Release Roundup: Babe Martin, Ex-Partner, Nahbo, SWIDT, CHAII, Ebony Lamb + More

It's end of week roundup time again in the UTR office, where we wrangle together hand-picked highlights of our local musical week before we mosey into the weekend, spurs a-jangling. Revisit our coverage of i.e crazy, Dick Move, Model Home, Swallow The Rat, Stinky Jim, Flamingo Pier, Sophie Machray, Joe Kaptein and D.C. Maxwell, then tuck in to a veritable smörgåsbord of Aotearoa releases from Babe Martin, Ex-Partner, Nahbo, impress, CHAII, Ebony Lamb, Lunavela, Rodney Fisher and The Response, and SWIDT.

The new solo project of Tāmaki Makaurau songwriter (and sometimes 95bFM Top Ten presenter) Zoë Larsen-Cumming, Babe Martin unveiled the crisp, sonically opulent title track from her forthcoming The Versoix EP — out in full on 7th September via Sunreturn.

Tāmaki Makaurau's purveyor of shadowy post-punk electronic excellence, Ex-Partner reemerged with cinematic new single and eyeball incinerating AI animated video (made by the artist with Josh Harris) 'Kids, it Makes no Difference' — featuring Grecco Romank's Billie Fee on additional vocals. "'Kids, it Makes no Difference' is a song inspired by going to bed and entering the world of dreams. In the song, the bed is an ex that we’re drawn back to every night despite the possible long-term negative effects of instant comfort. In dreams, you see your ancestors, the history leading up to your birth, the origin of new social divisions - as well as a slew of half-remembered, neurally reconfigured media".

Based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Nahbo aka songwriter / producer Taranaki Ah Young-Grace (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Porou) shared a generosity of tunes with their 19 track second album Feelings Inexplicable, out via Empty Goon Records. "I hope people find something for themselves in this body of work. Something that encourages them, makes them feel seen or less lonely. That's it really. Know that there is so much more we can have and do, so many more ways to live, if only we work together".

Persian-Aotearoa superstar CHAII dropped 'Drippin In Gold', written in collaboration with Tom Scott (Avantdale Bowling Club, Homebrew) and produced by Frank Keys — her first official single / video release since 2021's Pineapple Pizza EP. "'Drippin in Gold' is all about staying laser-focused on your dreams no matter what obstacles come your way. It's a constant reminder to never settle for anything less and to hustle relentlessly towards your goals. Embrace your culture, shine like gold!” Hit play on the artist's majestic self-directed clip.

The latest release from Aotearoa underground mavericks Bankrupt Records, IM 1 is the dancefloor burnin' five track debut from Te Whanganui-a-Tara electronic producer impress, recorded between 2019 and 2023. Move fast to cop the super limited emerald green MiniDisc edition via the Bandcamp link. "Finally releasing these songs is not unlike releasing a bird into the wild after nursing it back to health over a month, but you and the bird are kind of sick of each other at this point anyway so it isn't a big deal".

Top twenty finalist for the 2023 Silver Scroll Award, Te Whanganui-a-Tara-based songwriter Ebony Lamb unveiled new single / video ‘My Daughter My Sister My Son’ via Nadia Reid's boutique imprint Slow Time Records — played and produced with Bic Runga and Kody Nielson (Opossom, Silicon, UMO). “This track says the things I’d been trying to say at a time when we were all grappling with the unknown in 2020.” Hit play on Studio ELGA's accompanying clip.

Now based abroad, legendary Collapsing Cities helmsman Steve Mathieson aka Lunavela flips the bird to Tāmaki Makaurau rock dreams with tender instrumental 'Bring it on K-Road All-Star'.

Goodshirt co-founder Rodney Fisher and The Response team up with Matt Barus of Terrible Sons on reflective new single ‘Keeping Up Appearances’ — out today with a video directed by Mike Braid. "We got talking about life and our experiences of people close to us being misunderstood, particularly artists. That theme is prevalent in ‘Keeping Up Appearances.’ Many lyrics were lifted straight from the text conversation. The track evolved from voice memo to voice memo, with everyone contributing".

Concluding our week on a triumphant note, Onehunga hip hop icons SWIDT hit the slopes and bring the magic in their epic puffer-clad video for 'HOCUS POCUS', the first official single from their forthcoming new album — directed, filmed and edited by Tom Grut.