UTR's 2024 Favourite Music Moments

AUSTIN CUNNINGHAM
YOUR ENABLER PRESENTS / THREAT.MEET.PROTOCOL

Push Up - Big Scout

Technically not an album, just two banging A-sides on the best cassingle release since Ace of Base's ‘The Sign'. Also, doubling as Big Scout's swan song before they break up. We can only hope that the public interest in these slamming songs is so high that they are forced to reconsider and carry on as the best thing from Blenheim that isn't a Cloudy Bay 2019 Pinot Noir.

The thriving Tauranga scene

There was a time in the not so distant past where Tauranga music definitely sucked, but not so in the year 2024. Bands like Hoick, Hemodroid, Carrion Bride, Stunt Clown, Dead Empire, Six Twos, We Will Ride Fast, Threat.Meet.Protocol, Grown Downz and Two Skinner continued their national assault on radio, venues and festivals. While newer acts like Skonk, Somacaine, Bloody Overalls, This is How We Die, False Waltons, Club Meds and so many others teared it up locally at venues like Palace Bar, Hop House, Voodoo Lounge and Totara Street.

Pearl Jam live at Mt Smart

I was super excited to hear that Pearl Jam were coming back to NZ (and with the Pixies in tow). But then I found out the exorbitant ticket prices and resigned myself to not going. However, instead of spending a weeks worth of wages on tickets to further line the pockets of multi-millionaires I decided it was not for me and that I would be a better man, and more alive by spending the time with my daughter. Jeremy told me it was a great show however.

MUZAI Records

While not good news, the closure of Muzai Records leaves behind an indelible legacy on NZ music. I would like to honour Benjii for his contributions to NZ music throughout the 2010s. Without Muzai, so many kiwi punks (including myself) would not have got their start. Cheers mate.

Spotlights under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge

My personal musical highlight of the year was getting to meet, befriend, play and promote the fantastic bunch of people that are the Ipecac Records band Spotlights. While their NZ tour was a fantastic success, it was truly capped off with an incredible all ages gig under the Tauranga Harbour Bridge. Rows of teenagers locked together head banging, as families, fisherman, dogs, cyclists, elderly leisure walkers and ageing bogans all looked on in awe.

CALLUM DEVLIN
HANS PUCKET, SPORTS TEAM

Recitals

Bookending my year has been two absolutely barn storming sets by Aotearoa art punks Recitals, first on the lagoon stage at Camp A Low Hum and most recently at Tāmaki's Whammy Bar last weekend. Their songs are ambitious epics, more like feature films or novels in scope, and are approached live like boarding a runaway train. Apparently their show on Saturday was their last, but with a band this talented, that clearly cares as much as they do about each other, I have a hard time believing that. While I wait, I will be counting the days until their EP I GOT GOLD! releases on vinyl.

Primer.

Can I get a round of applause for Zac Arnold? Always scheming ways to make the Tāmaki music scene more energised and vibrant, 2024 saw the introduction of Primer., a monthly, early show at Morningside's 605 bar. Coming into my 30s and realising I don't always want to stay up until 11pm to see a band, there's truly no excuse now thanks to these shows. You can kick on or bail and be home by 9pm. The lineups always rule and it's a great platform for new acts. So simple yet such an innovation, I'm pumped for more Primer. in the new year!

'Earnestly' - Marlin's Dreaming & Erny Belle
'Danger, I' - Vera Ellen & Oli Devlin

This May, two very different duets came into my life within weeks of each other. ‘Earnestly' is unmistakably catchy, smooth as butter and sounds like a million bucks, yet holds an honest heartache, a desire yet a fear of love. A standout track from a banger of an album (HIRL), and the music video is downright terrifying. I often fantasise about a Goldenhorse reunion, but this may be as close as we get.

‘Danger, I' arrived on Vera Ellen's shockingly intimate Heartbreak For Jetlag EP and I think was specifically designed to crush my heart, completely. A beautiful performance from both Vera and (my brother and bandmate) Oli Devlin, delivered hushed and haunted, the song feels less a conversation than two people connected by a similar crisis. More duets in 2025 please.

