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Meet four of New Zealand’s rising music stars

They're ready to take on the world

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Weekly updates


Apple Music have thrown their support behind a bunch of New Zealand’s rising independent music stars as a part of NZ Music Month. They brought together four independent artists for a week at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios, where each created a song that launched exclusively on the platform. Below we meet the selected musicians and bump their exclusive new tracks.

  • Photography by: Imogen Wilson

01. Bobandaii

Age: 22
Instagram handle: @iambobandii
Where were you born: Warkworth
Where do you live now: Central Auckland
Describe your music in 3 words or less: Eclectic Soul
What’s your song about: The struggle between the hero and the worldly possessions that tempt him and threaten his purity.
Where’s the perfect place to listen to your song: Wherever you are most comfortable, as long as there are soft surfaces around for that headbang.
What’s the music scene like in NZ right now: It’s in a state of flux and evolution. There is such a diverse range of creativity here and it’s really starting to make a name for itself worldwide.

02. Tapz

Age: 21
Instagram: @Tapzgallantino
Where were you born: Zimbabwe
Where do you live now: In between heaven and hell.
Describe your music in 3 words or less: Noir, R&B, punk.
What’s your song about: A superstituous experience where horror meets love.
Where’s the perfect place to listen to your song: In the night.
What’s the music scene like in NZ right now: Evolving.

03. NÏKA

Age: 20
Instagram: @_nikamusic_
Where were you born: Blenheim, New Zealand.
Where do you live now: Nelson, New Zealand.
Describe your music in 3 words or less: Fun, bright, pop.
What’s your song about: It’s about looking forward and learning from the past. Expressing how you feel so that its easier to step into the future with an open mind and heart and just let go.
Where’s the perfect place to listen to your song: Anywhere, it’s a feeling that is universal and can be felt anywhere at anytime. I want this song to pump people up, make them have a little fun.
What’s the music scene like in NZ right now: I think it’s good but it could be better. There is so much talent coming through and as a country I think we need to get behind it more.

04. Baynk

Age: 24
Instagram: @baynkofficial
Where were you born: Sydney, Australia
Where do you live now: Auckland, New Zealand
Describe your music in 3 words or less: Eclectic dance music.
What’s your song about: It’s an experimental track based on someone I was missing. It starts at 108bpm and ramps up to 124bpm then slows down again. It’s a replication of the adrenaline rush you get when remembering someone.
Where’s the perfect place to listen to your song: Anywhere the sun is shining.
What’s the music scene like in NZ right now: Small but exciting, a lot of under the radar stuff that is incredible.

Listen to ‘Someone’ by Baynk now.