Release Roundup: Theia, The Fuzzies, Nightmare Honey, Crystal Chen

"Time takes its crazy toll" — Sonic Youth. "All it takes is time" — Princess Chelsea. "Time" — Prince. "You spin me right round baby right round / like a record baby right round round round" — Dead Or Alive. The inexorable passing of time sends us spinning back again into the end of week roundup zone, and what handpicked local musical treats lurk within? Revisit this week's coverage of Swallow The Rat, [Allophones], Erny Belle, deepState, SKILAA, Mermaidens, Beastwars, Flaxxies and Clementine Valentine, then tuck into more notable new local releases below from Theia, The Fuzzies, Nightmare Honey and Crystal Chen.

The alter ego of 2023 Best Independent Debut award winner TE KAAHU, Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Tiipaa) plays for keeps in her new industrial dance-pop scorcher 'Dollhouse', the fourth single revealed from the artist's forthcoming debut album. "Dollhouse is about breaking free of the restraints and pushing back against the expectations put on girls to be perfect and pure, well-mannered and living in the ideal nuclear family".

The guitar-slinging team of Niki Maera (Mary) and Kelly Michael (Tabularasa, Enshrine) with Andrew Maitai (Powertool Records, Joed Out) on drums, The Fuzzies unfurl seven tunes tunes brimming with big-hearted and crunchy hooks on their new album Cupid. Head along to their release shindig at UFO in New Lynn this Saturday with special guests Arboretum and Talmar, nab tickets HERE.

Tāmaki Makaurau artist Nightmare Honey reemerges two years following their last release with seven atmospheric, sometimes searing sound works on Fundamental Collapse — "An odyssey through isolation and a complete disconnect from what came before. To return to that which the heart calls home."

Songwriters take note — Tāmaki Makaurau's Crystal Chen says it's time to quit being corny, bringing the boogie while declaring "what the world needs now is not another love song" in her sassy new single 'not another love song'. Watch the sparkling self-directed video below.