Latest news with #FlyingNunRecords
Scoop
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
The Bats Announce New Album Corner Coming Up Plus New Single/Video'Lucky Day'
New Zealand indie rock royals, The Bats, have recently had their heads down recording new music and have today announced their 11th full-length album, 'Corner Coming Up', out on October 17th via Flying Nun Records. The new album strikes a very distinctive and familiar chord that exists in the fuzzy-loving hearts of fans all round the world. Throughout their 40 plus years of existence, and now with 'Corner Coming Up' ready to share with the world, The Bats have stayed true to their roots, creating timeless music that continues to resonate with fans old and new. 'Corner Coming Up' was recorded at Chicks Studio in Port Chalmers by Flying Nun legend, Tex Houston, and is out digitally, and on peach or black vinyl LP and CD on 17th October 2025 via Flying Nun Records. The Bats are Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean and Malcolm Grant. Since their inception in Christchurch in 1982, The Bats' music has earned a devoted following around the world, and they remain one of New Zealand's most cherished and enduring exports. The band has a phenomenal ability to create melodies that linger long after the record has stopped spinning. Today the band have also shared their brand new video single 'Lucky Day'. Shot out of a suitcase by Marc Swadel, Julian Reid and Kermath, while on work trips, the accompanying lo-fi psychedelic video was shot in Florence, London, Tokyo, Doha, Taipei, Liverpool, Zagreb, Manchester and Hong Kong with the band filming themselves in Christchurch. This is the fourth Bats video by director Marc Swadel (who has previously worked with Crowded House, Thurston Moore, The Datsuns, Jonathan Bree, Sparks, Liam Finn, Duran Duran, Head Like a Hole and The Chemical Brothers) "When I heard the name of the song, I thought - lucky cat! The Japanese name for this creature is Maneki-Neko - and in their folklore the Bat is a sign of good luck - the Bakeneko - so it felt like a random but fun idea, to take a cat along on work and shoot as we go." - Marc Swadel The Bats formed in Christchurch in 1982. The quartet — Robert Scott, Kaye Woodward, Paul Kean and Malcolm Grant — has held the same lineup for over four decades, perhaps making them the longeststanding unchanged band in Aotearoa history. They first emerged on the Flying Nun label in the early '80s, blending jangly guitars and rich melodies that would come to influence alternative rock in New Zealand and around the world. Their debut album, Daddy's Highway (1987), remains a masterpiece of the genre, paving the way for subsequent albums like The Law of Things (1990), Fear of God (1991), Silverbeet (1993) and Couchmaster (1995). After a decade-long break starting in 1995, they returned with the acclaimed At the National Grid (2005), infusing fresh energy without losing their trademark sound. Since then, they've released The Guilty Office (2008), Free All the Monsters (2011), The Deep Set (2017), and Foothills (2020), each offering new facets of their signature jangle-pop while preserving their melodic core. Critics and fans alike praise their consistency, but the band insists their sound has naturally evolved—even as it remains uniquely recognisable . In April 2025, after a fiveyear wait since 2020's Foothills, The Bats unveiled a new single 'Loline'. The single was accompanied by a warmly nostalgic video of the band cycling through Ōtautahi lovingly mixed in with live performance footage from the last couple of years. 'Loline' hinted at the first taste of their forthcoming album, serving up the signature high quality songwriting that fans have adored for over 40 years. 'Loline' blends bright-eyed romanticism, fuzzy guitar textures, soaring harmonies, and a sense of nostalgia. Still playing live and recording, The Bats remain a testament to loyal craftsmanship, melodic depth, and enduring friendship—their newest work a glowing chapter in an already remarkable story.
