UTR's 2025 Favourite Music Moments

JOHN BAKER
CLEAN DIRT

Bloodbags - Bloodbags

Long gamers... the longest band in the land, and as I type this I get a big grin on my face...

Toody Cole & Her Band

Hard to believe the Toody Cole from Dead Moon's 1992 Nirvana rejection, NZ tour was in same form in 2025... from Melbourne to NZ — ten stellar shows in as many days with zero grumbles... after the last show at Others Way, she was off to 605 and sung 'Parchment Farm' with the Jenny Don't crew, then off to Whammy and held court with the Lucys, assisted by Jägermeister after Jägermeister... Ben from C.O.F.F.I.N says to me... "we can't leave before her"... and guess who outlasted them all?!! Earlier that evening Toody effortlessly banged out 'Defiance', a song she originally recorded with the Rats in 1980 like it was 1979!... this woman will never phone it in. Happy 77th birthday this month Toody Cole.

C.O.F.F.I.N

These blokes like to keep it interesting. A post show jump off the bridge to Mount Maunganui with fans, random stops to climb hills in the middle of nowhere, impromptu art installations, kicking a footie down Baldwin Street... but best of all, a midnight rave post Ōtautahi show in the basement of the deserted building where the garden city noise-niks Chants R&B would ply their rumble and bang back in 1966...

Guitar Wolf Lunchtime Show at Takapuna Intermediate

I wasn't sure I could top Seiji dancing down Baldwin Street in his Cuban heeled boots and leathers, but thanks to the foresight of music teacher and the incredibly groovy Dan Sperber, Guitar Wolf completed another juggernaut tour of Aotearoa, performing a lunch time show at the school. In five songs the Wolves rolled out a RNR education that included a Wolfed up 'I saw Her Standing There', 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Kick Out The Jams Mother'... Nice! As well as two of their own. The 10 to 12 year old kids went nuts.... and Wolfmania ensued — with deafening screams and long lines to get autographs.

I Finally Got To Book My First Show on Stewart Island with Lord Rochester in October

But to (ridiculously) top that... Having just observed the twenty fifth anniversary of The White Stripes first international tour, which was to NZ in early November... with a day's notice I achieved my dream of carrying nothing but a passport, to travel to LA, sit at a dinner table with Iggy Pop, and watch him induct The White Stripes into the RNR Hall Of Fame. Talked Dead Moon with the Soundgarden crew at the table next to me, busted a ridiculous white guy dance move to Salt from Salt N Pepa, ate Tacos with John C. Reilly and told him one of my son's jokes... and within 48 hours I Was back on the mean streets of Lincoln Road picking up the boy from school. And I got a shout out at the awards too. Thanks Jack W!

ASHLEY BROWN
THEIMAGE04 / UTR PHOTOGRAPHER / DESIGNER

Ringlets at Garrett St

Kicking off in-store at Flying Nun at midday, Ringlets played a killer set promoting their latest record The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies). That same evening they performed at Garrett St with local legends Mudgoose. I’m endlessly grateful for a venue like this in Pōneke, and every show at Garrett I make it to, I’m reminded of what a nice music community we truly have.

Eyeliner's Buy Now (33 1/3 Oceania Series) by Michael Brown

What a carefully crafted, deep dive into this fantastic and influential record. I’m so stoked that nerdy books like this are being written. We get a real good peek into Luke’s artistic influences, vaporwave’s history, and its relation to capitalism and post-irony.

Princess Chelsea’s Midwinter Ball

Highlights include: meeting seven other wizards (I was also a wizard), Golden Axe’s electric first show in ten years, the life-size Falcor, a cover of Enya’s 'Orinoco Flow' and two fencers swinging swords in front of Grecco Romank while they performed 'Piss Baby'. It was apparent a lot of love went into this totally immersive experience and it was a treat to experience it.

Sam Bambery

Set in the beautiful Vogelmorn Hall, Michael Llewellyn opened for Sam’s show in September. Expired 8mm film of nature scenes were projected as the backdrop against the dark wood of the hall. Sam seemed to offer a little piece of himself in this performance and the intimate show ended in him playing his last song on the old piano — with everyone’s chairs pulled up closely around him.

Same Name Confusion at Meow

The last time I caught SNC was at the Botans in 2020, and from my hazy memory, it was also a killer one. I kept catching myself with a huge grin across my face, it was ~that~ good of a show and it seemed like every single other person attending was also having a great time. I’ll be looking forward to hearing their upcoming record.

