Founded in the alpine town of Wānaka, sloer began as a stripped-back collaboration between Sophie Askin and guitarist Jacob Smith, crafting sparse, spacious live sets where every note carried weight. The band grew with the addition of pianist Sophie Omer-McWalter, whose layered playing added depth and cinematic tension. The sound took on new dimensions with the arrival of drummer Mark Orbell and bassist Aaron Hosking - bringing pulse and momentum, while Mark’s backing vocals added harmony with emotional reach.
Now embodying the quiet confidence of a outfit sure of its identity, sloer has landed exactly where a great band needs to be on the cusp of delivering its debut album. Everything in its place. No waste. No grand gestures. Just expertly crafted songs imbued with an unnameable quality that sees them hit home, every time. Jeff Harford April 2026
