Browsing Tag

Auckland

Midnight Affairs unleashed their infectiously erratic alt-indie earworm, Blame It on You

Posted on 1 July 2024

For their sophomore release, Blame It on You, the Auckland pop/rock trio, Midnight Affairs, launched a hyper-frenetic hit that affronts the senses with a glitchwavey saturated in delay electro-pop intro before bringing in sticky-sweet neon-lit synth carved melodies which transcend the new wave indie pop trends to implant the independent artist’s sound in unchartered territory few would be bold enough to sonically roam in.

The lamentation of how memories of infatuation can become unescapable haunting spectres which could lead the sanest of minds to the brink of madness anchors the high-octane anthem of mental disquietude in visceral resonance to vindicate the romantically scorned and attest to the independent artist’s ability to render raw emotions into their superlative sound.

The intensity of the production, how deep the hooks sink in, and the infectiously erratic earworm appeal of Blame It on You will undoubtedly see Midnight Affairs go far. With a 5-track EP due for release later this year, Midnight Affairs becoming New Zealand’s premier indie pop rock band isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Blame It on You is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ready for a new day: Aanvi. S makes her own path through the Light

Posted on 10 July 2023

Taken from her recent 4-track EP called Emotions, Aanvi. S feels like no one will bring her down and we certainly believe her as she has the free spirit needed to succeed in life via her fresh new single called Light.

Aanvi. S is an Auckland, New Zealand-based indie alternative multi-talented and multi-instrumentalist who is youthful in age but performs like an experienced soul who is managed by her supporting parents.

”Aanvi also plays the piano, the trumpet, and the viola, and is a keen dancer, learning ballet, contemporary and hip-hop. Her musical influences include Olivia Rodrigo, Adele and Dua Lipa.” ~ taken from Aanvi’s bio

Doing things her own way and creating a path which will surely motivate other youngsters to handle their business, Aanvi. S sees her future is going so fantastically well and is only headed upwards.

Taking us into a whole new world of promise and dropping a single which is rather catchy, this is the kind of release which helps to heal all wounds.

Light from Auckland, New Zealand-based indie singer-songwriter Aanvi. S is such a brilliantly-made pop track. It shows us that music with a positive energy is so valuable, in a world which can sink many happy souls underwater forever.

If you like your music with fervency and poise, this is the kind of song to alleviate all bad moods forever. It’s that good you see.

Find the right way to turn on Spotify.

Follow her on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Saw that photo of you both: Katija feels like a heartbroken fool on the vibrant new release Won’t Waste My Time

Posted on 1 February 2023

Hiding those tears away as she feels so used from a past heartbreak, Katija sings with so much astonishing quality and a drive which will surely inspire many to wipe those traumas away on Won’t Waste My Time.

Katija is an Auckland, New Zealand-based indie pop singer-songwriter who is a proudly queer artist on a mission to spread her message to the world.

”She previously has been a blues singer, gigging regularly around Auckland, and brings her blues style of vocals to the pop genre. She also was the organizer of the “Proud Mary” queer dance parties that celebrated female artists and DJs, the ethos of celebrating musicians and artists from all walks of life is dear to her heart.” ~ Katija

Delving into our deepest mindsets with so much care and love, Katija is truly outstanding in her latest gem which might put everything in perspective again. Moving on from the pain with an influential performance, we find a song made for anyone who has felt romantically let down recently.

Won’t Waste My Time from Auckland, New Zealand-based indie pop musician Katija is one of the most dynamic singles anyone is likely to hear in 2023. Accomplished with exquisite energy which will heal sad ears from any sadness, this is a must-listen from a courageous soul who is only gaining more self-awareness by the minute.

Turn this up loud on Spotify. See more energy on her IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Theo Sawyer created the ultimate rebound pop hit for the modern age with ‘Forget Your Ex’

Posted on 12 August 2022
Theo Sawyer

With the emotional gravity of 00s emo, the theatrics of Queen and a cuttingly contemporary indie pop edge, I practically forget about everything listening to Theo Sawyer’s latest single, Forget Your Ex – let alone my ex. The progressively momentous hit builds to the heights of a rock opera, carrying all of the ascending euphorias with none of the dust from decades past.