CHRIS CUDBY
UNDERTHERADAR / 95BFM FREAK THE SHEEP / POWER NAP

Chainmail Commandos - STERÖID

My favourite album for listening while strolling about town was this riff-powered "egg-metal" rock-obsessed ripper from Sydney, Australia.

Rohan Evans Wins Independent Spirit Award

Founder of Tāmaki Makaurau's much-missed The Wine Cellar, Rohan Evans is a paragon of inclusivity and adventurousness in our community, nurturer of multiple generations of local talents. So it was incredibly heartwarming to see him presented with The Independent Spirit Award at this year's Taite Music Prize ceremony.

Thee Golden Geese Playing Goose Your Own Adventure at Armageddon Expo

For one of their final outings, Thee Golden Geese enthralled attendees of all ages at Armageddon Expo in Tāmaki Makaurau with a live interactive run-through of their Goose Your Own Adventure fighting fantasy game. Crafted by TGG's Dave Taylor, Goose Your Own Adventure is "an incredible multimedia immersive story-telling event" which you can play online yourself right HERE. Crazy costumes, catchy tunes, terrifying plot twists, it all added up to a Saturday morning goose-stravaganza so fun I had to get them to play the game again on 95bFM Freak The Sheep.

Golden Axe Reunion & Power Nap 95bFM Kids Show Live

Some of my personal gigging highlights in 2025 included the reunion of my synth-punk duo Golden Axe (with Daif King of Stälker) for Princess Chelsea's Midwinter Ball at The Civic Wintergarden — I drew a three page comic for the In The Pits zine detailing the process of putting together our first gigs in a decade. Another personal highpoint: playing as my solo project Power Nap (plus help from friends) with Baby Zionov at the 95bFM Kids Show Live at Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber. I wrote a bunch of new tunes especially, a very wholesome and affirming Sunday morning boogie.

Alphabethead / BIRDPARTY / Displeasure / CHEMCHAIN at Audio Foundation

Everyone who witnessed this formidable lineup at Audio Foundation in Tāmaki Makaurau agreed this was one of the best gigs of 2025. Four acts at the peak of their powers, obliterating sonic boundaries and compelling punters to dance, with visuals by Job Club — this is what we like to see and hear. Other fave shows this year: Machine Girl with P.H.F, Bassvictim, Blood Incantation, Port Noise 2025, The Art of A Low Hum mini-festival at Vogelmorn Hall & Bowling Club.

DARYL FINCHAM
UNDERTHERADAR

The Ship // The Sea - Beastwars

The heaviest of the heavies, my all time favs Beastwars. Good condition band, hardly any wear or tear. Pick up only, too heavy to ship.

Life Advice - Soft Bait

The band NZ has been waiting for, a standout album with a great slap in the face sound. Comes with instructions.

Home Turf - Goya

Payment: Your hearing ONO.

Fontaines D.C. at Spark Arena

Exciting show from a band who has mesmerising ear worms. Easy to mistake front man as stage hand.

Remembering: The Great Brent McLachlan (The Gordons, Bailterspace)

GEORGE FORBES
PHOTOGRAPHER

One Is Always Heading Somewhere - Womb

These songs from Womb are dreamy, mesmerising and make for a stand out Kiwi album of the year. I’ll admit I was late to know and appreciate Womb, but I was quickly educated while photographing their album release show in Auckland. My favourite song from the album is the softly flowing 'Georgie’s Song' (would be rude not to be with its name!).

Lady Shaka presents WHAEA

In March, I was lucky enough to photograph this dynamic evening of hip shaking Afro beats, drums and blended RnB. The line up of artists (Lady Shaka, DJ Keke, Mala, Azbo, Rubi Du and DJ Orikol) drew an energetic and assorted crowd that made Double Whammy vibrate with dance. The stage was occasionally abandoned as the performers joined the fluidly forming dance circles.

Chromakopia Tour - Tyler, The Creator at Spark Arena

A last minute acquisition of tickets to Tyler, The Creator’s Chromakopia Tour turned into a highlight night of the year. The enigmatic artist solely commanded the stage for an hour and 45 minutes, he made sure to prove he didn’t need anyone else on stage. Spark Arena was humming by the end, and his fans’ voices hoarse.

