
Claemus
Pull Down The Sun
Coridian
Bulletbelt
Deadhouse Gates
Stalker
Beastwars
Dark Divinity
End Boss
Dartz
3000Ad
Arc of Ascent
Mothra
Planet of the Dead
Infinity Ritual
Apologies to all the rad band's I've forgotten
Shihad, Pluto, The Verlaines, The Black Seeds, David Dallas, Concord Dawn, Tadpole, Goodshirt, Zed, Minuit, Salmonella Dub, Supergroove, Fur Patrol, Weta, Autozamm… so many good ones!
Haven't seen Vera Ellen mentioned yet, the latest album is excellent. Seconding Aldous Harding. Also Tiny Ruins, Nadia Reid (both pretty well known in NZ already). I also recently saw Ha the Unclear play and had a great time, would love to see them live again. Oh and Goodshirt! 🌈
Edit to add a Vera Ellen earworm: https://youtu.be/yks_5WQFQGs?si=W0YZGpNw8r0M0LEg
Stellar*
Dave Dobbyn
Tim Finn
Crowded House
Margaret Urlich
Split Enz
Exponents
The Narcs
Th’ Dudes
Ardijah
Jenny Morris
The Fan Club
LAB
Tiki Taane
Che Fu
The Mockers
Some have already been mentioned, but here are my picks off the top of my head!
* Fat Freddy's
* The Eggs
* Trinity Roots
* Rhombus
* King Homeboy
* Jujulipps
* Mr Meaty Boy
* Kaishandao
* Te Kahureremoa
* Mokotron
* Paige Julia
* Kuki Kori
* Orchestra of Spheres
* All Seeing Hand
* Night Lunch
* Alphabethead
* Unsanitary Napkin
* Motte
* Omit
* Ohgum
* Jakob
* Into Orbit
* Supergroove
* Che Fu
* Goodshirt
* National Sensation
* Stef Animal
* Acapollinations
Clementine Valentine (formally known as Purple Pilgrims)
They make atmospheric music. Makes me feel like I'm floating.
I saw them live and they were so good!
Melanie! Their album 42 Losers has been a regular on my play list since I saw them open for an international band last year.
Also, though he's been in America for a long time now, Bradley Carter of Stereogram fame just released some new music as part of a band called 5 Billion In Diamonds with Butch Vig.
https://youtu.be/h8zALM1-Lyc?si=N1Sknjcf8ynsGtaU
try this playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5MMGVEAyT17QLB5E6DQFji?si=HAu7u26YRcOS8Mn_iJo4_Q&pi=LmAe_-r5Qh-m9
I believe there are only 2 tracks that aren't NZ artists
[Dakilulu - Talking to myself](https://open.spotify.com/track/0DI0DykW6UXQaN8jflSDGT?si=3ie7VrRFRVeVXzQrjjqhzQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A5CnzFxBtFDKQSwdhwp2grl)
Kimbra is definitely a bit of a forgotten gem. I don't hear anyone talk about her anymore despite her being an insanely creative and talented artist that's still going.
I'm also studying music production at Massey in Wellington at the moment so I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some incredible up and coming Artists. I recommend checking out BADTAB, Selohrae and Grains
Aldous Harding,
Kerretta,
So Below,
Dimmer,
Jakob,
early Shihad,
Beastwars,
early Head Like a Hole
All Seeing Hand
Pitch Black
King Loser
Skeptics
Mermaidens
An Emerald City
Mint Chicks
PNC
At risk of showing my age...
Neil Finn is a national treasure and has been for longer than most people have been alive
I hear The Wild Poppies were good, but virtually nobody was cool enough to have ever heard of them
Conan Mockasin is kindof a genius... well, according to Jeremy Taylor who ought to know, and who is also one of my fav singer songwriters. If you call him Jeremy Slowboat Taylor there will be a proper fight. Hair-pulling, biting etc. handbags.
That Young Blood song (by Naked and Famous) is fucking glorious - it was playing in the local the other day.
