New Music 05/12

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Double Parked — Buttercup

Fresh off last month’s cathartic single Necklace, West Auckland post-surf rockers Double Parked return with Buttercup, a turbulent, reverb-soaked track loaded with anxious energy and raw emotion. Built on gritty riffs, heavy drums, and half-spoken vocals, it captures the messy, spiralling headspace of a looming breakdown.

Tom’s delivery is a standout, landing with a raw honesty that feels both chaotic and strangely comforting: “Light me up a cigarette, I can’t feel my face… suck it up, buttercup…” He says the song is about accepting that life gets rough but we push through regardless , “a broken bone heals stronger.”

Since their 2023 EP Lost in the Groove, Double Parked have built a loyal following through high-energy gigs, festival appearances, and tours with The Butlers, Lazy Ghost, and The Terrys. With Rhythm & Vines and a Tuning Fork headline show ahead, the band continue refining their self-coined “post-surf” blend of indie, alt, and surf-tinged grit: emotional, punchy, and unmistakably Kiwi.

Shehatesjacob, Keegan Lewis — feel the same

Shehatesjacob and Keegan Lewis join forces on feel the same, a sharp collision of Jacob’s glitch-edged punk-rap energy and Keegan’s melodic alt-pop sensibility. The track channels the emotional fallout of misaligned feelings, pairing distorted intensity with the warm, introspective touch Keegan is known for. It’s a meeting of two rising voices from Aotearoa’s new wave — Jacob bringing his mosh-ready chaos, Keegan bringing his atmospheric grit — resulting in a single that feels raw, restless, and unmistakably theirs.

Vanessa Tottle — Can I Go Now?

Vanessa Tottle’s new single Can I Go Now? is a poignant tribute written just days after the passing of her mother-in-law, June, in December 2023. The lyrics came to Vanessa in a rush, almost as if channelling June’s own thoughts — her love for her family, treasured home videos, and her lifelong devotion to her husband, Derek. She produced the music shortly after, sitting with the song for a year before recording the vocals as she moved through her grief.

The recording captures that emotion in full. The slight tremble in Vanessa’s voice, intentionally left untouched, grounds the track in the exact moment it was created. Serving as a final message to June’s four children, Can I Go Now? stands as a heartfelt farewell and a lasting tribute to a woman Vanessa describes as truly iconic.

Emerson — Amy

Emerson returns with Amy, a tender, harmony-rich alt-pop single celebrating the kind of friendship that anchors you through the chaos of growing up. Co-written and produced with Harry Charles, the track balances intimate storytelling with polished indie-pop, blending warm vocals, layered harmonies, and a sense of emotional clarity. While inspired by her best friend, Amy ultimately honours anyone who helps you feel seen when you’re struggling to see yourself.

The release arrives after a standout year of creative growth for the 18-year-old, marked by a string of streaming successes, multiple Spotify and Apple Music editorial placements, and strengthened connections across Aotearoa’s music community. Selected for Parachute’s Song Week and collaborating with writers and producers across Unified Music Group and Mushroom Music Publishing, Emerson continues to expand her creative world. Amy is her sixth release of 2025; a confident, emotionally grounded single that reinforces her reputation as one of the most compelling young voices in alt-pop.

Liberty — Call Me Back, Babe

Liberty returns with Call Me Back, Babe, a stripped-back acoustic-pop confessional that dives headfirst into the emotional chaos of wanting someone who’s already moved on. Co-written and produced with fellow Hawke’s Bay native Lucid Heist at Parachute Studios, the track blends Taylor Swift-leaning lyricism with Gracie Abrams-style intimacy. Minimal production keeps the spotlight on Liberty’s vulnerable storytelling, weaving in voicemails, clock ticks, and phone-like EQ to echo the feeling of reaching out to someone who won’t answer.

Out 5 December 2025 and marking her fourth release, Call Me Back, Babe reinforces the honest, messy emotional space Liberty is quickly becoming known for. With more than 350K followers across TikTok and Instagram, strong radio support, and previous chart success, she continues to cement her place as one of Aotearoa’s most promising emerging pop voices.

Echomatica — Technicolour Dreams

Echomatica return with Technicolour Dreams. The Auckland indie/alternative four-piece continue to refine their luminous blend of dream pop, alt-rock, trip-hop, and shoegaze, delivering a track that shimmers with guitars, pulsing beats, and cinematic, sky-opening choruses. This version presents a fresh alternate mix to the original album cut, recorded and mixed by Darren McShane at Earwig Studios and released via Dead Signal Records.

Lush, emotive, and steeped in a sense of longing, Technicolour Dreams embodies the band’s signature balance of rawness and grandeur. With its rich textures and immersive mood, the single sits comfortably alongside artists such as The Naked and Famous, M83, Beach House, New Order, Cocteau Twins, and Cigarettes After Sex — a perfect fit for playlists chasing cinematic, retro-tinted alternative music.

Becca Caffyn — Late Day Sun

Indie-folk songwriter Becca Caffyn returns with Late Day Sun, a tender, slow-burning track that captures the ache of growing older before you feel ready. Co-written with Edward Liu (EDY) and Christian Tjandrawinata, the song circles themes of nostalgia, disillusionment, and the fear of falling behind — a feeling that crystallised for Caffyn in the months before her twentieth birthday.

Leaning into soft piano, rubber-bridge guitar, and a sound shaped by artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine, Late Day Sun feels warm, vulnerable, and quietly devastating. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Tjandrawinata and recorded across Parachute Studio A and his home setup, the track has grown over several years into a fan favourite, its lived-in honesty resonating deeply with audiences.