Eigenface Tour

Eigenface are heading out on the road to celebrate the release of their debut album and are excited to make to Whanganui, with support from Michaela Tempers.

For these shows, Penelope Esplin and Elliot Vaughan will be travelling as a duo, bringing Eigenface into a more intimate live setting with layered vocals, guitars, electronics, ambient and orchestral textures and the occasional moment where everything gets bigger than two people probably ought to manage.

The group comprises Penelope Esplin on synth and vocals, Elliot Vaughan (CNZ/NZSM Composer in Residence 2024, Moth Quartet, RNZ Concert Presenter) on bass and vocals, and Logan Valentine (Moon Lander) on electric guitar and vocals. The group formed from an impromptu challenge to write and perform on one another's work, the result became a cohesive set of songs, resulting in Eigenface's self-titled debut album.

The album moves between folk intimacy, dream-punk, electronic experimentation and bright, dissonant pop, exploring memory, place, relationships and all the uncomfortable bits in between.
Released on Home Alone Records, Eigenface arrives on October 2, 2026. Recorded and mixed by Vaughan and mastered by Harris Newman (Wolf Parade, Buck Meek, Godspeed You! Black Emperor), the album features Vaughan's lush string arrangements throughout. Across its songs, the band explores memory, place, relationships and the tension between beauty and discomfort through expansive arrangements, electronic textures and intimate storytelling.

Eigenface’s debut single, House by the Sea, reached #1 on RDU (Christchurch), #4 on Radio1 (Dunedin) and #2 on the Student Radio Network Charts. Their second single, Slow Exposure, reached #1 on RDU, #3 on Radioactive (Wellington) and #2 on the SRN Charts. Their third single, Twizel, reached #1 on RDU and #8 on the SRN Charts. Eigenface have appeared at Day in the Bay, The Performance Arcade and Newtown Festival, and shared stages with Lake South, Julian Temple and The Broken Heartbreakers.

Michaela Tempers is a writer and musician based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa. Tempers singing voice has been described as “a rare warbling instrument that will leave you grasping for comparisons” (Tony Stamp, RNZ). “Her voice and musical vision establish her as a striking new presence in our ever growing and evolving folk music landscape – honest, rich, insightful.” (Tim Gruar, Muzic.NZ).

Tempers’ debut EP, recorded alongside producers Brooke Singer (French for Rabbits) and Chris Armour (Miles Calder, Louis TM ), is brimming with “sincerity leavened by wit and uniquely dynamic constructs” (Richard Thorne, NZ Musician). Tempers will be joined by Dayle Jellyman (organ) for the Whanganui/Wellington shows, and Chris Armour (guitar) for the Wellington show. She has opened for Creedence Clearwater Revival, Holly Arrowsmith, Jed Parsons, Irish folk band Boega, as well as Australian folk artists Boy & Bear.

Eigenface Album Release Tour
Friday 2nd October – Space Academy, Christchurch
Saturday 3rd October – Pearl Diver, Dunedin
Friday 6th November – Vogelmorn, Wellington
Saturday 7th November – Porridge Watson, Whanganui
Thursday 12th November – Big Fan, Auckland
Friday 13th November – Last Place, Hamilton

Tickets on sale via undertheradar.co.nz