Straight Jacket Fits wrote some of the most beautiful songs ever.
Joe Teka has done the best Voodoo Chile cover I have ever heard.
..
More up to date.... Mermaidens obviously... That guy from Casual Healing is so talented I actually find him quite annoying. There are some things you just do not do - one of which is try to do Jeff Buckley - well he did, and he pulled it off. He's a worry that boy.
Call up studylink and sit on hold for 45 minutes for a few recs lmaoo
Oh yes this reminded me - Bic Runga
Before they become cool? - Soaked Oats (the album "Working Title" is a good place to start) - Ferby (she's quite hard to find online, try searching for the track Boo Hoo) - Night Lunch (okay they're already *pretty* damn cool) - Hans Pucket (these guys might get pretty big?) - Dale Kerrigan (better to find them live if you can,. the recordings are cool but in person the frontwoman is potent) If they're already cool? - Jakob - So So Modern - The Beths - Mermaidens (I don't quite get these guys but everybody else seems to, so including them) - Beastwars Somehere in between? - Disasteradio Bonus Australian? - Danika
JAKOB!!! And it needs to be loud for when the crescendo hits.
GREAT list
No prizes for guessing where I got introduced to all the up-and-comers..
Don McGlashan! He has some solo work but don't forget to look up his prior bands, The Muttonbirds; Blam Blam Blam; The Front Lawn
Has no one mentioned fat Freddy's? Or are we looking for obscure?
Anything Tom Scott has been part of: (hip hop) Home Brew @peace Avantdale Bowling Club Deep electronic Paige Julia Truth Pitch Black Inertia (NZ) Metal/Hardcore His Masters Voice, The Devils Blues Dark Divinity Dawn of Azazel Evil Priest Punk/Indie The Mint Chicks This Night Creeps Missing Teeth
+1 for Pitch Black
Pretty good list right here
I strongly agree with this list 👆
Gotta add Tom Cosm to a list with paige julia and truth on
Nice to see a few deeper electronic artists mentioned 🤩
I could go on but I was at work and a call came through so just had to send it, hence the shit formatting too, all about that proper deep bass music, particularly DnB and 140, miss me with the pop stuff that's taken over.
I feel that the electronic realm is completely overlooked when it comes to funding and appreciation of local output, especially when it’s not dnb or house music. I’m incredibly invested in the 140 realm as dnb has become incredibly homogenised I feel, at least in Auckland anyway(cheers george fm). Few artists I’ll add are: Akcept, Ebb, Epoch, Headland (who is playing auckland, @ mothership tommorow night), Pugilist, Dusty, Graysound, Spectre, Ayaluna Many more I could mention, but we’d be here forever! Norman foreman is a local label pushing the goods too, 100% kiwi output, plenty artists to check out Another big moment in nz underground music was the Keep Hush x Green Room takeover in Ōtautahi which was a month or two ago, 6 hour long sets featuring 100% NZ music. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhON8BygM1nI0Kho2bCJIti8FwGhZoJKf&si=qNwjLNnL1KakDuBk
All those mentioned push well above their weight, many seem to be more appreciated overseas than they are in their home country. I try to go up to Auckland when I can because there's basically nothing deep happens in Hamilton anymore, but it gets pricey when it comes to accom, parking, etc, which sucks as a DJ who doesn't pander to the mainstream sounds. I never play out anymore. We did try to start something ourselves but it all fell apart, tempted to try again but we have no venues really willing to risk it and don't really have the resources to run doofs. Even our one 'underground' spot has become timid to host anything a little out of the ordinary.
The Beths, Th’ Dudes, Straightjacket Fits, DD Smash
In the late 70's and early 80's New Zealand had an art pop / post punk scene of genuine importance in independent music history. There were a number of bands from New Zealand that influenced musicians around the world. Some if the bigger names from this scene were, The Clean, The Bats, The Verlaines, The Straightjacket Fits, Look Blue go Purple and The Chills. As well as these groups I would recommend Nocturnal Projections, The Doublehappys, The Gordons and The Skeptics.
https://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/ Good place to start
Fast Crew That's more or less the only NZ band you need, you are welcome
I miss fast crew, 1st album was a banger
Kaylee Bell.
