Latest news with #TāmakiMakaurau-based
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
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
Join Juno Is And Her Live Band To Celebrate The Release Of Her ‘Psychedelic Dream Pop' Debut Album ‘Where To Begin'
Press Release – Juno Is , the long-awaited debut album from Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Juno Is, arrived four years after her breakthrough EP, Creature of Habit. Created over two years in a series of spontaneous songwriting sessions, this album marks a distinct evolution for Juno Is, the project of musician Mackenzie Hollebon. In the early stages, Where To Begin became a deeply collaborative endeavour. Hollebon teamed up with engineer-producer De Stevens, crafting the album's foundation in late-afternoon sessions in her sunny, minimalist bedroom, fueled by black coffee and creative energy. As they shaped the album's pre-production, their collaborative process naturally opened the door to other key contributors, including Christchurch-based multi-instrumentalist Thomas Isbister. Thomas's contributions on bass, trumpet, congas, synth, and more added layers of texture to the album, fulfilling Juno Is' vision of an immersive, colourful soundscape inspired by the likes of early MGMT and Melody's Echo Chamber. Drummer Hamish Morgan further brought the album to life by translating Juno Is' unconventional MIDI drum demos into concise, stylistic live performances, blending seamlessly with the album's experimental textures. The result is a work that marries instrumental brightness with introspective lyrics, creating a unique contrast of warmth, melancholy, and determination. With Where To Begin, Juno Is offers a rich, sonically expansive album that reflects years of growth and exploration, establishing her as a distinctive voice in today's musical landscape. In Auckland After 5 years, Juno Is (aka Mackenzie Hollebon) has decided to announce her first ever headline show at Double Whammy which is in her current hometown of Tāmaki Makaurau. This show will be an exciting live exploration of her debut album Where To Begin which was released on the 8th of November 2024. This Juno Is 8 piece live band will consist of Mackenzie Hollebon, Jacob Brown, Hamish Morgan, Zoë Larsen Cumming, Benjamin Mack, Riley Noonan, Nimah Joy Pritchard and Emily Fe'ao. Not only is this Juno Is' first headline show in Tamaki Makaurau, but it is also a rare chance to celebrate her debut album, live!
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Join Juno Is And Her Live Band To Celebrate The Release Of Her ‘Psychedelic Dream Pop' Debut Album ‘Where To Begin'
Where To Begin, the long-awaited debut album from Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Juno Is, arrived four years after her breakthrough EP, Creature of Habit. Created over two years in a series of spontaneous songwriting sessions, this album marks a distinct evolution for Juno Is, the project of musician Mackenzie Hollebon. In the early stages, Where To Begin became a deeply collaborative endeavour. Hollebon teamed up with engineer-producer De Stevens, crafting the album's foundation in late-afternoon sessions in her sunny, minimalist bedroom, fueled by black coffee and creative energy. As they shaped the album's pre-production, their collaborative process naturally opened the door to other key contributors, including Christchurch-based multi-instrumentalist Thomas Isbister. Thomas's contributions on bass, trumpet, congas, synth, and more added layers of texture to the album, fulfilling Juno Is' vision of an immersive, colourful soundscape inspired by the likes of early MGMT and Melody's Echo Chamber. Drummer Hamish Morgan further brought the album to life by translating Juno Is' unconventional MIDI drum demos into concise, stylistic live performances, blending seamlessly with the album's experimental textures. The result is a work that marries instrumental brightness with introspective lyrics, creating a unique contrast of warmth, melancholy, and determination. With Where To Begin, Juno Is offers a rich, sonically expansive album that reflects years of growth and exploration, establishing her as a distinctive voice in today's musical landscape. In Auckland After 5 years, Juno Is (aka Mackenzie Hollebon) has decided to announce her first ever headline show at Double Whammy which is in her current hometown of Tāmaki Makaurau. This show will be an exciting live exploration of her debut album Where To Begin which was released on the 8th of November 2024. This Juno Is 8 piece live band will consist of Mackenzie Hollebon, Jacob Brown, Hamish Morgan, Zoë Larsen Cumming, Benjamin Mack, Riley Noonan, Nimah Joy Pritchard and Emily Fe'ao. Not only is this Juno Is' first headline show in Tamaki Makaurau, but it is also a rare chance to celebrate her debut album, live!
