Latest news with #NewZealandOnAir
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Viral sensation Sophie-Maude joins forces with Devilskin's Nic Martin
'I saw it absolutely take off,' Martin said. Their paths crossed after Martin's fiancée was hired as Sophie-Maude's make-up artist. Not long after, Sophie-Maude secured new music funding from New Zealand On Air. Martin said the two come from vastly different musical backgrounds. 'But then there is so much in common,' he said. When Sophie-Maude visited Martin's home in Pāpāmoa, a conversation with her mother, Sarah-Maude's 'mumager', sparked plans to assemble a live-performance band for the rising star. Determined to shed the polished, pop-star image she had outgrown, Sophie-Maude said she wanted to bring more authenticity to her performances. 'I grew up with pop songs and anything sparkly,' she said. Since debuting on Spotify in 2020, Sophie-Maude has climbed to the top of the NZ Hot New Singles Chart on ZM, featured with bands Blindspott and A Perfect Storm, and has released six singles. Martin, a cornerstone of New Zealand's rock and metal scene, now mentors Sophie-Maude in songwriting and music production. 'It's been cool talking to someone directly who's been in the music industry for a long time,' Sophie-Maude said. 'Just to hear his experiences.' The explosion of viral videos has transformed how artists reach audiences, which Martin acknowledged is very different from when Devilskin first broke into the scene. 'It's breaking down the barriers and helping artists reach their niche audiences,' he said. Still, Martin warned that virality alone isn't enough. Without a clear strategy, he said artists might struggle to sustain momentum. 'It's always been a challenge because there is always competition.' Sophie-Maude admitted she would have handled her viral moment differently in hindsight. The now-famous video that launched her career featured a then-15-year-old, home-schooled Sophie-Maude inhaling helium and singing Ariana Grande's High. After seven deep puffs, she passed out and had full-body convulsions—a moment that quickly caught the attention of media outlets like LADbible. 'It's been a huge learning opportunity,' she said. 'It made me learn a lot more about algorithms.' Now, during Aotearoa Music Month, both artists are focused on new projects. Martin is preparing to tour with Devilskin later in May, while Sophie-Maude will perform an acoustic cover of an iconic Kiwi song, yet to be revealed. Despite lacking industry connections and navigating life with ADHD and autism, Sophie-Maude is determined to succeed on her own terms. 'I think my neurodiversity is definitely a superpower,' she said. She said the structure of a traditional job wouldn't suit her. 'Or anything to do with maths,' she said. For Martin, working with Sophie-Maude is a rewarding reminder of where he started - joining a band at 15 and learning the ropes largely on his own. 'I've learnt so much from [Devilskin] and our manager, but there was a lot I had to figure out on my own.' The music industry in New Zealand presents its own challenges, particularly for independent artists, Martin said. 'It can feel like this constant weight on your shoulders - like pushing a boulder up a hill.' Sophie-Maudes' work ethic gives her an excellent chance of overcoming this weight, Martin said. 'She is so receptive, and I can tell she's so passionate and genuine about this pursuit.'
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Flying Nun Power-Pop Band Voom Releases New Single/Video ‘Crazy Feeling'
Auckland power-pop band Voom's latest single ' Crazy Feeling' is here! An instantly infectious, deeply relatable dose of heart-on-sleeve pop that romantics everywhere will connect with. 'I usually try to say something clever or cryptic about our songs because I'm embarrassed by how dorky and emotional they are,' says Buzz Moller. ' But 'Crazy Feeling' — like most of our songs from the past two decades — is just about my lovely, gorgeous girlfriend Janey!' In addition to the new single, the band has shared a video for ' Crazy Feeling ', directed by Frances Carter and featuring some of Auckland's most notorious characters from the indie music scene. Supported by New Zealand On Air. Voom, who have spent years releasing and performing music for their dedicated following, recently announced a brand new album, Something Good Is Happening, set for release on May 16th via Flying Nun Records. To celebrate the release, 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. The release of the latest Voom album has taken just short of two decades to be officially announced. 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. The inception of Voom dates back to 1982, when Buzz Moller met Andrew "Mac" Macaskill at the Sweetwaters Festival. Voom's notable impact on audiences, however, began in the '90s, when they established themselves in New Zealand's music scene with a raw indie sound. By the time Danny Manetto joined on bass, they had already played numerous shows across New Zealand. In 1998, they unveiled their highly praised debut album, Now I Am Me. Their 2006 follow-up, Hello, Are You There?, was initially released by the legendary independent label Lil' Chief Records. It was met with critical acclaim and quickly earned a special place in the hearts of New Zealand's music fans and critics. One track from the album, ' King Kong ', was nominated for an APRA Silver Scroll back in 2002. Hello, Are You There? later earned a spot in Nick Bollinger's book 100 Essential New Zealand Albums, and in 2021, it was reissued by Flying Nun Records on vinyl. Over the years, Voom's timeless tracks from the past three decades have been covered by a range of artists, including Princess Chelsea, Anna Coddington, and Julia Deans. In 2025, Voom is made up of lead vocalist and front person Buzz Moller, long-time Voomer and Goodshirt member and guitarist Murray Fisher, bass player Nick Buckton (AKA sidekicknick), and drummer Josh Sorenson. After years of promising the team at Flying Nun Records that they're sitting on a vault of unreleased and brand new material, the next legendary album from Voom is just around the corner; Something Good Is Happening is out digitally, on vinyl LP and CD on May 16th via Flying Nun Records.
