Latest news with #FlyingNunRecords
Scoop
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
New Signing Soft Bait Announce Sophomore Album 'Life Advice' + Share First Single 'New Leaf'
It is our absolute pleasure to welcome Soft Bait to the Flying Nun Records roster. Soft Bait are a four-piece from Tāmaki Makaurau making pointed, off-centre post-punk that barrels forward with restless momentum. Since forming in 2020, they've built a reputation off the back of their electric live shows, sharp lyricism, and a knack for turning everyday absurdities and half-remembered pop culture into something worth shouting about. Soft Bait's sophomore offering, 'Life Advice ' is out on the 25th July, both digitally and on black or silver vinyl LP. Today, the band share the first single, ' New Leaf ' — a track that picks apart gossip, group dynamics, and the mess left behind. As vocalist Josh Hunter puts it: 'New Leaf is a song about gossiping, seeking social acceptance and connection among groups. People projecting their own sense of arrogance or insecurity onto others. The lack of self-awareness to understand — or care to understand — the effect of their actions as they move onto the next drama and hysteria. Leaving the subject to pick up the pieces.' That tension runs through the whole track. Driven by a locked-in, repetitive bass line, the new single possesses an anxious and relentless energy. Hooky and sharp like it's pacing the room, 'New Leaf' is innately loud, unfiltered and fun. It holds a mirror up to some of the messier sides of social interaction; the messiness, posturing, gossip, and the chaos we leave in our wake. The video, created by Patrick Hickley and Jolin Lee, takes those ideas and drops them into a dusty VHS wedding from the early-90s. Stitching themselves into the celebration as the unofficial wedding band — filmed lo-fi, green screen, digi-cam style. It's part nostalgia trip, part fever dream. A weird, funny snapshot of connection, disconnection, and everything in between. Soft Bait are Joshua Hunter, Patrick Hickley, Keria Paterson and Cameron Mackintosh. Their debut album, ' Plot Points' (2022), introduced a sound that blends gothic post-punk with personal, powerful vocals. The album's singles, Big' and ' True Stories ', topped SRN radio charts, and their live shows have been described as "exhilarating, raucous, lively, punky, and so much fun." Now part of the Flying Nun Records family, Soft Bait is set to release their sophomore album, 'Life Advice' on July 25th. A sharp, hook-heavy record with chugging bass lines, restless energy, and tightly wound turns. The songs dig into online weirdness, Kiwi archetypes, and the quiet rituals we fall into without realising. Lyrically, it's full of lines that land like overheard wisdom from a mate you probably shouldn't be taking advice from — half true, half twisted, and still ringing in your ears the next day. If your record shelf includes Viagra Boys, Squid, Warmduscher, or Yard Act, Soft Bait delivers a raw, unfiltered take on the post-punk genre, grounded in Kiwi culture and the peculiarities of everyday life.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Flying Nun Power-Pop Band Voom Release ‘Something Good Is Happening' Today!
The release of the latest Voom album has taken just short of two decades. Is this pace glacial, or considered? Sloth-like, or discerning? The Tāmaki Makaurau-based foursome will tell you the nineteen years since their much-loved 2006 record, Hello, Are You There?, have been spent jamming and gigging, writing, rewriting and sifting, reflecting on what surely must be some of the strangest times in human history to present fans with their latest offering. Something Good is Happening is the child of strange seasons and tides, strange minds, pedals and fingers. After accumulating literally hundreds of demos over the years, Flying Nun Records thought it was about bloody time Voom got at least some of these songs packaged up and released into the wild. The band agreed, and so have been painstakingly whittling and curating and bashing these tracks into shape, to form the 2025 album Something Good Is Happening. Each track has walked a different path into being a part of this record. Written and recorded in a variety of locations, with a plethora of different equipment, over decades of seasons and life stages, but always steered by the