CHRIS CUDBY
UTR EDITOR & WRITER / POWER NAP / DJ

New Urban Polynesian - Fuemana

Not at all from 2024 but finally re-released this year on vinyl LP (for the first time ever), New Urban Polynesian unearths and re-presents Phil Fuemana's 1994 classic for a new generation of music appreciators. "The finest R&B / street soul album ever recorded in Aotearoa New Zealand" says Martyn Pepperell in the superb liner notes.

Last Call At The Wine Cellar

A rare DJ outing for me, I was honoured to be spinning tunes at The Wine Cellar's closing night soirée. A space that has transformed Tāmaki Makaurau's music / sound culture for the better over two decades, carefully steered by Rohan Evans and his ace team. Big community feels that night — very happy to see Public Bar carrying the torch for small-ish scale events under St. Kevin's Arcade into the future.

Camp A Low Hum / Port Noise 2024

Two of the most tightly and adventurously curated festivals in Aotearoa, both programmed with full faith in the idea attendees want to experience something high quality and new (they also both sold out). And both worth travelling halfway across the country to go to! The majestic return of CALH included my favourite live moment of '24 — when rain struck, the Noisy Room became a sweaty hotbox of incredible back-to-back sets by Party Dozen, Private Function, Rebel Yell, Big Flip The Massive and more.

Whanganui music

For my money Whanganui music has been (not so) quietly crushing it in 2024 — BIRDPARTY, Body Beat Ritual, Tender Moonlight, Alphabethead / BAD TASTE, Displeasure, LILSTIFFY, XRVR, Ludus, Castlecliff Lights, Anthonie Tonnon, amazing secret live gigs (which I was lucky to play at), plus I'm probably missing out a tonne of important aspects as I'm a bloody JAFA.

The Canterbury Tales - Chaucerian Myth

Stoked to have nabbed a copy of this year's 4 x cassette edition of Chaucerian Myth's voluminous dungeon synth / medieval synth classic The Canterbury Tales, the first time it's been available physically since 2016. Weirdly reflective of our contemporary moment in 2024, the album's diverse sonics span "Gregorian Chant, Medieval Folk, Ambient Drone, epic orchestral pieces, and even classic video game-esque Dungeon Synth sounds." Also included one of the best merch items of this year, a bumper sticker saying "Keep honking! I'm listening to Chaucerian Myth's 3 1/2 hour epic fantasy album 'The Canterbury Tales'".

CIARA “COZY” BERNSTEIN
DEB5000 / CHEMCHAIN / HALF/TIME / GUILT GRIP / NO BRAINERS

Disappointing Sequel - Repairs

Excellent album, excellent production, excellent people - what more can you ask for?! For an album called Disappointing Sequel, it really wasn't disappointing for a single second!

Unsanitary Napkin / Jalang Split

Unsanitary Napkin continue to deliver the hardest hitting releases time and time again. Needless to say, the production from Vanya Vitali is thunderous in the best way possible, and I am really proud of my two Half/Time bandmates, Wairehu and Cee, who worked with Napkins on the track 'I Riro Whenua Atu, Me Hoki Whenua Mai'.

OFF! Tour

No Brainers played our final few shows opening for OFF! in Pōneke and Raglan. As a guitarist, opening for Dimitri Coats was a dream come true, as a drummer, opening for Mario Rubalcaba was a dream come true, and as a punk musician, opening for Keith Morris was a dream come true!

Full Noise

Full Noise is a DIY punk festival held annually here in Tāmaki. Full Noise has truly become a staple event for the punk community up and down the country, providing a platform for one and for all (assholes / bigots not included). I've become the resident soundie, and it's a truly rewarding experience seeing it grow and thrive year after year.

Commodore65

Shout out to my favourite band to have emerged this year (and yes, I may be slightly biased). Garagey, silly goodness beginning to end — five stars. I recorded an EP for these guys which should be out soon, and they already have another full length just about ready to record! They've got a string of shows coming up this summer — def ones to keep an eye out for.

