Latest news with #FlyingNunRecords
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
OUT NOW: Soft Bait 'Life Advice' Plus Video For Album Track 'Sooner'
Today, Tāmaki Makaurau four-piece Soft Bait release their sophomore album, Life Advice, out now via Flying Nun Records. In support, the band have also announced a release tour of Aotearoa - with shows in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Tāmaki Makaurau, Ōtautahi and Ōtepoti. Soft Bait have been producing off-centre post-punk since their formation in 2020, only sharpening their output since the release of Plot Points - their debut LP released in 2022. Barrelling forward with restless momentum, new album Life Advice is sharp, hook-heavy rock - locomotive bass-lines and live-wire energy fused with musings of online weirdness, distinct Kiwi-isms, and wider reflections on the quiet rituals we fall into, or inherit, without releasing. Life Advice is available worldwide digitally and on vinyl, Standard Silver or on Limited Edition Flying Nun Black. Along with the release and announcement of a nationwide tour, Soft Bait also share a new music video for album focus-track and uneasy-anthem ' Sooner ' where they trade speed for sway; steady, and suspicious. ' Bring in the good news' sings front-man Joshua Hunter - a final manifestation in the face of collective unrest and collapse Life Advice lands like well-meaning wisdom from a mate you definitely shouldn't be taking advice from - half true, half twisted, but still ringing in your ears the next day. The first single, ' New Leaf ' dropped on May 22, followed by ' Long Line ' on July 3rd - both picking up momentum locally and worldwide, with streaming numbers reaching a new height for the band and play on BBC Radio 6. For fans of Viagra Boys, Squid, Warmduscher, and Yard Act, Soft Bait deliver a raw, unfiltered take on the post-punk genre, grounded in Kiwi culture and the peculiarities of everyday life. 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 have now released their sophomore album, 'Life Advice'. 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.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Soft Bait Release New Album 'Life Advice' + Announce Album Release Tour
Today, Tāmaki Makaurau four-piece Soft Bait release their sophomore album, Life Advice, out now via Flying Nun Records. In support, the band have also announced a release tour of Aotearoa - with shows in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Tāmaki Makaurau, Ōtautahi and Ōtepoti. Soft Bait have been producing off-centre post-punk since their formation in 2020, only sharpening their output since the release of Plot Points - their debut LP released in 2022. Barrelling forward with restless momentum, new album Life Advice is sharp, hook-heavy rock - locomotive bass-lines and live-wire energy fused with musings of online weirdness, distinct Kiwi-isms, and wider reflections on the quiet rituals we fall into, or inherit, without releasing. Along with the release and announcement of a nationwide tour, Soft Bait also share a new music video for album focus-track and uneasy-anthem 'Sooner' where they trade speed for sway; steady, and suspicious. ' Bring in the good news' sings front-man Joshua Hunter - a final manifestation in the face of collective unrest and collapse Life Advice lands like well-meaning wisdom from a mate you definitely shouldn't be taking advice from - half true, half twisted, but still ringing in your ears the next day. The first single, 'New Leaf' dropped on May 22, followed by 'Long Line' on July 3rd - both picking up momentum locally and worldwide, with streaming numbers reaching a new height for the band and play on BBC Radio 6. For fans of Viagra Boys, Squid, Warmduscher, and Yard Act, Soft Bait deliver a raw, unfiltered take on the post-punk genre, grounded in Kiwi culture and the peculiarities of everyday life. Friday 12 September Meow, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Saturday 20 September Double Whammy, Tāmaki Makaurau Friday 26 September Darkroom, Ōtautahi Saturday 27 September The Crown, Ōtepoti TICKETS ON SALE NOW Life Advice is available worldwide digitally and on vinyl, Standard Silver or on Limited Edition Flying Nun Black. Order here. ABOUT Soft Bait: 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. 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 in New Zealand, and their live shows have been described as "exhilarating, raucous, lively, punky, and so much fun." Soft Bait is Joshua Hunter, Cameron Mackintosh, Keria Paterson and Patrick Hickley. Soft Bait - Life Advice Tracklisting 01. Highly Recommended 02. New Leaf 03. TNT 04. Long Line 05. Neighbourhood 06. Oh Well 07. Applause 08. Safe As Houses 09. Talk Too Much 10. Sooner
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.