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Soft Bait Share New Single/Video ‘Long Line', And Announce In-Store Performance
Soft Bait are back and serving us with another ripping tune, ' Long Line ', from their upcoming sophomore offering ' Life Advice ' — due out 25th July via Flying Nun Records. 'Long Line' is about the baggage you didn't ask for but got anyway; bad backs, bad tempers, petty grudges passed down like family recipes. It's the sound of generational hangups with a beat you can stomp to. As Josh puts it, 'It's about self-concept, the beliefs and traits we inherit and hold onto, even when they don't serve us.' The track doesn't hold back. Pounding bass and drums grind forward with intent. Guitars jab like they're trying to start something. Then it cracks open into something big, messy, and weirdly uplifting, like yelling into the void and getting an answer back. Directed by Ryan Fielding, and made with the support of NZ On Air Music, the video for ' Long Line ' drops the viewer into a rusted-out dream where dystopia comes with a side of deep-fried cheese. Inside a flickering future, workers grind through shifts at a neon-lit pizza parlour, jacked into glitching VR headsets. In their heads: a band caged in an industrial dive, playing to a crowd of cyber bikers from hell. It's doomscroll-era paranoia wrapped in a warped MTV fever dream, an end-of-shift hallucination with no log-off. The band have also announced that, to celebrate their new album, they are performing a special one-off in-store at our Flying Nun Records shop on Karangahape Road in Auckland. It's free, and we reckon it'll be the hottest ticket in town — so mark Saturday 26th July @ 3PM this in your calendar now! Soft Bait are a four-piece from Tāmaki Makaurau making pointed, off-centre post-punk that barrels forward with restless momentum. Since forming in 2020, they've built a reputation off the back of their electric live shows, sharp lyricism, and a knack for turning everyday absurdities and half-remembered pop culture into something worth shouting about. Soft Bait's sophomore offering, 'Life Advice ' is out on the 25th July, both digitally and on black or silver vinyl LP. Soft Bait are Joshua Hunter, Patrick Hickley, Keria Paterson and Cameron Mackintosh. Their debut album, ' Plot Points' (2022), introduced a sound that blends gothic post-punk with personal, powerful vocals. The album's singles, Big' and ' True Stories ', topped SRN radio charts, and their live shows have been described as 'exhilarating, raucous, lively, punky, and so much fun.' Now part of the Flying Nun Records family, Soft Bait is set to release their sophomore album, 'Life Advice' on July 25th. A sharp, hook-heavy record with chugging bass lines, restless energy, and tightly wound turns. The songs dig into online weirdness, Kiwi archetypes, and the quiet rituals we fall into without realising. Lyrically, it's full of lines that land like overheard wisdom from a mate you probably shouldn't be taking advice from — half true, half twisted, and still ringing in your ears the next day. If your record shelf includes Viagra Boys, Squid, Warmduscher, or Yard Act, Soft Bait delivers a raw, unfiltered take on the post-punk genre, grounded in Kiwi culture and the peculiarities of everyday life.
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Soft Bait Share New Single/Video 'Long Line', And Announce In-Store Performance
Soft Bait are back and serving us with another ripping tune, ' Long Line ', from their upcoming sophomore offering ' Life Advice ' — due out 25th July via Flying Nun Records. 'Long Line' is about the baggage you didn't ask for but got anyway; bad backs, bad tempers, petty grudges passed down like family recipes. It's the sound of generational hangups with a beat you can stomp to. As Josh puts it, 'It's about self-concept, the beliefs and traits we inherit and hold onto, even when they don't serve us.' The track doesn't hold back. Pounding bass and drums grind forward with intent. Guitars jab like they're trying to start something. Then it cracks open into something big, messy, and weirdly uplifting, like yelling into the void and getting an answer back. Directed by Ryan Fielding, and made with the support of NZ On Air Music, the video for ' Long Line ' drops the viewer into a rusted-out dream where dystopia comes with a side of deep-fried cheese. Inside a flickering future, workers grind through shifts at a neon-lit pizza parlour, jacked into glitching VR headsets. In their heads: a band caged in an industrial dive, playing to a crowd of cyber bikers from hell. It's doomscroll-era paranoia wrapped in a warped MTV fever dream, an end-of-shift hallucination with no log-off. The band have also announced that, to celebrate their new album, they are performing a special one-off in-store at our Flying Nun Records shop on Karangahape Road in Auckland. It's free, and we reckon it'll be the hottest ticket in town — so mark Saturday 26th July @ 3PM this in your calendar now! Soft Bait are a four-piece from Tāmaki Makaurau making pointed, off-centre post-punk that barrels forward with restless momentum. Since forming in 2020, they've built a reputation off the back of their electric live shows, sharp lyricism, and a knack for turning everyday absurdities and half-remembered pop culture into something worth shouting about. Soft Bait's sophomore offering, 'Life Advice ' is out on the 25th July, both digitally and on black or silver vinyl LP. Soft Bait are Joshua Hunter, Patrick Hickley, Keria Paterson and Cameron Mackintosh. Their debut album, ' Plot Points' (2022), introduced a sound that blends gothic post-punk with personal, powerful vocals. The album's singles, Big' and ' True Stories ', topped SRN radio charts, and their live shows have been described as "exhilarating, raucous, lively, punky, and so much fun." Now part of the Flying Nun Records family, Soft Bait is set to release their sophomore album, 'Life Advice' on July 25th. A sharp, hook-heavy record with chugging bass lines, restless energy, and tightly wound turns. The songs dig into online weirdness, Kiwi archetypes, and the quiet rituals we fall into without realising. Lyrically, it's full of lines that land like overheard wisdom from a mate you probably shouldn't be taking advice from — half true, half twisted, and still ringing in your ears the next day. If your record shelf includes Viagra Boys, Squid, Warmduscher, or Yard Act, Soft Bait delivers a raw, unfiltered take on the post-punk genre, grounded in Kiwi culture and the peculiarities of everyday life.
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ringlets Share Album ‘The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time For Walkies)' & Announce Tour Of Aotearoa
Press Release – The Label 'The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) proves that Ringlets are the most exciting post-punk band to emerge from the New Zealand music scene in years' – Conor Lochrie, Rolling Stone Today, Ringlets share their sophomore album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) via Flying Nun Records and Leather Jacket Records and announce a tour of Aotearoa in support – with shows in Ōhinehou, Ōtepoti, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Tāmaki Makaurau this August. Friday 1 August Wunderbar, Ōhinehou Saturday 2 August* Secret Show, Ōtepoti Friday 8 August Meow, Te Whanganui a-Tara Saturday 9 August Whammy Bar, Tāmaki Makaurau TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM *TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is the band's shimmering follow-up to their distinct eponymous debut in 2023 and a vibrant expression of their singular song craft. Produced by Ringlets – Arabella Poulsen (bass & vocals), Arlo Grey (drums), László Reynolds (guitar & vocals) and Leith Towers (lead-vocalist) – in Auckland at The Lab alongside Michael Logie (The Mint Chicks) and mixed by Isaac Keating at Abbey Road Studios, The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) conjures mystic visions; takes raucous, unkempt yet solely committed turns, twists, and tiptoes delicately between the absurd and the divine. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is available for purchase now on Translucent Green Vinyl with Obi Strip and on Exclusive Flying Nun Black. Order or save the album here. About Ringlets: Ragingly bright post-punk quartet Ringlets emerged from Aotearoa's musical ether in 2021; carving out space with their distinct blend of delicate wit, grit and evident sonic technicality. With a highly durable, machine-tested rhythm section (Arabella Poulsen, Arlo Grey) and two of Auckland's leading lyrical & melodic consultants (László Reynolds, Leith Towers), Ringlets have been fast-building a solid reputation. Catching the eye of former Pitchfork editor Chris Ott, Autumn 2023 saw the band release their eponymous debut under Ott's label Mutual Skies. Produced by De Stevens (Office Dog, Erny Belle) and the band themselves, the 10-track album is a riotous and tightly sporadic introduction to this exciting musical offering from Tāmaki Makaurau. Since then, the four-piece has been sharpening their toolkit with numerous performances across Aotearoa, supporting heavy-hitting internationals such as UK indie-rockers Sorry, and seminal punk force The Damned as well as stand-out festival performances at The Others Way, Junk Fest & Newtown Festival. Content Sourced from Original url
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Ringlets Share Album 'The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time For Walkies)' & Announce Tour Of Aotearoa
'The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) proves that Ringlets are the most exciting post-punk band to emerge from the New Zealand music scene in years' - Conor Lochrie, Rolling Stone Today, Ringlets share their sophomore album The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) via Flying Nun Records and Leather Jacket Records and announce a tour of Aotearoa in support - with shows in Ōhinehou, Ōtepoti, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Tāmaki Makaurau this August. Friday 1 August Wunderbar, Ōhinehou Saturday 2 August* Secret Show, Ōtepoti Friday 8 August Meow, Te Whanganui a-Tara Saturday 9 August Whammy Bar, Tāmaki Makaurau TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM *TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is the band's shimmering follow-up to their distinct eponymous debut in 2023 and a vibrant expression of their singular song craft. Produced by Ringlets - Arabella Poulsen (bass & vocals), Arlo Grey (drums), László Reynolds (guitar & vocals) and Leith Towers (lead-vocalist) - in Auckland at The Lab alongside Michael Logie (The Mint Chicks) and mixed by Isaac Keating at Abbey Road Studios, The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) conjures mystic visions; takes raucous, unkempt yet solely committed turns, twists, and tiptoes delicately between the absurd and the divine. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) is available for purchase now on Translucent Green Vinyl with Obi Strip and on Exclusive Flying Nun Black. Order or save the album here. About Ringlets: Ragingly bright post-punk quartet Ringlets emerged from Aotearoa's musical ether in 2021; carving out space with their distinct blend of delicate wit, grit and evident sonic technicality. With a highly durable, machine-tested rhythm section (Arabella Poulsen, Arlo Grey) and two of Auckland's leading lyrical & melodic consultants (László Reynolds, Leith Towers), Ringlets have been fast-building a solid reputation. Catching the eye of former Pitchfork editor Chris Ott, Autumn 2023 saw the band release their eponymous debut under Ott's label Mutual Skies. Produced by De Stevens (Office Dog, Erny Belle) and the band themselves, the 10-track album is a riotous and tightly sporadic introduction to this exciting musical offering from Tāmaki Makaurau. Since then, the four-piece has been sharpening their toolkit with numerous performances across Aotearoa, supporting heavy-hitting internationals such as UK indie-rockers Sorry, and seminal punk force The Damned as well as stand-out festival performances at The Others Way, Junk Fest & Newtown Festival. The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) Tracklisting 01. Posh Girl Holds a Whip 02. I Was on That Roof Once 03. Half an Idiot 04. Street Massage 05. Rolling Blunts on the Dresden Codex 06. Heavenly Wheel 07. Ancient Gays 08. Sucking on a Surly Pout 09. Hit the Frog 10. This Year's Hottest Movie