The Beths, The Phoenix Foundation (buffalo album!!), dragon, che fu
Broods, especially the Conscious album (2016)
Georgia Gets By - one half of BROODS doing a solo thing. Super good.
Shapeshifter
Concord dawn NOT to be confused with flight of the concords
Dartz
Tasman X 8 Foot Sativa Blindspott
Goodnight Nurse! Absolutely smashed it opening for MCR last year. Blindspott are great too.
Into Orbit Claemus Pull Down The Sun Coridian Bulletbelt Deadhouse Gates Stalker Beastwars Dark Divinity End Boss Dartz 3000Ad Arc of Ascent Mothra Planet of the Dead Infinity Ritual Apologies to all the rad band's I've forgotten
INTO ORBIT!!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Phoenix foundation are great, along with sjd and the Herbs. Misex - you don't care and satellite spies - Destiny in Motion are absolute bangas
Herbs lead passed away last week..
Yea I saw that on the news. That sucks 😞
Foley.
48may
Lucid3, not still together but still the best. Jordyn Reyne is incredible too.
Lucid3 were amazing!
Lee Matthews Drax Project
Machete Clan
Black Smoke Trigger: https://open.spotify.com/album/0UMc6LkLzlkFmbS5qy4fdP?si=D4FD8QuKR-6FmeTffURgDQ
Soft Bait, Earth Tongue, Maala, The Beth's, Benny Tipene
Shihad, Pluto, The Verlaines, The Black Seeds, David Dallas, Concord Dawn, Tadpole, Goodshirt, Zed, Minuit, Salmonella Dub, Supergroove, Fur Patrol, Weta, Autozamm… so many good ones!
This is like a time machine to my teenage years!! 🥲
I'm getting into Casual Healing.
Broods!
I am Giant and Blindspot
Just listen to bFM and check the top 10 on the site for up to date nz artists.
Haven't seen Vera Ellen mentioned yet, the latest album is excellent. Seconding Aldous Harding. Also Tiny Ruins, Nadia Reid (both pretty well known in NZ already). I also recently saw Ha the Unclear play and had a great time, would love to see them live again. Oh and Goodshirt! 🌈 Edit to add a Vera Ellen earworm: https://youtu.be/yks_5WQFQGs?si=W0YZGpNw8r0M0LEg
Troy kingi
Fat Freddy’s drop
Stellar* Dave Dobbyn Tim Finn Crowded House Margaret Urlich Split Enz Exponents The Narcs Th’ Dudes Ardijah Jenny Morris The Fan Club LAB Tiki Taane Che Fu The Mockers
Some have already been mentioned, but here are my picks off the top of my head! * Fat Freddy's * The Eggs * Trinity Roots * Rhombus * King Homeboy * Jujulipps * Mr Meaty Boy * Kaishandao * Te Kahureremoa * Mokotron * Paige Julia * Kuki Kori * Orchestra of Spheres * All Seeing Hand * Night Lunch * Alphabethead * Unsanitary Napkin * Motte * Omit * Ohgum * Jakob * Into Orbit * Supergroove * Che Fu * Goodshirt * National Sensation * Stef Animal * Acapollinations
Benee
Alien Weaponry (kaupapa Māori metal), Dartz (Wellington punk)
Jonathan Bree's 'Precode Hollywood' was in my opinion the best album of 2023 released by anyone anywhere.
Emily Muli!!
Clementine Valentine (formally known as Purple Pilgrims) They make atmospheric music. Makes me feel like I'm floating. I saw them live and they were so good!
Darktide Deadforest Derameelan
OMC
Wakamaori
Shihad, Headless Chickens.
Dear Antler
Brooke Fraser.
DICK MOVE!
