7 New Zealand Songs I’ve Heard Since I Moved To New Zealand
Sorry for the radio silence. It’s July, and this is the first thing I’ve done with Be Groovy Or Leave all year. Whoops. In my defence, I have had a pretty busy year. I got married in March, turned 30 in May, but the biggest energy absorber this year has been my move from Australia to New Zealand in June.
Now that I’ve made it across the ditch and have settled into my new home, I’m ready to start sharing new music again. I thought, what better way to celebrate my move than to share some music by New Zealand artists that I’ve heard since I made the move. Some of these artists I have listened to (and even met) before, some I have heard the name and some are completely new to me. My only rule for this list is I can’t have heard the particular song (or in one case, album) before I landed at Wellington International Airport.
So no more mucking around, here are the songs:
Julia - Georgia Lines
I first became aware of Georgia when she released her debut album ‘The Rose Of Jericho’ in mid-2024. Something that immediately stood out to me with that album was Georgia's versatility as a songwriter. She was able to write everything from the piano ballad, ‘The Letter’, to the funk-inspired bop,‘Trust’.
Even with that versatility, Georgia’s latest release, ‘Julia’, felt like something new from her. Released in June, ‘Julia’ is on the higher energy side of Georgia’s growing catalogue. From the opening guitar riff, to the catchy choruses, ‘Julia’ is an all-around good time. Georgia has described the song as one that “doesn’t take itself too seriously”.
If you would like to learn more about Georgia, you can listen to my chat with her on Life on Music here.
Clean - No Cigar
When I first hit play on No Cigar’s latest track, I was immediately reminded of the familiar sounds of the Australian surf-rock scene. To my ear, it is reminiscent of bands like Dice, Teenage Dads and Lime Cordiale. Hearing something so recognisable in a new country was certainly a nice feeling.
Released in June, ‘Clean’ is the fourth and final track released from their upcoming album ‘Under The Surface’ (coming July 30). To celebrate the release of the album, the band will be hitting the road in Australia and New Zealand this October and November. Find out more about the tour here.
Blister - Yumi Zouma
This was another song that felt familiar upon my first listen. I still can’t quite put my finger on exactly what it reminds me of, but in general, ‘Blister’ has that indie-pop-rock sound that has always appealed to me. Upon further investigation (listening to more of their songs), it seems that Yumi Zouma is more known for their indie-pop sound than their indie-rock sound. As far as I can tell, the grittier, higher energy, distorted guitar-driven sound on ‘Blister’ is something quite new in their arsenal. And I’m loving it. In particular, I think vocalist Christie Simpson’s voice really shines in this new style.
Something interesting I learnt while reading about Yumi Zouma is that all four members of the band live in different countries. With members in Australia, America, the UK and New Zealand, it is safe to say that they are well spread out. It seems like an unorthodox way to be in a band, but you can’t argue with the results.
That’s Life, Baby - Foley
I met Ash & Gabe from Foley in a park in Sydney in 2023. They were visiting the city to play some shows for SXSW Sydney, and I was lucky enough to line up an interview with them while they were there (hence why we were hanging out in a park). You can listen to that interview here.
Their live show, which I was able to catch the night before our interview, was one of the best I’ve seen. Despite playing in a tiny room that was almost definitely not designed for live music, they were able to bring enough energy to fill a stadium. Go check out their show if you ever get the chance.
Released in February, ‘That’s Life, Baby’ is the sophomore album from Foley. Filled with so many goodies, the record has something for any fan of alt-pop. Some personal favourites of mine are ‘Miss You All The Time’ and the title track ‘That’s Life, Baby’. But you can’t go wrong with any of the songs on this one.
Although they are now Sydney-based (I must have left a good impression in our interview), I’m sure they’ll always be Kiwis at heart.
That Somebody’s You - Sam Cullen
Two bands came to mind when I heard the latest track from Auckland-based singer-songwriter Sam Cullen. The first was Australian band Gang of Youths. I find it particularly reminiscent of their 2015 hit ‘Magnolia’ and 2017's ‘Let Me Down Easy’. The second was the lesser-known Canadian band Fast Romantics. In particular, it’s quite similar to some of the tracks from their 2017 album ‘American Love’. If you ask me, those are two fantastic bands to share a sonic ballpark with.
Released in June, ‘That Somebody’s You’ is the first taste of music from what will be Sam's debut album. If this track is any indication, the album is sure to be a road trip essential. You’ll find yourself using the steering wheel as a kick drum and abusing your vocal cords every time that chorus hits. I’m excited to hear what else Sam has to offer with this project.
Freak Out City - Bret McKenzie
A genre of music that I think is wildly underrated is songs that are a bit silly without being laugh-out-loud funny. Some songs that come to mind are ‘Short People’ by Randy Newman and ‘Everybody Loves Me, Baby’ by Don McLean. Hell, some of my favourite Weird Al songs fit in that genre. Another one you can add to that list is ‘Freak Out City’ by Bret McKenzie (yes, of Flight of the Conchords fame).
The title track of his upcoming sophomore album, ‘Freak Out City’ is a song that pokes fun at people who ‘do their own research online’. Inspired by artists like Randy Newman and Harry Nillson, this track is much closer to the comedic charm of Flight of the Conchords when compared to the more serious tone of his debut album ‘Songs Without Jokes’. Bret's new album is another one I’m very much looking forward to.
Gutter Black - Hello Sailor
The final song I want to talk about is a bit of a curveball. Released in 1977, not only is it by far the oldest song on this list, but it is also the oldest song I’ve written about on Be Groovy Or Leave. And even though my priority is to share new music, I couldn’t leave it off my list because it is probably the song I’ve heard the most since moving to New Zealand. To my best estimate, I must have heard it close to 200 times.
Now you may be thinking, “Jessey, why have you listened to this song so many times?”. And to that I would say just two words: ‘Outrageous Fortune’. Before my move, ‘Outrageous Fortune’ was just something I heard about in casual conversation with my Kiwi wife, but now, it is a way of life.
If you’re unaware, “Outrageous Fortune” is a New Zealand comedy-drama TV show that aired between 2005 and 2010, incorporating ‘Gutter Black’ as its theme song. This show will make you laugh, cry, love, hate and all the other emotions. It’s also been quite helpful in learning more about New Zealand (I am aware it is a dramatised version of New Zealand life). I just watched the shocking season 5 finale last night, so please don’t tell me what happens after that.
Listening to these songs has made me excited to listen to all the music New Zealand has to offer.
Listen To The Playlist