Berghain - ROSALÍA

The music video for ROSALÍA’S 'Berghain' is best described as an operatic short film. It’s punchy, emotive and a little bit haunting (in a good way). If you haven’t already, you should watch it!

GRECCO ROMANK 

My Name Is David by Alphabethead + Lore Core by Ex Partner

Two completely different worlds explored by virtuosos of their realm: one a dexterous and playful crawl through a kaleidoscope of breakbeats and sampledom, the other a moving and cerebral rush of texture, like pulling a drill out of your skull and instead of blood on the bit it's sweet tasting rusty tears.

Death Metal Show of The Year: Dying Fetus

Good fuckers picked me up after slipping in the pit on my own beer, all whilst the tightest, unified mesh of skin shredding music was chewing my ears.

Grecco Romank at Big Sound

Walking into the public square and hearing our song 'Chainlinks' blasting out to a throng of strangers indifferently eating chips. Go kiwi. Another moment was the entire run of shows through Aus. We definitely weirded out some folks. Shoutout Dusty's for a weird reunion of ex-pat Kiwis who almost convinced us to move to Melbourne.

Gig Highlights

Fav show was Audio Foundation hosting Displeasure, CHEMCHAIN, BIRDPARTY and Alphabethead (with live visuals by Damian / Job Club).
Fav live bands of the year Sulfate and BIRDPARTY. Big brain music from these bands. Both brought an incredibly vivid and raw sound, the kind of experience you can only feel deep in your withering guts.
Disappointment of the year: not donning costumes for the bFM kids rave for Power Nap.

Dick Move's Bang-On Video for 'Scared Old Men'

And them being inspiring tour beasts.

PETRA JANE
PHOTOGRAPHER

Arts Colony - Grecco Romank

LP liner notes aren’t enough, I need more techno-sleaze albums to come with a hefty companion volume of art, poetry and essays.

Princess Chelsea’s Midwinter Ball

Absolutely the social event of the season for washed-up Former Drama Kids. Princess Chelsea and friends transformed the already-opulent Civic Wintergarden into a gloriously maximalist fantasy costume party, complete with handcrafted Neverending Story-replica set design, swordfights in the background, and nods to the works of Giorgio Moroder.

Under The Arcade

National treasure Rohan Evans perfected the weeknight gig with this series of shows at Whammy and Public Bar (née Wine Cellar). A fantastic mix of local bands, everything sounds great, and you can still be in bed at a reasonable hour. Just don’t be late — for once, "bands from 7pm" means exactly what it says.

Herb’s Mobile Record Store

Actually, my best music moment of 2025 might be ditching Big Streaming’s enshittified engagement-farming algorithmic slop and going back to a proper old-fashioned music collection. So now I get new music suggestions the way nature intended: bantering with random strangers at record stores. With an impeccably curated selection and Ben’s always on-point recommendations, Herb’s big green truck might be the best record store in the country right now.

Marlon Williams: Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds

It’s been a pretty great year for local music documentaries, with films celebrating the life and works of Shayne Carter (Life In One Chord) and Don McGlashan (Anchor Me) premiering at this year’s Film Festival. Ngā Ao E Rua - Two Worlds isn’t so much retrospective as introspective, shadowing Marlon Williams through the agonies and ecstasy of bringing his album Te Whare Tīwekaweka into the world.

FINN JOHANSSON
MUSICIAN, MUSIC JOURNALIST, HEAD OF FINNSOFT GAMES

Empathy For My Future Self - LEIGH

I saw Maebh play her first, second, third, fifth and sixth gigs ever as LEIGH. The first two were just her at house parties playing electric guitar and singing along to her Soundcloud blasting out the aux, the next three were with her prog rock (there I said it) band. The album is the work of an auteur — deep, otherworldly and sometimes very crack up.

Alphabethead live at 605 - Primer

I got to see what David’s hands were doing from like one meter away. All of us in the audience started out gawping at his hands in awe, before getting swept away in the beats. It had that rare close-up feeling that you get at A Low Hum, absolutely thrilling.

Demo Gods - 95bFM show 

It took me and Karyn Hay three tries to make a segment on her bFM show The Saturday Spring that had some sizzle, as they say, but we got there: on Demo Gods, every two weeks I write and record a demo with a different artist, based on a prompt chosen from a list written by Karyn. We’re just wrapping up our 12th demo with the likes of Rodney Fisher, Jazmine Mary, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, Andrew Fagan, and Juno Is all making absolute bangers with me, check it out and consider this the soft launch cause I never got round to posting about it.

