NEW Singles & Videos + Release Announcements + Brand New Signings
Marina Zispin deliver entrancing new single| Listen to 'Deep Blue'
Marina Zispin’s new album Now You See Me, Now You Don’t, drops March 7 via Scenic Route. Marina Zispin, aka Bianca Scout and Martyn Reid, continue their hypnotic dive into liminality with 'Deep Blue,' the latest single from their upcoming album Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. The track follows up to previously released singles, 'Penthouse Samba,' 'The Tudors,' and 'The Bells.'
CAR SEAT HEADREST release single & announce new album | Listen to 'Gethsemane'
Car Seat Headrest announce The Scholars, a bold new rock opera that isn’t just a new chapter for the premiere standard bearers of young internet rockers but also a spiritual rebirth, and the band’s first studio album in five years. Watch ‘Gethsemane,’ an 11-minute, multi-part epic (directed by Andrew Wonder) that conveys the spiritual journey and yearning at the heart of the new album.
YAEJI shares new single| Listen/watch ’Pondeggi’ (feat. E Wata)
Yaeji returns with a new single and music video for ‘Pondeggi’. The title is an homage to Beondegi, a traditional intergenerational Korean street food made of silkworms, and schoolyard hand-clap game that serves as the foundation for the track’s beat.’Pondeggi’ is a striking evaluation of the toil within humanity, nature, and technology. Utilising storytelling, humanity’s oldest technology and most radical form of expression, Yaeji uses innovation with the aim to invoke deeper examination.
THE HARD QUARTET release new digital double single | Take a listen to both new tracks
The Hard Quartet – Messrs. Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, and Jim White – return with a brand new digital two-song single. The elegant Kelly-led shredder ‘Lies (Something You Can Do)’ was recorded last July in NYC, while the sprawling flip, ‘Coreopsis Trail,’ is an unreleased track from the S/T album sessions. Last fall, The Hard Quartet released their eponymous debut album on Matador Records. Says the band, “Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney and Jim White formed The Hard Quartet in May 2023. They recorded a 15 song album in NYC and Malibu California without telling anyone except their families and friends – ideal times spent in idyllic locales. It’s a full-on rocking band. All four band members write, sing, play musical instruments and produce The Hard Quartet’s songs. The band is the natural result of decades of friendship and playing music in each other’s presence.”
Tune-Yards return with new single & upcoming album | Listen to 'Limelight'
Tune-Yards, the dynamic duo of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, share details of their sixth studio album, Better Dreaming, out 16 May on standard vinyl, limited edition vinyl and CD via 4AD. The album showcases some of their most effortlessly groove-filled music in their career. To kick off this new era, Tune-Yards unveiled the infectious single, ‘Limelight’. The song was born from dancing together as a family to George Clinton, and Garbus and Brenner’s 3-year-old can be heard singing on the track.
SCOWL drop new song from forthcoming album | Listen to 'Tonight (I'm Afraid)'
Santa Cruz hardcore band Scowl announced their new album, Are We All Angels, last month, and today they’re back with their latest offering, ‘Tonight (I’m Afraid)’—the final single before the album drops on April 4 via Dead Oceans. ‘Tonight (I’m Afraid)’ finds Scowl at their most vulnerable, driven by anthemic choruses and punchy basslines, all cut through by Kat Moss’ visceral screams. At every turn on Are We All Angels, the band explores ambitious new directions and bends genre norms. Moss makes the most immediately noticeable evolution, dropping some of the gnarly bite of the band’s previous work in favor of a more textured and sometimes delicate approach. She flexes harmonies and melodic sensibilities that might surprise even the most dedicated Scowl fans.
Introducing...MY NEW BAND BELIEVE ME - a black midi spin off | Check out Cameron Picton's new band
My New Band Believe release their first song, ‘Lecture 25’ w/ accompanying video by Jack Shep. It was written quickly, with the initial intention to release the demo as is however, at the last minute, a band was conceived, the song arranged, then recorded, mixed, mastered and a video made – all within 8 days. Written by Cameron Picton (ex-black midi), produced and mixed by Seth Evans (also ex-black midi) and Margo Broom, engineered by Adele Phillips at RAK. Margo Broom contributed additional percussion.
