New Music 31/10

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Sophie Aston — Better

Better, the debut single from independent artist Sophie Aston, is an unapologetically honest anthem confronting the impossible beauty standards women are expected to live up to; and the shame that comes from never feeling enough. Told through three perspectives — a younger self silenced into being small, an adult voice laced with sarcasm and defiance, and a final reckoning with the self — the track moves through inadequacy, anger, apology, and ultimately, a yearning for self-acceptance. With its raw vulnerability and biting honesty, Better transforms personal pain into something deeply empowering.

Originally from the UK and now based on Waiheke Island, Sophie Aston blends raw emotion with bold pop-rock sensibilities. After five years fronting a covers band, she’s stepped into her own voice, drawing on her father’s classic rock records and her mother’s love of poetry and storytelling. The result is music that sits at the intersection of vulnerability and strength, marked by the courage to embrace imperfection and speak truth without flinching.

Amelia Power — Black and Blue

Amelia Power returns with her most vulnerable release yet — the introspective heartbreak track Black and Blue. Following the upbeat energy of her previous single ‘Nostalgic’, Amelia takes a softer, more emotional turn, blending pop and country influences to explore the ache of wanting something to work when it just won’t.

Speaking on the song, Amelia says, “I wanted to write a song that focused on the concept of feeling bruised by love, hence coming up with the idea of ‘black and blue.’” With its honest lyricism and tender delivery, Black and Blue captures the quiet resilience that comes from heartbreak. Amelia hopes listeners will find comfort and connection in the song — in whatever way feels personal to them.

Borderline — Terrify

Indie-pop band BORDERLINE return with their latest single Terrify, following the success of their acclaimed EP Chrysalis. The track blends emotive lyrics with soaring melodies and a funky, groove-driven pulse — a testament to the band’s growing confidence and global appeal.

Recorded at Roundhead Studios with Nic Manders and mastered by Vivek Gabriel, Terrify comes to life after being a live favourite on their Chrysalis tour and during arena shows opening for Teddy Swims. “This song gets us in our element as musicians and performers,” the band says. “We hope that energy shines through on the record just as much as it did on stage.”

A bold step forward, ‘Terrify’ celebrates self-expression and confidence — the kind that refuses to shrink for anyone.

Dreams of the Damned — Needlemouse (ALBUM)

Dreams of the Damned returns with his second album of the year — a reimagined version of his debut that dives even deeper into the darkness. Following April’s Ashes to Ashes, this new release retells the analogue horror story created by ShutUpJoJo, centred on Sarah, a young girl killed at a party and trapped in purgatory for 30 years. When a demon fuels her hatred, she takes the form of an evil Sonic-like entity, haunting her former friends and dragging them into her cursed game.

This reworked album expands the original with sharper storytelling, improved recording and mixing, and the addition of Needlemouse’s second season. Built as a concept record to be experienced in one sitting, it weaves in chilling tape recordings that flesh out its doomed characters and their twisted fates — a haunting, heavy listen that lingers long after it ends.

The Response — Where Do You Run To?

Fresh off the back of their latest album, The Response pivot sharply with Where Do You Run To?, a bold left turn for the Christchurch duo that embraces a grittier, more propulsive sound without losing their melodic core.

Fuelled by fuzzed-out guitar hooks and a beat that struts more than sprints, it’s the kind of track that sneaks up on you. There’s swagger in the way Victoria’s bass drives the rhythm — steady, confident, and impossible to sit still to — while Andy Knopp’s cryptic lyrics scatter like breadcrumbs leading into a chorus built for a room full of voices.

Rather than rush headlong, Where Do You Run To? holds its nerve, letting its energy build and simmer, controlled but kinetic, always moving forward and taking you with it.