September New Music Round-up: Incoming Summer Vibes and Reflective Tracks
This article was originally published 3 October 2024.
As the days get longer and we wrap our heads around daylight savings, the return of the sun brings with it a wave of fresh tracks that celebrate the start of warmer days. This month’s highlights feature a mix of laid-back, summery vibes and emotionally charged soundscapes from indie artists across New Zealand.
"Good Terms" – Parallel Park
Nelson’s Parallel Park delivers "Good Terms", a reflective indie-rock track about relationships that end on a positive note. The song’s layered guitars and light, upbeat rhythm create an emotional yet mellow vibe. As bassist Kahu Sanson-Burnett shared, “It’s about accepting that not everything lasts forever, and that’s okay.” This bittersweet feeling of parting ways resonates through the track, showcasing the band’s ability to balance emotion and energy.
"Brighton" – There's A Tuesday
Ōtautahi Christchurch locals There’s A Tuesday bring us "Brighton", a track inspired by New Brighton but meant to represent something bigger. As the first release from their upcoming album, the song blends tender lyrics with dreamy instrumentals, creating a nostalgic soundscape. It’s a serene, thoughtful track that showcases the band’s growth as they continue to make waves beyond the local scene.
"Waiting on Change" – Hot Sauce Club
Dunedin’s Hot Sauce Club delivers a cruisy and vibey track with "Waiting on Change". The laid-back guitar tones set the mood, but it’s the emotional weight of the lyrics that really stands out, blending a heartfelt message with the relaxed soundscape. It’s the kind of song you can’t wait to experience live, with its chill vibe inviting listeners to lose themselves in the moment while still packing an emotional punch beneath the surface.
"Wildflowers" – Jim Nothing
Jim Nothing offers a dose of summer with "Wildflowers", a garage-pop gem from his upcoming album Grey Eyes, Grey Lynn. The track is a love letter to New Zealand summers, with its strummy guitars and poetic lines about hot December days and walking home from the beach. As Rolling Stone put it, the song captures that blissful feeling of melting into the soft road on a summer’s day.
After giving the track a listen, I couldn’t agree more—Wildflowers is the perfect soundtrack for saying goodbye to winter and welcoming the warmer days ahead.
"That Day" – EVELYN
With "That Day", EVELYN delivers a song that feels thoughtful and deliberate, every word sung with precision and care. Her soothing melody wraps around the emotional weight behind each line, reminiscent of London Grammar. It’s a track that stays with you long after it ends—one that you’ll find yourself thinking about throughout the day, carried by its raw emotion and depth.
