Release Radar: The Datsuns, Cindy, TAKATAPUNANI, Romi Wrights, Evie Bamford, Moon Unit, Warner Emery + More

There's a little voice at the back of my mind, gently whispering: "We are due another UTR Release Radar, are we not?" Revisit this week's coverage of The Broken Heartbreakers, Caru & Brandn Shiraz, Oscar Dowling, Gram Antler plus our interview with heavy-hitting touring visitors from across the ditch SPEED, respect the cinematic genius of Sam Neill (RIP), and dip into more new / recent local highlights below by The Datsuns, Cindy, TAKATAPUNANI, Romi Wrights, Evie Bamford, Moon Unit, Warner Emery, the original soundtrack for the fulldome planetarium film XYZZY — featuring Stef Animal and Luke Rowell (Disasteradio, Eyeliner) — and investigate the new locally operated digital music phenomenon that is Lume.

World conquering Aotearoa gods of rock, The Datsuns are prepping all ears for the launch of their eighth studio album Moonstruck Man, out in full on 13th November via their own Hellsquad Records. Back with a new drummer and by all accounts practically a new hand in the case of guitarist Christian Livingstone ("next level surgical intervention was required to save a paw ravaged"), peel the skin right off yr skull with the heavy psych bopping title track.

Fellow connoisseurs of the sizzling riff, West Auckland's Cindy explode fans minds with the revelation their long-anticipated debut album The Way I Do will be out on 4th September via 1:12 Records and Sunreturn. One heck of a great live act, 'Sunsets Don't Excite Me' delivers the frantically overdriven, seat-of-your pants catchy goods those in the know already love. Preorderable now on limited edition vinyl LP, are we looking forward to this record? YES WE ARE. Cindy frontman Scott Brown explained, "The idea for Sunsets Don’t Excite Me came when Cindy were stuck around Tongariro National Park waiting to see if our show was going to happen despite the terrible weather. A huge storm was rolling in and we were passing by the National Trout Centre so we stopped in for a look. It was incredible and really inspiring. I have a lot of respect for the good folks who run the museum there."

Tearing up Tāmaki Makaurau's Whammy Bay on 30th July alongside Paradox Princess, Grecco Romank and ODEIOUS (get tickets HERE), TAKATAPUNANI's new club belter 'GIRL LIKE MOI' maintains a winning run. Getting downright bawdy while blasting bass bins with production by DJ Brenda, TAKATAPUNANI boasts "You've never met a girl like moi."

Romi Wrights' star keeps rising with the launch of the Aotearoa soul singer's majestic new single 'Storm Has Passed', co-produced by Kenny Sterling and Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, both of whom also play on the tune. Featuring a powerful ensemble cast of contributors including Julien Dyne, Jong-Yun JY Lee, Finn Scholes and more, it's not long to be before Wrights' debut album Andy launches on 30th July via Mānuka Recordings. "You went and lit my fire / Will you let those flames go out?"

On the rise Tāmaki Makaurau songwriter Evie Bamford combines woozy guitar jangle and soul-jazz strut, bravely confronting body dysmorphia on 'Daily Bread' — the final single before her debut EP Now Rising, Now Falling launches on 1st September. "Drowning in doubt / But I still get out of my bed / What’s there to do / But earn my daily bread?"

Moon Unit's Oscar Davies-Kay and Jackson Sulivan team up with Jamie Kennedy on 'Lost', the infectiously scruffy latest release from an absolute outpouring of lo-fi rock tunes planned for the rest of 2026 — promising six new EPs during the next six months!

Member of multiple significant Aotearoa acts of the 21st century, including The Phoenix Foundation, Tape Wolves (rumoured, they are all disguised in sweaty Japanese Batman costumes), and of course a close associate of the terrifying Stink Magnetic man-witch Double Ya D, Warner Emery rips the mask right off on his jangly new two pack of tunes. Shattering aristocratic idyllic visions while sounding not unlike a medieval balladeer on the 'A Castle by the Shore', Emery sounds like a friendly ghost encouraging us to roam inner realms of our imagination on 'Strange Regions of Our Minds'. Where is all this leading? Towards his new solo album The Cockroach out on 7th August, that's where.

An all-engulfing animated experience, specifically designed to be projected on the interior of domes, the original soundtrack for Jess Johnson and Simon Ward's XYZZY will finally be available digitally and in a gorgeously designed vinyl LP edition on 15th August. Featuring suitably mind-warping electronic compositions by Stef Animal and Luke Rowell (Disasteradio, Eyeliner) — plus a track each by Lachlan Anderson and Andrew Clarke — dip your ears into teaser tunes 'Parallax Collapse' and 'Herne (The Chase)' right now before next month's launch events.

How about a whole new, locally operated digital music platform / format existing "beyond streaming." Brought to you by Duncan Greive (The Spinoff) and Justin Warren (formerly of Universal Music) amongst others, Lume launched today with a superstar roster of Aotearoa releases. "Lume is a brand new digital format for albums which fans buy and own. It features rare and unreleased music, with 80% of net revenue going to artists and their partners." For full official intel, head along to lumemusic.com.