Kiwis Listen

20/05/2024

This NZ Music Month we're writing up about albums that have consistently stayed on the playlist since the blog began, and why they've stuck with us.
Second up is the "Almost Natural" by Jonothan Meyer

"Almost natural is a hidden gem from 2021. I stumbled upon this album by accident, by being familiar with Jonathan Meyer from the multitude of bands he plays in (Underscore, the late Odds & Ends, Club Ruby, Max Earnshaw, and more, so many more). Jono is usually shredding an electric guitar or keeping the band in line with funky grooves from the bass, but with his solo project he takes a more gentle approach."

Read more here: https://wordpress.com/post/kiwislisten.music.blog/832

13/05/2024

This NZ Music Month we're writing up about albums that have consistently stayed on the playlist since the blog began, and why they've stuck with us.
First up is the "The Tapes Etc" by Wells

"I first heard Wells* music through his Tapes series, an annual drop of a single with some supporting tracks which always had the steeziest artwork (credit to Matthew Twyman). These small bodies of work eventually were compiled with a few other tunes into the album "The Tapes Etc". Each track brings you closer to the acceptance of a break up, with all the petty emotions along the way"

Read more at - https://kiwislisten.music.blog/?p=822

02/06/2023

With several tours under their belt and visibility Aotearoa wide, Marmalade are looking to be propelled into a year of success. Their future is looking bright.

Reviewing Marmalade’s debut single is a strange thing. They came out on top in the Kick Unsigned competition and have toured with almost every international act that came to New Zealand in 20…

29/09/2021

"Groovy from bar one, “My Line” is a meandering tour through the much loved indie pop-rock genre." Smashed it, Pretty Stooked.

We first discovered Pretty Stooked last year at a spontaneous Wunderbar gig post lockdown. We were taken by the humble way he owned the stage, and his epic songwriting. Christchurch was riding the …

01/09/2021

Pop in your air-pods and grab your avo-toast, Hazza Making Noise's Debut EP, Vengeful Millenial, is here, and it’s solving the housing crisis.

Pop in your air-pods and grab your avo-toast, Hazza Making Noise’s Debut EP Vengeful Millenial is here, and it’s solving the housing crisis. Harry Platt, the face behind Hazza Making No…

26/08/2021

"Grab your safety hats kids, because & Ends dropped a track today and it hits hard... "Picture" is a gut-wrenching exploration of life on the brink, driven by musicality and power wrapped in an indie rock bow."

Grab your safety hats kids, because Odds & Ends dropped a track today and it hits hard. After leaving us waiting for two years their much anticipated single “Picture” tackles the tricky subject…

09/08/2021

Underscore have finally released their sophomore single Never Coming back, and oh boy it slaps like a prima donna.

After an enticing build up for their new single on Tik Tok, Underscore have finally released their sophomore single Never Coming back, and oh boy it slaps like a prima donna. Unlike their first rel…

01/06/2021

• KITA •'s debut album is very calm and down to earth, with rich instrumentation and warm tones...

KITA is the debut self-titled album by Wellington musical alumni Nikita Tu-Bryant, Ed Zuccollo and Rick Cranston. Between them, these talented musicians have played with such artists as Holly Smith…

28/03/2021

"Keeley Shade's "On My Mind" swells into existence like waves on the sand."

Canadian born alt-pop-folk artist Keeley Shade seems to have materialised from nowhere. Her debut track On My Mind has sparked intrigue, featuring on the NZ top 20 and earning over a thousand strea…

21/03/2021

Underscore has been kicking around the pop school indie rock scene for a while, playing shows, reviewing sandwiches and rebooting the Skype soundtrack. Despite this varied experience they’ve never had an official release until now, with Dirty Word.

Underscore has been kicking around the pop school indie rock scene for a while, playing shows, reviewing sandwiches and rebooting the Skype soundtrack. But despite this varied experience they& #8217…

21/01/2021

We like to think we know better than our parents, but in his latest single, Chris Pidsley reminds us that sometimes we really need to listen to our mum.

We like to think we know better than our parents, but sometimes we really need to listen to our mum. With his latest single, Chris Pidsley talks through the confusion of navigating a relationship w…

02/12/2020

Dropping tomorrow is the kind of song that makes you want to hire a security team. Come grab a beer with us and Vikae at Casette on Saturday!

Dropping this Friday is the kind of song that makes you want to hire a security team. Vikae has outdone herself with her latest single Angry Girl, featuring killer production and lyrics that w…

30/11/2020

"Fire up your steampunk pirate ship surround sound, because Georgia Maria is back."