One Of My Students Playing The Hotel California Solo - Lila School of Bands Showcase, Big Fan

He nailed it. Everyone cheered. He’d been learning it all term and we were all so proud of him <3

Gut Feeling - Bickle

Someone who isn't afraid to write a obnoxiously catchy song, to grunt rhythmically into a microphone — someone who isn't afraid to FEEL themselves! I listened to Double Eagle more but that came out in 2024.

LUCY MACRAE
DICK MOVE / WHAMMY! / THE LABEL

Starting 2025 at Rhythm and Alps Festival in Wānaka

Crystal-clear lakes, the Southern Alps, sun setting at 11pm, Speights, and a fully operational sheep and cattle station turned festival site for three days. I’m back working again this year too — Santigold, Halfqueen, Lady Shaka and more! Honourable mention: the final Shihad shows, which kicked off in Wānaka at the same site a few days after the fest.

Amyl and The Sniffers at Meow Nui in February

My first time at the new Pōneke venue, and I’d been waiting a long time to see Amyl in Aotearoa. They did not disappoint. They were on tour with C.O.F.F.I.N — a great bunch of guys with a killer live show (and nice to see them back a few weeks ago at The Others Way Festival).

The Others Way Festival

Now that’s a fest doing it right. Working alongside the local community and existing venues, while also introducing an epic outdoor stage that closed Karangahape Road. Iconic. We’ll be looking back at that one for years to come.

Another iconic fest: Junk Fest

Which took over Whammy, Double Whammy and Public Bar in June. It felt genuinely cutting-edge and exciting — even if all the 20-somethings in the room were seven steps ahead and already knew how cool all these artists were. Great to see Australian bands crossing the ditch too. Eyes firmly on the 2026 edition.

Floridian Punk Heavyweights Hot Water Music Back in Aotearoa in February 2025

arking their show here in 14 years and touring their album VOWS — which topped my end of year list in 2024! But... album of the year for 2025 is — a toss-up between Viagra Boys Viagr Aboys and Upchuck’s I’m Nice Now. Both touring in early 2026, so I’m happy.

GARETH SHUTE
AUTHOR OF SONGS FROM THE SHAKY ISLES: A SHORT HISTORY OF POPULAR MUSIC IN NEW ZEALAND

Kei Raro i te Wai EP - James Dansey

It was another great year for music in te reo Māori, with artists taking some wonderful new approaches — whether it was Marlon Williams smoothly folding it into his style or Geneva AM reimagining some classic waiata in a modern style, with my favourite being her moody, indie-guitar take on 'Põkarekare Ana'. Though the one I listened to most was James Dansey’s Kei Raro i te Wai EP which found the middle ground between Māori rhythms and Beach Boys production!

Chris Knox: Not Given Lightly - Craig Robertson

My recent book took a very high level look at popular music in Aotearoa after the past century-and-a-half, so it was refreshing to read a book that took a polar opposite approach — digging into Chris Knox’s life in minute detail, like a musical-biography version of a Knausgård novel. Knox loved to over-pack his albums with odd experimental numbers that balanced out the more catchy numbers, so this overwhelming book seemed like a perfect way to capture the overabundance of his artistic spirit.

The Others Way Festival

The Others Way festival encouraged me to become a fan of Saya Grey and she sure delivered on the day. Georgia Knight’s suddenly-without-a-band set was also striking in the way it channeled her frayed nerves into an intense, wired-up solo performance. I’ve always been a fan of Anthonie Tonnon’s live performances, so I thought I knew what to expect from him but he added some danceable beats and an emotive speech about much-missed Whanganui venue Space Monster, which left me captivated all over again.

The Plethora of Acts That Are Famous Overseas, But Near-Unknown at Home

Local acts continue to hit above their weight, especially now online music is the norm and it is no longer a problem that Aotearoa is at the bottom of the world. I’ve tried to capture some of these with articles on AudioCulture about Grammy-nominated indie-pop act Baynk and hip hop producer 9lives, plus I have an upcoming one on the wonderfully atmospheric R&B music of Janine. Yet there’s too many to keep up with (when you think of the likes of Balu Brigada, SXMPRA, lilbubblegum) and it's a great reflection of the creative culture we have in this country, long may it continue.

'Scared Old Men' - Dick Move

Dick Move have been one of my favourite live bands from the start and I loved to throw on their music when I need to get enervated. But oh boy - this video is something else. Creepily surreal and bubbling over with justified rage. Love it!