New Albums & EPs Out Now
MARINA ZISPIN share new album Now You See Me (Now You Don't) |Essential Weekend Listening!
Experimental synth-pop duo Marina Zispin—Bianca Scout and Martyn Reid—share their highly anticipated 10-track album, Now You See Me (Now You Don’t) on March 7 via the influential London/NY-based imprint Scenic Route. The album traverses a wide sonic terrain: the hypnotic MZ synth-pop of ’Deep Blue’ and ‘Penthouse Samba’ , the heightened gothic drama of ‘The Tudors’ , the unrelenting tension of ’Piece of Mind’ , and the cold-wave stylings of ‘Mimes Calling in the Dark’ . A labyrinth of sound, Now You See Me (Now You Don’t) invites listeners into a world of shifting perspectives, leaving more questions than answers—just as Marina Zispin prefers it.
Tours, Events and Festivals
SHIHAD announces surprise Auckland, Powerstation Show | GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Shihad, New Zealand’s most legendary rock band, has announced a surprise performance at the Powerstation, Auckland – Wednesday, 12th March, 2025. This one off special show comes fresh off the heels of the announcement that their Spark Arena show on Friday, 14th March has SOLD OUT. This is a monumental milestone for the band, marking the most tickets ever sold to a New Zealand headlined hard rock concert. For this exclusive show, fans can expect to be treated to Killjoy (1995) and The General Electric (1999) played back-to-back – something different from their Loud Forever tour, which features a greatest hits set from the band’s full 10 album catalogue.
On Tour, Live Shows, Gigs, Concerts and Events
Click on through for all our favourite upcoming gigs and events! Including Fontaines D.C., WOMB, Alien Weaponry, MJ Lenderman, Shihad, The D4 and WOMAD Aotearoa 2025
Industry PSA for our musical friends - JICYMI
IMNZ present TAITE MUSIC PRIZE 2025 | Finalists announced - check them out today!
Independent Music NZ (IMNZ), alongside Founding Partner, Recorded Music NZ, is proud to announce the 10 finalists for the Taite Music Prize 2025. Now in its 16th year, the award remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s independent music scene, recognising bold and boundary-pushing albums. The Taite Music Prize has become synonymous with highlighting true musical craftsmanship, steadfastly prioritising artistic depth and authenticity over transient trends, and earning widespread respect across the industry. Reflecting the ever-growing depth of talent in Aotearoa, entries for the 2025 Taite Music Prize—drawn from albums released in the 2024 calendar year—have reached a record-breaking 80 submissions. Open to all genres and celebrated for its commitment to creative merit, this year’s shortlist showcases the diverse and dynamic sound of Aotearoa’s independent music scene. The winning album will secure a cash prize of $12,500 courtesy of Recorded Music NZ.
SHIHAD sets live attendance record in New Zealand | SHIHAD rock Aotearoa!!!
With just two shows left on their Final New Zealand Tour, Shihad has announced that their Friday, 14th March performance at Spark Arena in Auckland is officially SOLD OUT! A historic milestone, as this legendary band sets a new record for the most tickets ever sold to a New Zealand headlined hard rock concert.
Love It Live
MDOU MOCTAR perform live session for World Cafe | Watch the performance & interview
Last month, Mdou Moctar recorded a three song session and interview for NPR’s World Cafe.
JULIEN BAKER & TORRES debut new song on The Daily Show | Check out Interview & performance
Julien Baker & TORRES recently debuted a new song ‘Bottom of a Bottle’ on The Daily Show. The track is off the duo’s forthcoming release Send A Prayer My Way, out on April 18 via Matador Records. They also sat down with host Michael Kosta to chat about varied topics including the upcoming album, their creative process, and of course their love of dogs. Three singles from the highly anticipated album have already garnered worldwide acclaim. ‘Tuesday’ is their latest release, preceded by ‘Sylvia’ a song celebrated for its country sound and showcasing their distinctive writing. Their initial single, ‘Sugar in the Tank’, debuted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon