Jack Bromwich
21-year-old Jack Bromwich is carving out a space of his own in Auckland’s indie and alt-rock scene. Originally from Pōneke Wellington, the guitarist and vocalist now studies Popular Music at the University of Auckland, balancing uni with a growing presence on the local circuit.
Music has been a constant for Jack. He started out in the school choir at Wellington College, before moving into bands through high school. “I was involved pretty much all the way through school,” he says. His first live performance — a charity gig of covers — might have been “super awkward,” but it gave him a taste of what performing could be. “It wasn’t great, but you’ve got to start somewhere,” he laughs. That early experience clearly shaped the confidence and work ethic that have carried him through the last few years.
Finding His Sound
Jack describes his music as indie, alt-rock, with a mix of soft, introspective moments and heavier, more abrasive layers. It’s a sound that reflects his personal approach to songwriting: diary-like, raw, and reflective. “Usually it’s just personal experiences, and how I’m feeling. It’s kind of like a journal, but in song form,” he explains.
He’s inspired by both local and international acts, citing bands like Awning, Marlin’s Dreaming, DIIV, Fontaines D.C., and Radiohead. “Local bands are really inspiring — it’s great to see what people around you are creating,” he says.
Jack's songwriting process is instinctive. “I usually start with the instrument, a guitar riff or chord progression, and then the lyrics start to form,” he says. “Sometimes it’s verbal diarrhoea at first, then the rest of the song slowly comes together.” Once the skeleton of a song exists, he takes it to the band to build it out, blending collaboration with his own creative vision.
Collaboration is central to Jakc's work. He regularly swaps roles with drummer Alex Beattie: Jack plays guitar in Alex’s project, while Alex drums in Jack's band. “It’s nice to collaborate together,” he says. “It helps to have that give and take, especially when writing and performing.”
On stage, Jack thrives on energy and connection. His favourite live tracks are He Waits Alone and the unreleased Low Ride, both of which bring a more dynamic, energetic side to his shows. His pre-show ritual is simple: a beer on stage and some playful silliness with the band to calm nerves.
Poser, Freak
Jack's debut EP, Poser, Freak, is a snapshot of his musical identity in flux. Recorded over two years, the project was pieced together in a mix of spaces: his living room, friends’ houses, and a handful of studio sessions. The result is a collection that is intentionally varied, moving from soft, “wishy-washy” textures to harder, more abrasive moments that hit with emotional weight.
The title Poser, Freak came about spontaneously — a phrase he tossed to his flatmate that stuck. “It’s hard finding names that haven’t already been used,” he laughs. “Sometimes you just go with something weird.”
Singles Dust and Never Dreamed gained early traction on student radio, giving Bromwich both confidence and exposure. “It’s not like TikTok, where people stumble across you,” he says. “It’s people who actually care about local music, and that’s really cool.”
Even with this early success, Jack keeps a grounded approach to his online presence. He’s stepped away from TikTok, calling it “draining” and distracting from the creative process. “I was posting music-related stuff, but it just became exhausting,” he admits.
Creating Poser, Freak was a collaborative effort. Jack credits friends like Roman, Max, and Alex for helping bring the EP to life. “I couldn’t have done it without them,” he says. The songs evolved over the two-year process, with the tracklist changing multiple times before they settled on the final versions.
Each track carries a glimpse of Jack's personal journey, reflecting experiences, emotions, and the shifting moods of early adulthood. It’s a raw and honest portrayal of the highs and lows of life in your early twenties, delivered with melodic guitar layers and emotionally-driven vocals.
What’s Next?
With the EP now released, Jack is preparing a launch show and already has his sights on a full-length album. “The plans are there, I just have to do the rest of it,” he says. For fans of his work so far, the promise of new material is just around the corner.
Poser, Freak is the sound of a young artist staking his claim in the indie scene, a project born from collaboration, DIY ingenuity, and a clear-eyed sense of personal artistry.
You can find Jack Bromwich on Instagram @jackbromwichmusicc
