New Music 10/10
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molipane — amensia fx (EP)
Pōneke/Wellington-based band molipane (the project of Will Johnson, backed by Trent Wallace, Kale Hamilton, and Drew van Arts) have released their new EP amnesia fx. The record dives into themes of melancholy, love, and self-doubt, blending heavy noise with alt-rock influences from Deftones, Narrow Head, and King Krule.
The four-track collection — “FACES,” “IN MY ARMS,” “AMNESIA,” and the previously released “HOLES” — was mixed by Sam Johnson and mastered by Peter Molteno, capturing the band’s raw intensity and atmospheric depth.
Molipane are set to play at Big Fan in Auckland this Saturday night, 11 October.
RENÉE — WEST COAST
Emerging neo-soul and R&B artist RENÉE returns with her new single WEST COAST.
With its distinctive bounce and fluid structure, WEST COAST captures the duality of youth — feeling anchored in the familiar while being drawn toward new horizons. Built on organic grooves and rich textures, it’s a song about self-discovery, independence, and finding identity on your own terms.
Merging soulful warmth with a contemporary edge, RENÉE continues to expand her sonic palette and cement her place as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new voices in neo-soul and R&B.
RIIKI REID — Drench (EP)
RIIKI REID has officially dropped her EP Drench, the culmination of a journey that began with three mini-EPs exploring different sides of her artistry. Across Newer Oxygen, Crash & Collide, and Home With Me, she experimented with alternative, dance, dream-pop, and organic sounds. With Drench, Reid unites all these threads into a cohesive, sun-soaked sonic identity, blending pop, alternative, dream-pop, and dance influences into a vibrant and unmistakably RIIKI REID sound.
The inspiration behind Drench is Reid’s obsession with the endless summer - both real and imagined. After a formative summer spent listening to pre-2000s feel-good music on Magic FM, she set out to create tracks that capture that same warmth, nostalgia, and euphoric escapism. Lyrically, the EP reflects joy, romance, and the fleeting nature of summer, while musically it balances bright, energetic production with emotional depth. Tracks like “What If” became pivotal in defining the EP’s aesthetic, giving rise to Reid’s “Sun Drunk” concept—a world of vivid sunsets, ocean waves, and endless possibilities.
Created between March and November 2024 with collaborators including Josh Fountain and Shungudzo Kuyimba, Drench is a celebration of light, movement, and memory. Reid describes it as a “happy pill,” a soundtrack for connection, dancing, and nostalgia. Released in 2025 amidst personal grief and loss, the EP stands as a testament to music’s power to bring joy and escapism, inviting listeners to dive in, soak up the sun, and embrace the endless summer of life.
The Boondocks — Hell of a Time
Āwhitu’s high-energy riff-rock duo The Boondocks are back with Hell Of A Time — a blistering new single and video ahead of their debut album Don’t Let Them See You Cry, out October 17.
Channelling the spirit of Nirvana and Elemeno P, the track is an infectious, party-fuelled anthem built for loud speakers and late nights. The video captures the duo’s raw chemistry and live energy, further proving why they’re one of Aotearoa’s most electrifying new rock acts.
Produced by Scott Seabright, Don’t Let Them See You Cry is a gritty, heartfelt debut that showcases The Boondocks’ evolution. With over 130,000 Spotify streams, seven charting singles, and two Rock 2000 appearances, the band is gearing up for their biggest year yet.
Echomatica — Echomatica (Album)
Emerging from Auckland’s thriving indie scene, Echomatica craft cinematic soundscapes that fuse elements of alt-rock, dream pop, trip hop, and shoegaze. What began as acoustic covers soon evolved into an original project defined by textured production and emotional depth, drawing inspiration from Portishead, Joy Division, Garbage, The Cure, and Beach House.
Recorded live to tape at Earwig Studios with producer Darren McShane (Chainsaw Masochist, Superturtle), the band’s debut album captures the warmth of analogue recording and the bold sound design of indietronica. The result is a record that feels both intimate and expansive — a late-night transmission of shimmering guitars, hypnotic beats, and heartfelt emotion.
Bridges — Life Of The Party
Life Of The Party is the final single ahead of Tāmaki Makaurau-based artist Bridges’ second EP, set for release in early 2026, and reinforces why she’s quickly becoming one to watch. Big and bold yet vulnerable, the pop piano ballad takes listeners from delicate verses to soaring choruses, anchored by catchy hooks and heartfelt melodies. Bridges co-wrote and fleshed out the track herself before collaborating with Joel Jones on the final production.
The song explores social anxiety and the paradox of performing as the “life of the party” while feeling anxious inside. Bridges explains: “It’s about forcing yourself out of the house, getting to the party, and realising you’re stuck in your head. BUT you’re so practiced at covering it up, nobody can tell how anxious you are.” With this mix of upbeat energy and underlying vulnerability, Life Of The Party is the kind of relatable, emotional pop track that sticks with you.