BROOKE SINGER
FRENCH FOR RABBITS, HOME ALONE RECS

DIY Labels - Celebrating Local Music!

This year has been a big one for Home Alone Recs — a label I co-run with three friends Tim, Lake and Tessa. Unbelievably, next year will be our 20th anniversary as a small DIY label — we've just announced our 20 Summers mini-fest. This year, we released some music we're so proud to be associated with from the likes of Frances Grass, Michaela Tempers, Sig Wilder, Re:Ruby, By a Damn Sight and more. I've also been loving what Glasshead is doing in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Melted Ice Cream in Ōtautahi.

Great Sounds Great

I didn't get out to as many festivals or concerts as I'd like this year due to being a new parent, but I did make it to CubaDupa (fabulous), Newtown Festival (hot!) and Great Sounds Great. With the latter really hitting its stride this year with an exceptional lineup which struck the balance between new discoveries and established acts. Highlights for me were seeing Hans Pucket and LEAO.

Good Riddance to Spotify

There's no doubt that Spotify is a towering force (ball and chain) in the music world, but it has been great to see audiences and artists beginning to wake up to its unethical behaviour with music loving and morally conscious listeners leaving the platform for greener pastures. This year there have been growing artist boycotts, AI controversies and a book Mood Machine by Liz Pelly condemning the platform.

Chris Schulz's Boiler Room Substack

This year I've been loving catching up on music industry goings on and concert reviews via Chris's excellent Boiler Room Substack. Music journalism and critical commentary is so valuable, and with a general lack of mainstream coverage, I have grown a deep appreciation for those who are shining a light on music and music issues in Aotearoa. Shout to UTR, Martyn Pepperell, Lisa at Muzic.net, Tony Stamp, Newzician magazine and everyone else putting in the work!

Hannah Cohen & Madison Cunningham

It's been a great year for alternative / psychedelia infused folk. Anyone who knows me, probably has heard me campaigning to get both of these artists to New Zealand. Hannah Cohen's forth album Earthstar Mountain created in the Catskills with her partner / producer Sam Evian is impeccable from start to finish. Maddison Cunningham is one of my favourite songwriters and performers. I've been listening to Ace a lot and marvelling at her lyric writing.

LUCIA TAYLOR

MJ Lenderman Road Trip

Undeniably, my best music moment of 2025 was MJ Lenderman’s tour. After seeing his secret show at Whammy and knowing he was going to be huge, it was exciting to have him come back, given the well-deserved success of Manning Fireworks. My dad and I flew down to Lyttelton for what was in the top five shows I’ve ever been to, and had a great music-fuelled trip (including seeing Marlon Williams rap with KOMMI) before coming back to Auckland for the Powerstation show! We also got to meet Jake and the band several times, and they were all so lovely!

Fancy New Band Showcase

Hosting Fancy New Band on 95bFM for several years has been such a joy, and the showcase is always great, this year's was possibly my favourite! Moshing to Community Treatment Order and CCTV between MCing was so much fun, and it’s truly rewarding to see how all the bands progress after appearing on the show.

High Vis

Last week, by pure chance, High-Vis came in to where I’m working, I cheekily told them of my plans to sneak into their sold-out show (it’s just punk, right?), and they gave me a backstage pass! It was totally unexpected; I didn’t even know they were in town, but it was such a great show and so much fun to mosh to some hardcore post-punk as we closed out the year. It’s only made me even more excited for the upcoming Turnstile, Viagra Boys, and Lambrini Girls shows!!!

Launching My Substack / General Music Journo Vibes!

This year, I decided to take my music journalism more seriously and prepare for moving to Melbourne (goodbye 95bFM, UnderTheRadar and Flying Out, I miss you SO MUCH) by archiving some of my work on Substack. Revisiting interviews with favourite artists that I’ve done has been so rewarding and just reminds me of how lucky I am to be doing my lifelong dream.

Bleeds by Wednesday + Interviewing Karly

Anyone who knows me will be completely unsurprised that my album of the year is, of course, Wednesday’s Bleeds. The singles are so special to me (I just got a 'Wound Up Here' tattoo), but the album as a whole is a diverse range of everything I love about Wednesday, with their vivid small-town narratives in tracks that span from bluegrass ('Phish Pepsi') to hardcore ('Wasp'). Interviewing Karly for this album cycle was a dream come true, the perfect cherry on top.

