Wax Chattels 'No Ties' Single Release Show Announced

Amongst late last week's flood of excellent local releases was the long-awaited return of Tāmaki Makaurau's Wax Chattels with 'No Ties', the thrilling first single revealed from their second studio long player Clot, launching this September via Captured Tracks and Flying Nun Records. Described as "a melodic expression of the first generation immigrant experience," 'No Ties' is sung by bass guitarist / vocalist Amanda Cheng who is Hoklo Taiwanese, with lyrics articulating the feelings of loneliness and frustration that come with being unable to connect with extended family. The Taite Music Prize nominated "guitarless guitar music" trio of Cheng, keyboardist / singer Peter Ruddell (Sulfate) and drummer Tom Leggett will be celebrating their release in style this month, playing their very first post-lockdown live event with Na Noise and Memory Foam – here are the details...

Wax Chattels - 'No Ties' Single Release
w/ Na Noise, Memory Foam
Friday 24th July - Whammy Bar, Auckland
Tickets available HERE via UTR 

Experience the Josh Burgess-directed animated video for 'No Ties'...

Press release:

Wax Chattels are back.

The kind folk at Whammy Bar will host a special celebration of the release of the first single — No Ties — from their just-announced sophomore album Clot.

In the band's first single, Amanda Cheng (bass/vocals), who is Hoklo Taiwanese, expresses the experience of being a first generation immigrant and not having a personal relationship with extended family. The song touches on cultural differences and the parental sacrifice of careers and support systems to provide a “better” future for their children.

After a knock-out entrée with 2018’s self-titled LP, the anticipation that surrounds Clot is immense. They wanted to maintain the same live element as in their debut, but, this time, heavier — for which they enlisted the help of mixing engineer, and fellow noise-maker, Ben Greenberg (Uniform, Destruction Unit, The Men). A marked step-up, this new record keeps the visceral energy of the debut, only this time they dig deeper into cathartic noise.

It is universally agreed that Wax Chattels are a must-see live act; their hypnotically sinister debut captured this perfectly. Released in 2018 and supported by relentless touring, the eponymous album reached #7 on the Official New Zealand Album Charts, and release week saw the title feature as #1 in Rough Trade’s Top 20 New Releases. Tastemakers like NPR and A.V. Club came on as early champions. The album’s success at home and abroad led to the well-deserved nomination of Best Alternative Artist at the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards, as well as the band’s inclusion in the coveted shortlist of finalists for the Taite Music Prize and Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award.