unsteady hand and watchful ear of frontperson Buzz Moller — seen by some as one of NZ's most treasured songwriters. All members of Voom (Buzz Moller, Murray Fisher, Nick Buckton, and Josh Sorenson) are multi-instrumentalists and producers in their own right, consequently this combination of minds has helped forge the sound and vibe of this new album. While this is fresh material, existing fans hearing Something Good is Happening will recognise the Voom-ness of it all – an eclectic rumble of raucous pop ear-worms and heartfelt ballads, with sonic experimentation wedged in to keep things sensible. Voom's songs have an earnestness to them that feels refreshingly free of irony; a quality that sets them apart in a musical landscape often dominated by cynicism. Voom embraces a raw, unfiltered honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. Their tracks are often brimming with youthful defiance, but it's not the jaded, world-weary attitude you might expect from a band with such a reputation. Instead, they channel a certain innocence and optimism into their sound, even when grappling with themes of frustration or disillusionment. On Something Good Is Happening, the band stays true to this unpretentious style, weaving together skewed pop melodies that are as endearing as they are infectious. Despite the thick layers of playful cynicism and an occasionally rebellious edge, the album doesn't stray from the fresh, heart-on-sleeve sincerity that has earned them a loyal fanbase. It's that rare combination of vulnerability and attitude that makes Voom's music feel both timeless and immediately relatable. To celebrate, the band have announced 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.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Jazmine Mary Shares Single 'My Brilliance' — New Album Out June 13th
Flying Nun Records are very pleased to welcome noir folk artist Jazmine Mary to the whānau! Their album, ' I Want To Rock And Roll ' is out digitally and on black vinyl LP on 13th June. 'I Want To Rock And Roll' is Jazmine Mary's third album, following on from the critically acclaimed, ' Dog ' (2021) and the award-winning ' The Licking of a Tangerine ' (2021). Recorded at Tāmaki Makaurau's Roundhead Studios by De Stevens, the upcoming self-produced album features musical contributions from some of Aotearoa's greats: Louisa Nicklin, Cass Basil (Tiny Ruins), Cello Forrester (Womb), Dave Khan (Marlon Williams) and Arahi. Possessing one of the country's most esteemed and idiosyncratic folk voices, Jazmine Mary's new single ' My Brilliance ' showcases their crystal clear vocal abilities that sit atop their signature rhythmic changes; a wonderfully bright, folk gem. Flying Nun Records couldn't be more stoked to have Jazmine aboard our train — listen to the new single below. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading Jazmine Mary was named the winner of the Best Independent Debut at the 2022 Taite Music Awards for their album 'The Licking of a Tangerine'. Their critically acclaimed sophomore album ' Dog ' was named one of Aotearoa's Top 25 albums by Rolling Stone Magazine. They have played in support of Kurt Vile, Billy Bragg, Gang of Youths, and toured the country in support of Reb Fountain. Most notably, to celebrate their 2023 album ' Dog ', Jazmine and their band hosted a spellbinding Hollywood Theatre show with support from Julia Deans. "When you step into a Jazmine Mary gig, be prepared to be met by either a clown, a popstar, a pilgrim farmer, or a nightgown-clad ghost howling brazenly onstage. It's a whimsical experience that you won't want to miss." — VICE They make music not to earn a living, but to survive, and it's through their songwriting that Jazmine Mary feels tethered to something tangible, a constant. It's the action of translating their experiences into poetic folk compositions that helps in "understanding parts of the beauty and ugliness of the world", and which might help listeners do so themselves. Jazmine Mary also recently announced their album tour dates; celebrating the album around the motu with a live show sure to mesmerise with full band — spanning the dark to the light, the brilliant new emotive release, from award winning, indie-folk visionary.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Flying Nun Power-Pop Band Voom Release 'Something Good Is Happening' Today!