OSCAR TOY
LAVENDER MENACE / THE LAUREL CANYON SOUND

Pike - Elizabeth Sanctuary Welding School for Girls

My pick for album of the year. Open yet impenetrable, pop-tastic yet completely unlistenable, it’s almost impossible to find if you haven’t been personally told where to get it so I'm platforming it here. Recommended for fans of lo-fi computer noise pop (Ariel Pink, John Maus, James Ferraro et al.) and shoegaze that isn’t terrible.

The Run of Great Mudgoose Singles

Wellington’s greatest alt-sino-country lo-fi indie cult solo act Mudgoose released three amazing singles in quick succession, all mining the same kind of beautiful stoned loneliness that has dominated Fletcher 'Flavour' Ng’s recent oeuvre. Here Come The Planes, his full length effort from last year, is also recommended.

Guitar Wolf Touring New Zealand

I had the pleasure of following the band the whole time, selling the shirts and getting to watch the greatest rock act in the world every night of the week. At no point did they ever give anything less than 110% on stage. Potentially the best rock and roll tour of the century? We may never know.

Swampsoul Gigs

Nobody else does it like them, and I'm convinced that no one else could. I can’t think of another group of people that could talk me into being one of five people at a noise show (including band and bar staff) and still deliver on the promise of an amazing night out. If you’re in the Wellington area and you aren't familiar with them, I can't think of anyone putting on gigs that are as consistently interesting and worthwhile as Swampsoul.

Mercury Poisoning EP - No Sector

Punk music has reached some kind of extreme nadir for me this year, but the only punk band in Wellington singlehandedly proves that this music doesn’t have to be, like, entirely terrible. Very white hot like ultra.

AALIYAH ZIONOV / BABY ZIONOV

The Velvet Underground & Rowan - Worldpeace DMT

In a year where most of the music I encountered felt a bit too polished and focus-grouped, I accidentally stumbled onto this freaky & delightful little pop album and became totally enraptured by its loose, goofy playfulness and insane crackpot production ideas. I thought I was being pranked the first time I heard it but now I think every song is a perfect little jewel of bizarro pop genius. Here are some things my friends have said about it when I forced them to listen to it: "it’s like 100 gecs but for the other kind of gay loser"; "it’s like being held at gunpoint by 2007 nostalgia"; "a future classic of annoyingcore."

Joey Valence & Brae at Laneway Festival

This was for sure my favourite hour of live music all year, just a perfectly paced, super high energy set full of silly "dudes rock"-type bangers that I got to enjoy with my best friends on a beautiful sunny day. Even after seeing Charli xcx’s headline set, my entire crew thought this was the best set of the day, except my friend Alex who got too drunk and says the only thing he remembers about Laneway was that he saw me eating a hot dog.

Choke Enough - Oklou

I fell in love with this album when it came out in early February and it continued to accompany me all year, revealing new depths and intricacies with each passing season. It’s such a captivatingly multidimensional, contradictory record – futuristic but medieval, aloof but tender, chic but dorky, cryptic but warm, quiet but bursting with ideas. My single most blissful musical experience of 2025 was listening to it on repeat while strolling around Te Whanganui-a-Tara in the uncharacteristically sunny days leading up to Newtown Festival.

Mood Machine - Liz Pelly

I devoured this book as soon as it came out, an absolutely phenomenal piece of investigative journalism / cultural criticism that incisively and comprehensively assesses Spotify’s corrosive impact on music from many different angles. It’s a bleak read in some ways, but it’s not defeatist: Pelly’s fundamental love for underground music culture, her belief in the collective power of musicians, and her bitterly funny writing shine through the whole time. Bonus highlight: seeing her in person at Whammy Bar discussing the book with Martyn Pepperell.

Hosting the 'Froggy Forest Raceway' single release party

I had a hectic year that involved a big career change, going back to uni, and releasing an album, so I didn’t get to do as much live music as I wanted, but this release party turned out so perfect that I was pretty much satisfied. 605 Morningside has quickly become my favourite spot in Tāmaki for both live music and pub quiz, so I’m grateful they let us use the space, and my loves jackaltheblackal and Donk Dobbo played such incredible, fun, creative sets. It was also my friend Avigail’s birthday so I made a special remix of her favourite song ever ('Let Me Love You' by Mario) and I reckon it went pretty hard!