DARTZ (FAVOURITES BY DANZ)
THE BAND FROM WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

Lavender Menace live at Camp A Low Hum

Sometimes you catch a young band and think, “goddammit, how are they already this good at that age” and that applies to Lavender Menace. At Camp they were set up squarely in the middle of an old dorm room ready to perform to a packed room. After masterfully cracking jokes with the crowd while dealing with a festival delay to their set, they soon had the entire room eating out of the palm of their hand with their quick (both witted and length of music) punk rock. I can't wait to see what 2025 takes them.

Hīkoi mō te Tiriti

Leading up to the Hīkoi, there was a lot of fear mongering in the media, talks of a high police presence, usual garbage about gang members, and a general sense that a bunch of Māori coming together can only lead to disaster and violence. But instead we peacefully marched and sung all the way to parliament, and let me tell you, it was a greatest hits of Māori Waiata, from to Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi to E Papā that filled me with a massive sense of pride.

DARTZ Album Release Show San Fran

The biggest lesson we learned from this show is that it's really hard to procure a comically large pair of scissors, to cut a custom ribbon, to officially launch an album. But they arrived, via America just in time for the show at the last minute, and we passed them on to MP for Wellington Central, Tamatha Paul, to do the honours. It was a fantastic opening for what would be a fantastic show.

I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy

Maybe it's because I saw them live last week and fell in love with the album all over again, but this is AOTY for me, haunting, beautiful, sexy, angry, and full of love it's a ripper from front to back, there's honestly a song for every occasion: getting dressed for a night out, hitting a jog, or mourning a breakup. It's all here folks. My favourite track, which is hard to pick just one, would be ‘I Don't Know You'.

The Renaissance of Divorced Dad Music

From the desk of DARTZ tour funnel master, Javed Khan: Many valid critiques of the 'Divorced Dad' genre exist — it's predictable, shallow, and cliched, but maybe that's what makes it so damn good? Maybe in a year marred by increasing political tensions, the rise of AI, and tense geopolitical conflict, predictable is what we need? Maybe the lyrics aren't shallow, but hook the listener in with a simple, straightforward message, that absolutely necessitates you crush 12 beers, throw your arms around your best friends, and shout along at the top of your lungs. Maybe they're not cliched, but provide a sense of familiarity. Like a warm hug. A throwback to a simpler time. A euphoric celebration of every emotion that encompasses the human experience.

But beyond all else maybe, just maybe, Divorced Dad rock is simply how you remind me of what I really am.

DARYL FINCHAM
UTR

UTR 20th Anniversary

Super stoked to have made it to this milestone, along with all the talented people who have kept pushing it along.

LIVE MUSIC BAR

Once again the Sports Team magic has been applied to a great video series

Barnard's Star - 20th anniversary re-release

Surprise of the year was this re-release on vinyl of one of my favourite recordings from the '00s.

No covid cancelled shows or flood related issues for 2024

Angelm - Kerretta

Finally some new music from my favourite sonic, complex, metal band.

GRECCO ROMANK

VORTEX OF SHIT II - DISPLEASURE

Alongside Tamaki's Dick Move it's been refreshing to hear just outright pissed off takes on the world around us, engineered into clear nuggets of distress and rage. This gem of an album remixed via some of our fav Aotearoa electronic acts (Alphabethead, BIRDPARTY, Synthetic Children, Strange Stains) pumps blood through our sickly Grecco veins.

Exploding Rainbow Orchestra!

Yes, we had our own song ('Asbestos Tarot' out now on all platforms) beautifully reimagined by composer David Harris, but we were more bob(frisbee)-smacked watching Hopetoun Alpha come alive via Joshua Worthington-Church's bravura energy and leadership to bring together a fantastic team of musicians to reinterpret and perform alongside DBLDBL, Diggy Dupé, Erny Belle, Finn Johansson, Hales, Jazmine Mary, Julia Deans, Keira Wallace, Lucy Suttor (Dick Move), Mousey, Oliver Devlin (Hans Pucket), RNZŌ., and WAIWHAI. together under one roof. Kumbaya suckers.

Double Whammy Opening!

This city needs this.