‘Moving on’ tracks may be somewhat archetypal in pop but few sonically say it better than Theo Sawyer and his intense vocal dynamism, which makes being ambivalent towards him non-optional. Put it this way; he could have done the vocals to Lets Marvin Gaye and Get It On infinitely better than Charlie Puth,

Forget Your Ex will officially release on August 12th; hear it for yourselves on the Auckland-hailing artist’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A Fool: Ives regrets opening up her heart to a greedy soul on ‘Fallin’ for You’

Posted on 13 November 2021

As she digs deeper into the reason why she fell for someone who didn’t care for her valuable heart properly, Ives is quite superb on her second compelling single ‘Fallin’ for You‘.

Ives is an incredibly talented indie-pop singer-songwriter and poet who is from stunning Auckland, New Zealand. She is a fairly new artist who shows an undeniable quality that is easy to hear, with a sensually classy style that is hard to ignore.

You feel her reflective mind going back to the moment that she realized that things needed to change, as she was tired of someone who gluttonously sucked all the life out of her for too long. There is comfort in her lungs as she moves onto the new chapter, as you feel her brushing the self-doubt away like knotted hair on a brush that needs to be straightened.

‘Fallin’ for You‘ from the Auckland, New Zealand-based indie-pop artist Ives, shows us a sad moment when someone who you loved previously, showed their undesirable cruelness. After letting them go like a lost shoe that is stuck in the mud, everything now focuses on that healing process. Sung with an honest tone and beautifully peaceful vocals from a truly angelic artist, this is a sizzling single that will be stationed strikingly in your curious mind for many hours.

Hear this lovely new single on YouTube and see more on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Meant To Be: Highly promising New Zealand pop artist Kitsuni drops her debut tension-filled sizzler ‘Surreal’

Posted on 4 November 2021

Produced by Zilla, Kitsuni drops her debut track which all about knowing that some things will sadly never change, no matter how much you want it to on ‘Surreal‘.

Kitsuni is a fresh-faced Auckland, New Zealand-based indie pop artist who sings with a glorious ambiance, as she lets her vocals do the talking.

There is much to love about a sensual beat that takes you into this picture of a love, that is trying to be found but is just not possible right now. Your ideal partner isn’t around and you certainly crave their touch – which seems hard to get right now – as the large space in your soul is making you lonelier by the day.

‘Surreal‘ from the incredible Auckland, New Zealand-based indie pop singer-songwriter Kitsuni, is a look-for-the-meaning track that has you gazing outside your dusty window, as you hope that you will be finally happy. This is the story of trying to find that much-needed love that just seems to escape you – like a cat hiding away from a trip to the vet – as the stunning vocals will take you to places of desire. A fantastic debut awaits your ears, as you will feel that she is a potentially world class artist with heaps of potential.

Hear this debut track on Soundcloud and see more via the Twitter music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Kingdom Philosophy: Andre Bugatti looks deeper for the true realness in this flaky world with ‘Tell Me Your Lies’

Posted on 22 September 2021

As he hides his face away to keep it pure from the greedy vampires who are out for blood, Andre Bugatti has our minds awash with total intrigue on his latest track ‘Tell Me Your Lies‘.

Andre Bugatti is a Kerala, India-born, Auckland, New Zealand-raised indie hip-hop artist. He makes a soundscape come to life that is totally his own, as its completely sincere and full of inner meaning, mixed in with deliciously mellow beats to provoke the soul into a different space in time.

”Influenced by his upbringing, both eastern and western culture play a part in his delicate story telling. Struggling to find a place in these two worlds, Andre has decided to fit into neither and make his own.” ~ Andre Bugatti

There is a soul-stirring release that is captured like a nostalgic Polaroid on this worthwhile track – that is packed full of calming flows – and a beat which seems to match the mood of this experience just right.

‘Tell Me Your Lies‘ from the New Zealand-raised indie rapper Andre Bugatti, is a highly thoughtful release which feels like he is looking for more than what meets the eye. In a world full of lies and swirling confusion, he ride away from the gusting winds that can take you away from that much-needed reality. He raps with a calm energy and a thoughtful mindset – that wraps a peaceful blend of love all over our hungry-for-real hearts – that truly needs all the love possible.

