You’ve all heard of Lorde, the young lady who insists she isn’t a royal and never will be, but there’s loads more New Zealand music you need to have on your radar. Aotearoa has a rich musical culture and a surprisingly diverse pop scene to boot. Here are some musicians that are world famous in New Zealand, so you better take note.
1. The Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation weave crowd-pleasing tunes around folk and psychedelic sounds, all accompanied by an idiosyncratically Kiwi sense of humour.
2. Fat Freddy’s Drop
This large troupe is one of the highlights of the laidback reggae sound that Wellington seems to foster. Fat Freddy’s Drop tour the world regularly, so be sure to catch them when they’re round your way.
3. The Chills
The Chills are one of the big stars of the influential Flying Nun record label that operates out of Dunedin on the South Island.
4. The Clean
Another favourite from the Flying Nun label, The Clean are revered by contemporary bands like MGMT.
5. King Kapisi
Representing the Samoan diaspora in New Zealand, King Kapisi’s thoughtful hip-hop intrigues lyrically and gets the head nodding.
6. Connan Mockasin
The king of awkward cool, Connan Mockasin was entertaining his native homeland for many years before becoming a recent cult favourite in the UK.
7. Dam Native
Dam Native is one of the bands Zane Lowe was in before he moved to the UK and became a radio celebrity. Lowe used to produce the beats, and perhaps it was this vocal silence that frustrated him into going halfway across the world and never shutting up again.
8. Electric Wire Hustle
These Kiwis do down-tempo funk in the most beautifully tactile way. With new album Love Can Prevail out mid-2014, keep an eye out for more from Electric Wire Hustle.
9. Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke’s singles are consistently catchy delights that hark back to Siouxie & The Banshees while retaining a 21st-century electro sheen.
10. Scribe
The insanely catchy “Not Many” cemented Scribe as one of New Zealand’s biggest hip-hop stars, at home and in Australia. The remix version here features other NZ favourites David Dallas and Savage.
11. The Upbeats
New Zealand’s dance scene reveres drum and bass bands, and The Upbeats live performances get big crowds stomping their feet. You can often catch them touring Europe too.
12. The Naked and Famous
Making it feel like 80s synth never went away, The Naked and Famous have been powerballading their way into people’s hearts for the last few years.
(Main image by Sara)