Fire up your steampunk pirate ship surround sound, because Georgia Maria is back. Earlier this year the lyrical songstress impressed us with her complex rhythms and captivating storytelling. B…

26/10/2020

"Mikaela's latest feat is the cosmic "Lucky Stars" EP, which she hopes will “shoot people through moonbeams, landing them amongst the stars”. Dude. You gotta hear it...
..The full Lucky Stars EP will be available to the public this Friday, and Mikaela will take to the stage with her band at Wine Cellar. If her live performance is anywhere near as epic as her discography then the crowd will be in for a super fun night. Get your pre Halloween boogie on, and maybe I’ll see you in there!"

Mikaela Cougar is a force to be reckoned with, releasing three killer singles this year alone. Her latest feat is the cosmic Lucky Stars EP, which she hopes will “shoot people through moonbeams, la…

26/10/2020

Chiara Foschiani is a Parisian multi instrumentalist and producer who left high school to pursue music full time when she was 16. If you love Christine and the Queens as much as I do, then you will adore her.

If you love Christine and the Queens as much as I do then you’ll adore Chiara Foschiani. Ignoring the fact that her age makes me feel like a recent retiree, I was incredibly impressed by her debut …

26/10/2020

Misconceptions by Lévyne is a scathing review of a heartbreak, and we're hear for it.

Lévyne is an alt-pop gem who’s been flying a little under the radar in Auckland for a while now. She’s released consistently intricate and creative singles such as Pause, and Look at Me…

23/10/2020

In his debut album, Gecko muses that “there’s hope that the youngest people in this world will turn the apocalyptic hand that they’ve been dealt into something positive that we have not yet seen.”

It’s been a long time coming, but Gecko has finally released his sophomore album Climbing Frame!Gecko is an absolute gem of a musician that I had the pleasure of seeing perform in a ruin of a chape…

20/10/2020

We're super excited to announce our podcast! This week we talked about summery new releases from Geoff Ong Music, NAVVY and Lainey. How good is NZ music right now?!

We review music we like! Each episode we bring a new song the others haven't heard (preferably kiwi) and react live.

12/10/2020

"...The result is the effortlessly cool, contagiously funky experience of a band Jessy & The Volunteers."

Self proclaimed “Taranaki beach bum” Jessy Wadeson built her band brick by brick in her basement. The result is the effortlessly cool, contagiously funky experience of a band Jessy &…

07/10/2020

Calon's alias means “heart” in Welsh; a fitting translation for an artist who focuses on self development, existentialism and catharsis.

Sweet new track!

Based in London, Calon is an emerging singer-songwriter from Swansea. His alias means “heart” in Welsh; a fitting translation for an artist who focuses on self development, existentiali…

05/10/2020

"It’s been a year of polar opposites for Molly Devine. One moment she was touring the country with her new single, the next she was home alone crowded by her thoughts along with the rest of Aotearoa."

After years of working collaboratively with New Zealand songwriters and musicians, the isolation of 2020 has inspired something completely different from Molly Devine. It’s been a year of pol…

18/09/2020

" With the help of the “warmth and support of new friends”, Good Habits made the most of their surprise hibernation in Paekakariki, taking the opportunity to introduce the enchanting Going for Broke album to the world"

Alt-folk duo Good Habits completed a 40 show tour of Aotearoa moments before the nationwide lock down. With the help of the “warmth and support of new friends”, the duo made the most of…

18/09/2020

"Following the release of her singles “See Straight” and “Lucky Star, Mikaela is back with another banger. “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” channels nostalgic 90s girl band vibes combined with that laid back bucket hat aesthetic we know and love."

Following the release of her singles “See Straight” and “Lucky Star, Mikaela Cougar is back with another banger. “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” channels nostalgic 90s girl band vibes combined with that…

14/09/2020

It’s easy to disappear into the beautiful soundscape that Lorenzo Hazelwood creates in his acoustic lead follow up to his Single Pharos.

It’s easy to disappear into the beautiful soundscape that Lorenzo creates in his acoustic lead follow up to his Single Pharos. The track is slow and lumbering with rich baritone vocals remini…

14/09/2020

"Boomers in Disguise is relentless, sprinting off the starting block with a hectic tempo and shouted chorus vocals."

Killer track from Hazza Making Noise!

Harry Platt is a “disillusioned architect and slightly average singer-songwriter / producer” based in Tamaki Makaurau. Platt releases “electro plunge” music under the “irreverent pseudonym” Hazza M…