Looking at everything from the top of the mountain without getting flustered like a majestic Lion would, is the only way to avoid getting tangled into the fake part of this beautiful world.

Check out this new single on his Spotify and see more news on the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Finding Yourself: New Zealand legend Keith Ballantyne finds the right path on ‘WhereAreYou?’

Posted on 14 April 2021

From the pit orchestra in his youth, to touring South Africa for nine months, performing live with James Brown and studying jazz, Keith Ballantyne has done it all in the music world and is back with a majestic instrumental creation called ‘WhereAreYou?‘.

Keith Ballantyne is a supremely multi-talented Ponsonby in Auckland, New Zealand-based acclaimed music composer for over thirty-five years. He makes that classic music for film, television and theater, his special touch heard throughout as he shows us what timeless creations sound like.

A true music connoisseur who’s had a highly impressive career, who started his journey as a professional trumpet player touring around New Zealand in the early 1970’s. Soon after, Keith’s life changed forever after selling a house and joined Keith Hunter and Bruce Morrison to create Sprocket Films. It was a huge risk at the time as fairly few New Zealand documentaries were selling overseas, but the gamble was certainly worth it.

You feel like you are in a time machine while turning this one up loud, as the varying layers has you so intrigued, as you get lost for a minute and wonder how it feels when he makes music. His mind is so in tune with countless many different facets and genres that he has experienced. This is so far away from the cheese of today, his skillful art flows above all else and makes you appreciate a true student of the game.

‘WhereAreYou?‘ from Auckland’s legendary music composer Keith Ballantyne, is a fascinating journey through the layers of this phenomenally talented composers soul, who uses his wide variety of skills to formulate something so pure.

Finding where you are in life is so important in this overly complicated world after all, so that you may walk down the right road for your soul to be content and happy in.

Stream this fine song on Soundcloud and see his FB for more.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Up and coming New Zealand artist Venice Qin releases her new single Let Me Down

Posted on 19 May 2020

From Auckland, New Zealand, 18 years old and with a lot of heart, up and coming artist Venice Qin has released her new single Let Me Down.

A powerful and compelling voice masters this original pop effort, where synths mix with electronic and acoustic sounds wallpapered by a resolute rock grit. Venice’s music skills are not only showcased in her vocals through her ability to smoothly transition from middle tones to higher pitches, but also manifest in her original and versatile song-writing style (and rock-y flair).

Talented and bold, Venice Qin is a force capable of capturing attention at a very young age, giving us confidence she’ll find her way through successful projects in the near future.

Head over Spotify and listen to Let Me Down.

Review by Jim Esposito.

Jack Millat – Set Up: A smash bumpy ride to forever?

Posted on 1 January 2018

Fortunately, some of us have lived long enough to be able to recognize dope trance/ EDM music when we come across one. Lately, we’ve all seen and witnessed the day-to-day transfiguration of EDM since the real big players like; David Guetta, Diplo, Skrillex, Martin Grix, Swedish House Mafia, Avicci, Calvin Harris, Afrojack and host of others added a little glimpse of colour to the eccentric genre of electronic music in its entirety.

Well, apparently Jack Millat is one of the fresh-faced new artists in EDM genre, and his new song “Set Up” is his own official sigil he used in laying his first success roadmap to the long journey ahead in his musical career.

This feel-so-good song starts by fading into soft harmonies of the instrumentalist, the percussion added in the music serves as a catalyst that picked up the loud pace which the song is pitched.

And remarkably, the vocals chops further helped to ace the crescendo into a delightful load of full synths and vibe. The rhythm slows back down not for a second.

There’s no stability of calm to be found in this song, the only stable element in this song is the surge of music avalanche that splashes over its listeners every second of the song’s playtime. There’s really never a dull moment in the song, it’s all a smooth groove of nice electronic dance vibe all along. This is a perfect party hit for all kinds of gathering as well.

-Lilian-Debrah.