We were proud to be involved in the Hīkoi mō te Tiriti across Tamaki, especially at a divisive international time it was heartening to see widespread unity, with only a few radical outbursts. Something hopeful.

Lick Of The Wolf - Rose Worm

An unholy alliance of talents Roseworm's Jackson Hobbs and Paul Blanchard let the ooze out with Lick Of The Wolf, a churning, unearthly Antipodean Gothic dirge.

JAMES SULLIVAN / JIM NOTHING

MJ Lenderman and the GC's surprise show at Whammy

When I saw Wednesday were playing CALH I was hoping that would mean this was a possibility. I started listening to Boat Songs in 2023 and really fell into it. Hard not to with songs like TLC Cage Match… Loved hearing the new songs live that later became part of Manning Fireworks one of many albums of the year for me (and likely a lot of you)

Recording and releasing Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn

This took up basically all of 2024 for me so it's hard to think of this year without it. We recorded a bit at the Audio Foundation and a lot in my garage here in Grey Lynn. Making recordings that sound the way they do with the most basic equipment in a derelict shed is a testament to Brians mixing and the attitude of just winging it. It was quite a long process, but the outcome is something that I'm really proud of.

Early shows

I feel like I didn't go out a whole lot this year… maybe I still did but definitely not as much as previous years. One thing I really enjoyed was the series of early (Primer.) shows put on by Sunreturn's Zac Arnold. Winter in Auckland isn't super cold, it's just kind of a bit bleak and holding out till 10pm for a show to start when it's raining can sometimes be a hard task. Being able to finish work, go see a show, grab dinner and head home at a reasonable hour is truly an excellent vibe and I'd love to see more of it.

The Sunset Violent - Mount Kimbie

I remember listening to the Mount Kimbie Maybes EP a lot back when everyone had a music blog and I guess they kind of dropped off my radar after that. Because it wasn't until a friend sent me their song ‘Fish Brain' that I released they were still going and not only going, but gone and released one of my most listened to albums of 2024.

Asylum Trilogy video series – Ex-Partner

The Crow is a film I haven't seen but what I have seen is Tony's video trilogy as Ex–Partner. This was a few years in the making and it's great for it to see the light of day. The cast are excellent as is Damien's video work and of course, Tonys songs.

KRAUS

Folklore 1979 - Milkweed

This year I've been obsessed with mysterious British avant-folk duo Milkweed, and their scrunchy tape / sampler collage recordings. They create songs using found texts (in this case, a 1979 issue of Folklore, the journal of the Folklore Society), resulting in bizarre lyrics and astonishing music / word relationships. Their sense of playfulness, love of brevity, and strong, spooky vocals kept me hitting repeat on this all year.

mHz at Outlier Festival

Outlier Festival was wonderful this year, and mHz absolutely killed me with his performance of “Cruise Missile Intersectionality”, an audio-visual machine-gun barrage and a relentless polemical attack on Western liberal imperialism. It ended with him leading the crowd in a chant of “Free, Free Palestine”, and left someone in the front of the crowd whimpering “But what can we do?” I was astonished to learn that this is mHz's first work with overt political content, as it's such a genuine kick in the head it makes everyone else seem like they're just fucking around.

I know….a….way - Ducklingmonster

Ducklingmonster released her first vinyl long-player this year and it's a killer! A masterpiece of zombie marching music, it's an intensely atmospheric work: hypnotic, ecstatic, scary, exhilarating, and cathartic like her live shows — best if you can play it LOUD. Recorded by Stefan Neville at the Audio Foundation in 2023 as part of the Ducklingmonster winter residency, this was the first vinyl release on Audio Foundation Records.

Evicshen at Audio Foundation

In June we were lucky to be visited by Evicshen aka Victoria Shen from San Francisco, surely one of the best performers in the noise biz right now. She brought some of her invented instruments, including her famous Needle Nails (stick-on nails with record styluses built in), and her Noise Comb, which makes a LOT of noise when you comb your hair. Her performance was forceful, physical and, frankly, intimidating (she cracked a whip over the heads of the audience!), but at all times she exuded a sense of someone completely in control and at the top of their game.

Permanent Waves - The Perms

This record by The Perms (Anita Clark, Daniel Beban, Taipua Adams and Justin Barr) has been constantly on my turntable since I picked it up in October: mesmerising improvised instrumental rock music with outstanding playing by all involved. It's one of those albums that's so good I've found myself jamming along and contemplating forming a similar band. I'm kicking myself for not seeing this band live, maybe we can convince them to do an Auckland show?

LIAM HANSEN
CLEMENTINE / MISHEARD RECORDS / UTR CONTRIBUTOR / SPECK COMICS / DEBATE MAGAZINE

Even despite how grittily vulnerable Vera Ellen could be on previous albums, her EP heartbreak for jetlag still managed to be her most brutally honest work yet. It soundtracked a few incredibly messy weeks of my life where I lost my mind and gained it back again through a trainwreck of emotions, tomfoolery, and airplane trips taken by those who matter a lot to me — so the echoes of lo-fi sadness hit about as hard as they could. Far and away, my favourite track off the EP is ‘danger i' thanks to the inclusion of fellow Pōneke sad-songsmith Oli Devlin, who matched Vera's fragile vocal delivery in a fashion seldom heard in his Hans Pucket persona — especially thanks to the falsetto he closed out the track with.

Camp A Low Hum (weekend one)

Fucking hell. I may as well quickly highlight the best bands at each stage that I managed to catch — Wednesday at the Square, The Phoenix Foundation in the forest, Feshh in the Noisy Room, Womb at the Lagoon, Vanessa Worm at the Winter Stage and the Papaiti Records all-star set in the Renegade Room. Loved everyone singing along to the final track off of Carb on Carb's self-titled record whilst squished into the tiniest stage in the entire campgrounds that occasionally drew some of its biggest crowds.

The set that has stuck with me for the longest was So So Modern at the Square stage - a band I was barely familiar with at the time, who I then had the pleasure of watching tear the fucking building down, playing their anthemic synth-punk with audiences surrounding them at 360 degrees and lighting intertwined between the punters. Even the band was shocked by how cool it was!

Amamelia winning Best Electronic Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards

Reporting for UTR at the Aotearoa Music Awards was the most terrifying part of 2024. I was completely and utterly out of my depth, scurrying to the media room overlooking the crowds every time I felt overwhelmed — but that anxiety melted away and was replaced with pure joy when Ammamelia won the award for e Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau - Best Electronic Artist. Maybe I'm just a schmuck for when student radio legends get recognised outside of our weird little bubble, but I don't think I would've gotten through the rest of the night without the knowledge that Amelia had won, and was also very terrified and confused and proud and emotional. There's always solidarity in anxiety, I suppose.

Last Call At The Wine Cellar

The final gig at The Wine Cellar brought in legendary poet Dominc Hoey to somewhat represent the years of non-music focused acts that had made their way through the cellar doors, LEAO in the midst of their return to the stage after a mini hiatus from gigs, and The Beths; perhaps the biggest indie band to make their start at The Wine Cellar returning to their old stomping grounds.

While a special highlight goes to them playing ‘Idea/Intent' from their debut EP, nothing can top soundie and Wine Cellar founder Rohan Evans being peer pressured onto the stage for a cover of ‘Just What I Needed' by The Cars. It may have taken the over-capacity room of punters, the most important band to come out of Auckland in the past decade, and about three minutes of the intro stabs of guitar chords to encourage him, but eventually he caved and sang along — at least for the first verse and a chorus. We miss you, Wine Cellar.

Playing + Organising gigs

I'm being self-centred, but I'll never be able to separate 2024 from the chaotic array of musical mahi I put myself through in the last few months of the year — whether that'll end up being nostalgic or traumatic is still up for debate. My emo project Clementine FINALLY got off the ground thanks to wonderful moral and musical support from my partner and a light push from Zac Arnold thanks to our debut at September's Primer., which eventually led to us opening for Carb on Carb's final Auckland show ever which was a dream come true. I also played and organised a good chunk of house parties, which barely prepared me to launch my noise wrangling project Misheard Records with Kiriata me Puoro - an animation and music festival in November. A wonderful, terrifying, and thoroughly electrifying night — there will absolutely be more to come from Clementine and Misheard in 2025
   

NAVAKATOA TEKELA-PULE
NOA RECORDS, WRITER / COMPOSER / PRODUCER, VARIOUS BANDS

In The Space That You Carry - Darvid Thor

From Beloved Recordings / two of the founding members of the Frollen Music Library. This record did a number on me — I was in the right place at the right time.

'Capsized' - Romi Wrights

I am very excited for my good friends at Mānuka Recordings to release the debut Romi Wrights album. I had the pleasure of lending some chops on principal tracking as well as having a few compositions on the cut. For now… here is the latest single.

Ripple On The Wing - Ella Thomspon

Ella is one of the best to do it. Another hard hitting soul record and another Henry Jenkin assisted production ( Frollen Music Library ). If you studied 'Shitty Is Pretty' this one's for you.

Live Performances:

VIDA - Aquatopialien Release Show at Goblin. Featuring Pounamu Rurawhe,Chelsea Prastiti Hun Lynch & Alexa Casino
VIDA came to earth fully formed & swinging. If you haven't already… Aquatopialien is a must listen.

The Kismet - AERATHELABEL at Raynhampark.
A conceptual fashion show featuring the powerhouse that is Jude Kelly and scored live by violinist Amy Borojević aka HINA. Marg is alive.

Gloria Florence - Woman About Sound at The Wine Cellar.
Armed with an electric guitar & slew of morbidly sweet well written songs, Gloria Florence is poetry in motion. You can only catch her music live. Good Luck.

'Lucky Star' from HIRL - Marlin's Dreaming

A tremendous song from a phenomenal band. A beautiful video filled with beautiful faces, Semisi is in his directorial stride alongside DOP legend Chris Mauger.

RACHEL ASHBY
MUSIC JOURNALIST / NZ MUSIC COMMISSION

WAEREA - MOKOTRON

While almost impossibly hard to pick a singular fave in a year full of magnificent local releases, rarely does a record come along and make such a tsunami wave of impact on a scene as Mokotron's new album WAEREA. I don't think I've been to a club night all year where I haven't heard one of these tracks tear through the dance floor. I also can't remember a time when a release has generated such considered and urgent discussion amongst my peers about what it means to perform music in Aotearoa — particularly through a lens of activism, reclamation and future imagining. Transformative thudding baselines, soaring Tāonga Puoro and a searing vocal delivery: it's a call to action and a sound of the times. Indigenous bass revolution now!

95bFM Breakfast Live from Bestie Cafe

Personal milestone for me in 2024 was wrapping up 5 years of early mornings hosting the 95bFM Breakfast Show. It was a year (and career) highlight to celebrate by throwing a “goodbye brekky” live broadcast from Bestie cafe in St Kevin's Arcade. Shout out to all the radio legends who got up at 4am to pack a radio station into St Kevin's Arcade, and shout out to all the bloody lovely listeners and old mates who came through for an early morning party. What's a better treat than to have two of my fave bands Jim Nothing and cc(tv) performing, plus live Hobby Goblins, Second Guessing and other radio ridiculousness all before the sun was properly over Meyers Park? I'm a lucky lucky girl. Thanks bFM love u 4eva <3

Wine Cellar 20th Anniversary

The best dive bar in all of the land, the Wine Cellar, celebrated its 20th anniversary this year with one hell of a birthday party: a full week long extravaganza of the weird and wonderful that has grown out of that hallowed ground beneath Karangahape Road. It was a joy to celebrate a venue that has provided so much room for experimentation and musical growth — and has nurtured so many artists and ideas. Not a dry eye in the house when venue and bar staff presented Rohan Evans with a beautiful pounamu taonga — and then of course Rohan had to go and spoil it all by announcing it was closing for good! Joking of course, (Double Whammy rules hard!) but it was great to give Cellar, and Rohan the flowers they deserve for all the bloody good years of music under the arcade.

