NEW Singles & Videos + Release Announcements + Brand New Signings
PULP release new single & video from forthcoming album | Get down!
Pulp are pleased to announce they are releasing a brand new single ‘Got To Have Love’. The song offers a second taste of the new record – the band’s first in almost 24 years, released on 6 June – following their acclaimed return with ‘Spike Island’ in April. A Jarvis Cocker-directed video for the track has been created which pairs the song with footage from the iconic 1977 Wigan Casino documentary directed by Tony Palmer. Weaving the footage of Northern Soul dancers together with Pulp’s music, the video underlines the ‘Got To Have Love’ dancefloor credentials. “I love dancing – & this is the best footage of dancing I’ve ever seen. I first saw it in Mark Leckey’s ‘Fiorucci Made Me Hardcore’ video” says Jarvis.
Rough Trade Records sign THE SOPHS | Cool new band alert!
“The Sophs arrived out of the great blue yonder,” says Rough Trade co-founders Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee of the label’s newest signing, LA six-piece The Sophs. The band’s brutal honesty, flamingly intrusive thoughts, and broad genre-spreading caught their attention immediately. Rough Trade heard the sort of creativity and variety — and “don’t expect me to act pretty” sentiment — that could get The Sophs — including frontman Ethan Ramon, Sam Yuh (keyboards), Austin Parker Jones (electric guitar), Seth Smades (acoustic guitar), Devin Russ (drums), and Cole Bobbitt (bass) — a slot on nearly any stage. “It’s rare that a demo that arrives in the post sets your heart racing and sends you off on a quest to track down its sender. But that’s what happened when we listened to the music sent to us by Ethan Ramon,” Travis and Lee explain.
PAVEMENT share trailer of new film Pavements | Watch it here
An examination of the seminal band, Pavements appears to be just another music documentary, until it doesn’t. A prismatic, narrative, scripted, documentary, musical, metatextual hybrid, the film directed by Alex Ross Perry and produced/edited by Robert Greene intimately shows the band preparing for their sold-out 2022 reunion tour while simultaneously tracking the preparations for a musical based on their songs, a museum devoted to their history and a big-budget Hollywood biopic inspired by their saga as the most important band of a generation. The film previously premiered at Venice Film Festival and New York Film Festival to rave reviews.
WEDNESDAY share video for new song 'Elderberry Wine' | Watch it here
Wednesday, the North Carolina rock band led by generational songwriter Karly Hartzman, share a twangy and timeless new single titled ‘Elderberry Wine,’ alongside a video directed by Spencer Kelly. ‘Elderberry Wine’ is the first taste of new music from Wednesday since the release of their breakthrough album Rat Saw God. The album was one of 2023’s most critically acclaimed releases, landing on year end lists at the New York Times, NPR, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, The Altantic, The Ringer, The FADER, Paste, Consequence, Stereogum and more. Wednesday is Karly Hartzman, MJ Lenderman, Xandy Chelmis, Alan Miller, and Ethan Baechtold.
U.S. Girls share new single 'Like James Said' | Check out the video!
Toronto-based producer, film composer, and author Meg Remy anticipates her intuitive and adventurous U.S. Girls album Scratch It (out June 20 Via 4AD) with a new single entitled ‘Like James Said,’ an ELO-styled nugget of AM gold and nod to James Brown about the healing power of dancing alone. Remy’s own lyrical response to Brown’s ‘Get Up Offa That Thing‘, the track showcases her great – and characteristically tragicomic – phrasing, notably on the exaggerated pause in the line, “I’m the queen of exercising […] pain.” It was written alongside Rich Morel, adding to his and Remy’s long string of hits together (“Rosebud,” “4 American Dollars”). ‘Like James Said’ also arrives alongside a single-shot dance performance, directed by and starring comedian Tom Henry.
ROYALE LYNN exorcises in her head with new single 'E.V.I.L' | Check it out
Nashville-based artist Royale Lynn today unleashes her high-octane new single, ‘E.V.I.L.’ . Lifted from her debut album ‘BLACK MAGIC’ out on June 27th , the record draws inspiration from the legend of Pandora’s Box to explore themes of mental health with unflinching honesty. On ‘E.V.I.L.’, an acronym for “Every Voice Inside Lies,” Royale pushes genre boundaries with a potent fusion of EDM and metalcore. Adding a four-on-the-floor beat to a wall of crushing instrumentation, the track is equally at home on the dancefloor or in a moshpit.
Reissue of the Week
4AD release 30th Anniversary remasters trifecta | Get these gems on CD today
4AD presents a trifecta of special 30th Anniversary Editions of classic releases from stand-out artists across our catalogue, available on digital platforms and CD on 23 May. This includes the following: Pale Saints – Slow Buildings (30th Anniversary Re:Masters) - Pale Saints complete their series of 30th anniversary reissues with the release of an expanded edition of their third and final album, Slow Buildings. Lisa Germano – Geek the Girl (30th Anniversary Special Edition) - Lisa Germano’s landmark 1994 album, Geek The Girl, is a prescient yet unsettling listen. A record that explores themes of stalking, sexual harassment, anxiety and the female experience, word of mouth has only grown since its release and despite now widely being seen as a classic of its time. Belly – King (30th Anniversary Edition) - Featuring singles ‘Now They’ll Sleep’, ‘Seal My Fate’, and ‘Super-Connected’, the resultant King was a step on, a deceptively complex album where the quartet had chosen artistic growth over commerciality. SPIN Magazine said at the time that it marked their evolution from “indie darlings to rock contenders”.
Heads Up!
La Dispute share documentary by Martin (CHAPTER I - Clinically Avoidant)
NOWDTC: CHAPTER I - Clinically Avoidant “Director Martin offers unprecedented access to the band's creative process, documenting their journey from initial concepts to final recordings in Australia. Experience the tensions, breakthroughs, and quiet moments of inspiration that birthed No One Was Driving the Car across Australia, Manila, Bicester, and Grand Rapids.” New album 'No One Was Driving the Car' out on September 5, 2025
Sunking share Bobby's Rhythm Corner - Episode 2
Here is Episode two of Bobby's Rhythm Corner - An animated drum lesson that lets you into the odyssey known as Bobby's mind! Get to practicing. Scored by Sous Chef and animated by Marty Kaleta! A SUNKING production. Four more episodes coming for Season 1 ... stay tuned
Tours, Events and Festivals
VOOM - Something Good Is Happening Tour starts today! See Voom live tonight!
Auckland indie-rock legends Voom — after years of slow-burning genius, cult-adored releases, and sporadic-yet-memorable live performances — are finally back with their long-awaited new album, Something Good Is Happening, out now via Flying Nun Records. To celebrate, the band are set to kick off a four-date New Zealand tour, taking their new songs (and some beloved classics) on the road for the ‘Something Good Is Happening Tour’. Beginning at Auckland’s hottest new venue Double Whammy on Friday 23 May, the band head off the beaten track to Raglan’s The Yard on Saturday 24th before firing up the following weekend with shows at The Loons in Lyttelton on Friday 30 May and finally San Fran in Wellington on Saturday 31 May.
FOLK BITCH TRIO heading to Aotearoa for a triple date tour | Must see!
Melbourne’s alluring Folk Bitch Trio have announced their debut album release tour of New Zealand, playing headline shows in Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch. Folk Bitch Trio - 'Now Would Be A Good Time' Album Tour with special guest Georgia Knight. Now Would Be A Good Time, the debut album by Folk Bitch Trio, tells vivid, visceral stories. Their music sounds familiar, and it’s built on a foundation of the music they’ve loved throughout their lives–gnarled Americana, classic rock, piquant, clear-eyed balladry. But the songs are modern, youthful, singing acutely through dissociative daydreams and galling breakups, sexual fantasies and media overload, all the petty resentments and minor humiliations of being in your early twenties in the 2020s.
On Tour, Live Shows, Gigs, Concerts and Festivals
Get your Junk Festival 2025 tickets today! Check out all our favourite gigs, shows, festivals and events coming up. Folk Bitch Trio - Now Would Be A Good Time album tour, Nadia Reid's - Enter Now Brightness Tour, Japanese Breakfast's - For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women) tour, and Brad Cox - I Really Love NZ Tour. PLUS awesome events like Africa Day, and a mighty pop up venue called Mighty celebrating the power of a single song, shared in person. Live. Acoustic. Solo. NZ Music Month styles
Mighty: A Small Venue With a Big Voice Lands in Te Komititanga | Check out the line-up
In celebration of NZ Music Month, a new musical experience is coming to the heart of the city, and it’s not what you’d expect. From Tuesday 26 May to Sunday 1 June, a custom-built mini theatre called Mighty will pop up in Te Komititanga, offering the most intimate live gigs you’ll find anywhere in Aotearoa. Completely free. Built around a 10-foot shipping container and clad to look like an old-fashioned theatre -complete with red velvet curtains, a rug and a standing lamp – Mighty offers front-row seats to unforgettable performances from some of our most talented songwriters. Each show invites just 4–6 people at a time into the cosy interior, where they’ll hear one song, performed totally live and completely acoustic. No mics. No tech tricks. Just voice and guitar or keys. Some of our brightest lights and rising stars will be performing, including Tiny Ruins, Anna Coddington, Julia Deans, Lips, Romi Wrights, Phoebe Rings, Jazmine Mary, HINA, PARK RD, Rewind Fields, Jol Mulholland + more. Mighty celebrates the power of a single song, shared in person. Live. Acoustic. Solo.
Celebrate Africa at Africa Day 24 May 2025 | Get along to this Free Family Friendly Event
This years event at Silo Park will be a vibrant showcase of African culture, featuring a kaleidoscope of music, dance, art, cuisine, and more. Expect electrifying performances from African artists, including MAZBOU Q, Warren Duncan, Sam Manzanza, Judah, and culture Embassy, HPnA and many more, captivating crafts, and tantalising tastes of authentic African cuisine. “We are thrilled to invite everyone to join us in celebrating Africa Day 2025 at Silo Park,” said Rahman Bashir, ACOFI President. “It’s a day to honour our past, celebrate our present, and envision our future together. Through music, art, and community, we hope to share African culture with Aotearoa, and support African unity.” Africa Day 2025 at Silo Park promises to be an unforgettable experience for all who attend. Whether you’re of African descent, a friend of Africa, or simply curious about the continent’s rich culture, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and learn.
Interviews & live performances
PAVEMENT perform live on The Late Show | Harness Your Hopes
Last night, Pavement made their debut on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to perform ‘Harness Your Hopes,’ the group’s b-side-cum-streaming-smash, now officially certified as an RIAA gold record. Director Alex Ross Perry’s film PAVEMENTS is currently screening in select theaters – with more to come – and has been met with confusion, confoundment, and ultimately high praise from critics, including features and reviews in the New York Times, New Yorker, and Los Angeles Times. On May 30th, Matador will release the PAVEMENTS soundtrack album digitally with a physical edition to follow at a later date. Compiled by PAVEMENTS producer/editor Robert Greene and Pavement, the soundtrack ropes together disparate elements of the film – dialogue snippets, scenes from the fake Oscar-bait biopic Range Life, and cast recordings from the Slanted! Enchanted! jukebox musical as well as live and rehearsal tapes from the band’s 2021 reunion tour. The soundtrack features the original Pavement lineup as well as Rebecca Cole on keyboards and backing vocals on the live recordings from the 2020s.