The release of the latest Voom album has taken just short of two decades. Is this pace glacial, or considered? Sloth-like, or discerning? The Tāmaki Makaurau-based foursome will tell you the nineteen years since their much-loved 2006 record, Hello, Are You There?, have been spent jamming and gigging, writing, rewriting and sifting, reflecting on what surely must be some of the strangest times in human history to present fans with their latest offering. Something Good is Happening is the child of strange seasons and tides, strange minds, pedals and fingers. After accumulating literally hundreds of demos over the years, Flying Nun Records thought it was about bloody time Voom got at least some of these songs packaged up and released into the wild. The band agreed, and so have been painstakingly whittling and curating and bashing these tracks into shape, to form the 2025 album Something Good Is Happening. Each track has walked a different path into being a part of this record. Written and recorded in a variety of locations, with a plethora of different equipment, over decades of seasons and life stages, but always steered by the unsteady hand and watchful ear of frontperson Buzz Moller — seen by some as one of NZ's most treasured songwriters. All members of Voom (Buzz Moller, Murray Fisher, Nick Buckton, and Josh Sorenson) are multi-instrumentalists and producers in their own right, consequently this combination of minds has helped forge the sound and vibe of this new album. While this is fresh material, existing fans hearing Something Good is Happening will recognise the Voom-ness of it all - an eclectic rumble of raucous pop ear-worms and heartfelt ballads, with sonic experimentation wedged in to keep things sensible. Voom's songs have an earnestness to them that feels refreshingly free of irony; a quality that sets them apart in a musical landscape often dominated by cynicism. Voom embraces a raw, unfiltered honesty that resonates deeply with listeners. Their tracks are often brimming with youthful defiance, but it's not the jaded, world-weary attitude you might expect from a band with such a reputation. Instead, they channel a certain innocence and optimism into their sound, even when grappling with themes of frustration or disillusionment. On Something Good Is Happening, the band stays true to this unpretentious style, weaving together skewed pop melodies that are as endearing as they are infectious. Despite the thick layers of playful cynicism and an occasionally rebellious edge, the album doesn't stray from the fresh, heart-on-sleeve sincerity that has earned them a loyal fanbase. It's that rare combination of vulnerability and attitude that makes Voom's music feel both timeless and immediately relatable. To celebrate, the band have announced 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.
Scoop
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ringlets Share New Single/Video ‘Street Massage'
Press Release – Flying Nun Records Photo Credit: Lola Fountain-Best / Supplied Today, Ringlets share the blistering new single 'Street Massage' from their upcoming album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies), which will be released on June 27th via Flying Nun Records and Leather Jacket Records. Following up the slyly-subdued 'Heavenly Wheel', 'Street Massage' leaps and bounds down crunching gravel guitar and traverses vast thunderous rhythms, stepping over shimmering strings – halting for the stop-sign stentorian vocal delivery of Leith Towers. Leith shares, 'The song is about a low-wage masseur who plies his trade on the streets of Point Chevalier. It was originally about the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI), and the plight of a clinician in trying to encourage support workers to adhere to mealtime plans and feeding safety protocols. As the song evolved, it became a reflection on the broader struggles faced by low-wage workers in care roles. It highlights the emotional and physical toll of jobs that often go unnoticed and undervalued, despite the immense responsibility they demand. The masseur in the song is an allegory for the overlooked nurturers.' Accompanying the song is a music video centred on a staunch delivery from singer Leith, backed up by a posse of local battlers. The posse includes members of the bands Dale Kerrigan, Cruelly, Cold Ceiling, Mullbrain, Awning, and Blunt Dog. The nocturnal scenes of under-construction Point Chevalier are stitched together with psychotic flashes of forgotten video games of the 90s, philological imagery, and hand-drawn horoscopes from 17th-century England. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is the band's shimmering follow-up to their distinct eponymous debut in 2023 and a vibrant expression of their singular song craft. Produced by Ringlets – Arabella Poulsen (bass & vocals), Arlo Grey (drums), László Reynolds (guitar & vocals) and Leith Towers (lead-vocalist) – in Auckland at The Lab alongside Michael Logie (The Mint Chicks) and mixed by Isaac Keating at Abbey Road Studios, The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) conjures mystic visions; takes raucous, unkempt yet solely committed turns, twists, and tiptoes delicately between the absurd and the divine. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is available for pre-order now on Transparent Green Vinyl or Exclusive 'Flying Nun Black' Vinyl (limited to 100 copies). About Ringlets: Ragingly bright post-punk quartet Ringlets emerged from Aotearoa's musical ether in 2021; carving out space with their distinct blend of delicate wit, grit and evident sonic technicality. With a highly durable, machine-tested rhythm section (Arabella Poulsen, Arlo Grey) and two of Auckland's leading lyrical & melodic consultants (László Reynolds, Leith Towers), Ringlets have been fast-building a solid reputation. Catching the eye of former Pitchfork editor Chris Ott, Autumn 2023 saw the band release their eponymous debut under Ott's label Mutual Skies. Produced by De Stevens (Office Dog, Erny Belle) and the band themselves, the 10-track album is a riotous and tightly sporadic introduction to this exciting musical offering from Tāmaki Makaurau. Since then, the four-piece has been sharpening their toolkit with numerous performances across Aotearoa, supporting heavy-hitting internationals such as UK indie-rockers Sorry, and seminal punk force The Damned as well as stand-out festival performances at The Others Way, Nest Fest & Newtown Festival. Content Sourced from Original url