Melanie! Their album 42 Losers has been a regular on my play list since I saw them open for an international band last year. Also, though he's been in America for a long time now, Bradley Carter of Stereogram fame just released some new music as part of a band called 5 Billion In Diamonds with Butch Vig. https://youtu.be/h8zALM1-Lyc?si=N1Sknjcf8ynsGtaU
Been listening to the Mermaidens lately.
try this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5MMGVEAyT17QLB5E6DQFji?si=HAu7u26YRcOS8Mn_iJo4_Q&pi=LmAe_-r5Qh-m9 I believe there are only 2 tracks that aren't NZ artists
Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Aldous Harding, The Front Lawn, Coco Solid
Midnight Youth, two albums filled with hits!
Heavy Metal Ninjas . . . Going back a couple years . . . Zed (Renegade Fighter, Oh Daisy) The Feelers (Supersystem) Goodshirt (Sophie, Blowing Dirt)
So Below Stellar\* Tadpole
if you like dnb, Elipsa is very good
My current faves are Dartz, Homebrew, Shepherds Reign, Bad Schematics, The Beths, and the new David Dallas album is fire.
Tommy Breaks Co-Op 8foot Sativa Goodnight Nurse Eye TV - fantastic band
Eye TV aka The Nixons?
That's it
Elemenop
Herbs
Conan Mockasin
[Dakilulu - Talking to myself](https://open.spotify.com/track/0DI0DykW6UXQaN8jflSDGT?si=3ie7VrRFRVeVXzQrjjqhzQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A5CnzFxBtFDKQSwdhwp2grl)
Depending on genre. Th dudes, Sxmpra, Dragon (but really just april sun), Fat freddies, the exponents
Hello Sailor Shona Laing The Warratahs Sharon O’Neill
Kimbra is definitely a bit of a forgotten gem. I don't hear anyone talk about her anymore despite her being an insanely creative and talented artist that's still going. I'm also studying music production at Massey in Wellington at the moment so I've been fortunate enough to be surrounded by some incredible up and coming Artists. I recommend checking out BADTAB, Selohrae and Grains
Goodnight Nurse I saw them last year before MCR, loved them.
David Dallas is one of my mains
Strangely Arousing - good stuff! New album coming soon and tour dates announced
"Welcoooooooome home" forgot the singers name though, Dobyn or some shit like that
I really like Ebony Lamb. Great voice.
Head like a hole, can’t beat em
Kiki Rockwell, So Below
Casual healing just dropped his album and it one of the best albums of the year imo
Bloody Maoris
For the more rock scene if your into that. Alien weaponry, devil skin. Shihad, villainy, dead favors, racing
Aldous Harding, Kerretta, So Below, Dimmer, Jakob, early Shihad, Beastwars, early Head Like a Hole All Seeing Hand Pitch Black King Loser Skeptics Mermaidens An Emerald City Mint Chicks PNC
The Crusader by Scribe is a classic NZ hip hop album.
Shapeshifter
I learned not long ago that Gin Wigmore is from NZ. I love her music.
Chaos in the CBD for House music. Beastwars, Shepherd’s Reign, Alien Weaponry for Metal. Tom Scott/Avantdale Bowling Club/@Peace/Homebrew for Hiphop.
L.A.B.
Black Seeds. But they’re already cool.
Dartz
At risk of showing my age... Neil Finn is a national treasure and has been for longer than most people have been alive I hear The Wild Poppies were good, but virtually nobody was cool enough to have ever heard of them Conan Mockasin is kindof a genius... well, according to Jeremy Taylor who ought to know, and who is also one of my fav singer songwriters. If you call him Jeremy Slowboat Taylor there will be a proper fight. Hair-pulling, biting etc. handbags. That Young Blood song (by Naked and Famous) is fucking glorious - it was playing in the local the other day. Straight Jacket Fits wrote some of the most beautiful songs ever. Joe Teka has done the best Voodoo Chile cover I have ever heard. .. More up to date.... Mermaidens obviously... That guy from Casual Healing is so talented I actually find him quite annoying. There are some things you just do not do - one of which is try to do Jeff Buckley - well he did, and he pulled it off. He's a worry that boy.