ROY IRWIN
MUSICIAN

I Hate You Don't Leave Me (Toxic State Records) - Dollhouse

Once I ordered merch from this band and it took 6 months to arrive.
Another time I ordered this 7" from the label and it never arrived or got refunded.
Hands down my favourite current punk band. Featuring members of Mommy, Hank Wood, Pharmakon and L.O.T.I.O.N.

Short n' Sweet - Sabrina Carpenter

I don't drive but when I listen to this album I think about driving a big car on the wrong side of the motorway.
The oncoming traffic swerving.
Families screaming.
A fleet of police cars follow close behind. "Fuck you pigs" I mutter under my breath before detonating a crude home made explosive that kills me instantly.
What I'm trying to say is, if you don't like this album then you'll never experience true freedom.

Las Tetas (1:12 Records) - Las Tetas

These songs are so iconic and I'm so happy they were finally released on a record.

'Nomad' - Clairo

I've probably listened to this song more than any other song this year. Very beautiful I think.

Nobody Loves You More - Kim Deal

I got this album the day it came out. After work I put it on and made the best potato salad I've ever made in my entire life. I logged onto Bluesky and posted "I love Kim Deal and making potato salad". These are the simple, sweet, calm moments that I live for.

TASH VAN SCHAARDENBURG
CITACSY / THE AUDIO FOUNDATION / 95BFM

Camp A Low Hum - Weekends 1 & 2 + Infest

11 days of musical paradise. So many blissed out memories and friendships made it would take a novel to encapsulate.

Soft Approach vs Tongue Dissolver in Soft Approach's backyard in Naarm / Melbourne

A mind-boggling match made in heaven between queer experimental pop sensations Soft Approach and gabber drumming duo Tongue Dissolver all squeezed into a tiny rotting shed for an on-the-fly collab set to resolve Naarm's most heated fake band beef. Everyone was still dripping with the afterglow of CALH the month before & as the bands alternated back-and-forth between each of their tracks and trash talking made the air feel electric right up till the set ended with one of the Tongue Dissolver guy's being tackled out of the shed into the grass. I listen to a bootleg recording of this set on my phone sometimes.

625 Moons - 50 Years of From Scratch Festival - Hotwired #1 gig

This gig started with Ben Holmes rolling up a rattling tray of cups which post-playing he used to serve drinks to the audience, and peaked with James McCarthy shooting arrows over & over at a massive piece of polystyrene and then playing them as percussion and also with a bow. The rolling schedule of 14 guest soloists playing against a continuous bed of sound from Aotearoa's iconic and groundbreaking music and performance group From Scratch was a pleasure to have perceived & performed in.

Outlier Festival

That was like nothing else aye >:) It was a blessing to be together for our incredibly talented and diverse electronic music scene for the weekend and I hope Grace Verweij and I's latest iteration of the festival has convinced fellow club promoters to clear some space in the DJ booth for our live electronic acts!

WAEREA - MOKOTRON

I couldn't possibly listen to this album and not imagine its sound taking over the world. Indigenous bass revolution 4eva.

WIRI DONNA / BIANCA BAILEY
CUBADUPA FESTIVAL DIRECTOR (ft. ELLIOTT DAWSON - TYPIST)

Meow Nui opening in Wellington

This venue has been so needed in Wellington for a long time and I'm so stoked for Damien and Ra and for our community at large. This venue has the possibility to be game changing for us. Honourable mention to Double Whammy too. So nice to have some good news stories in the venues sphere for once.

The 2025 Pop Era

Chappell, Sabrina and Charli were on heavy rotation all year. I've always been a bit sceptical of single artist club nights because live music is kind of my life. The pop girlies reminded me that it's possible to have a good night out in town if the music is actually good.

Martyn Pepperell's recent and excellently written vibe check on Wellington

Everyone take note!

Our (not so democratically selected) favourite album of the year is My Method Actor by Nilufer Yanya

No one is doing anything remotely similar and 'Like I Say (I runaway)' is killer.

My directorial debut for Elliott's 'Quarter Life' video

Who said filming a video couldn't be fun and easy?