Featured Interviews

Alistair Deverick is a Tāmaki-based musician and sound designer whose innovative approach to rhythm, texture, and collaboration has shaped a distinctive career across New Zealand’s music and dance scenes. Known for his versatility as a drummer, producer, and the creative force behind Boycrush, Alistair blends electronic, pop, and experimental sounds in both solo projects and collaborations with acts such as Carnivorous Plant Society, Lawrence Arabia, The Ruby Suns, and Neil F

For Triggar Happy, music means more than just sound. It’s about staying strong, being true to yourself, and not giving up when things get tough.Triggar Happy’s journey to becoming a singer-songwriter has been anything but typical. He grew up farming, writing songs, and performing, and his music blends classic rock, country, and the sounds he loved as a kid. Now, he’s making his mark with his own country-rock style. Over the years, he’s worked on 13 different farms and even ow

When you step into the world created by Simon Ward and Jess Johnson, you’re entering a space where visuals, sound, and immersive technology collide in profoundly imaginative ways. Their collaborative project, XYZZY, has evolved over many years, blending psychedelic art, music, and virtual reality into experiences that are as moving as they are visually stunning. In a recent conversation, Simon Ward provided a candid look at the creative journey, the challenges of working in n

Gareth Thomas, famous for his colourful, pixelated indie pop and his time with Good Shirt, joined us to talk about his new single Lily Knows Electricity. Thomas works as an architect during the day, but he has always found real satisfaction in making music. He admits that building houses for friends soon became too expensive to keep up. “I just find so much satisfaction making music that I can share much more easily than expensive buildings,” he said. His passion for songwri

Bringing together songwriters from different backgrounds in Wellington, with its moody atmosphere and constant wind, creates more than just music. It becomes a story about creativity, teamwork, and resilience. Recently, I met with Eigenface members Logan, Penelope, and Elliot to talk about their debut single “House by the Sea,” their creative process, and how geography, weather, and a bit of chaos have shaped their sound. First, it’s helpful to know who they are and how they

The other day, someone asked, "So what makes you qualified for all of this?" And honestly, it's a fair question. I am the founder and editor of The Groovy Moo, a publication I started to give voice to fans and creatives like myself. My journey through music, creativity, and fan communities has shaped the stories and projects I lead here. I was born into a Christian family where I sat up front every week, probably near the speaker, and worship was my first taste of music. I gr

Sabreen’s music is all about emotion. As a Bengali New Zealand singer-songwriter, she blends indie folk, pop storytelling, cultural identity, and honesty. Her songs often feel like personal confessions that grow into something larger, showing listeners that tough feelings are often more common than we think. Recently, Sabreen has explored her artistic identity more deeply. While her earlier songs were what she calls “people-pleasing pop,” her new music feels more grounded, jo

Left to Right, Greta Van Den Brink (See previous articles), Morgan Ellis (818 publicity), Haylee Mitchell Photo Source: @Hayleemitchell on Insta Haylee Mitchell is a name many of you will recognise. in her own words: She is a third-year (and final-year) student at AUT studying a Bachelor of Communication Studies, majoring in Public Relations with minors in Advertising and Brand Creativity and Marketing and Alongside her studies, has been interning in publicity at 818 Entertai

A.R.T’s new single “Make Me Believe” sits right in that tender space between heartbreak and hope. It is not about rushing into a perfect fairytale or pretending pain never happened. It is about the quiet, scary decision to open your heart again after it has already been broken. It is about wanting to believe in love, even when part of you is still carrying the weight of what came before. For Rosie from A.R.T, that emotional world came from lived experience. “The way that the

Grief doesn't always show up with big drama. Sometimes it just sneaks in quietly and sticks around, especially in families. It's in the stories people tell over and over because they don't want anyone to be forgotten. It's in the photos everyone looks at, in the way people say a name softly because love is still there, and in that weird pain of missing someone you barely got to know. For Salem Māhia, those feelings turned into music. His new song, A Girl Named Abigail, is all

Being called “one to watch” is a compliment, but for First Reserve’s Ryan Connaghan, it also comes with pressure. “A little bit unsettling,” he laughs. “I don’t know if being watched is a great thing, but maybe in this context it is.” As part of Live Nation’s Ones To Watch lineup at Wellington’s beloved San Fran, the band are stepping into a space designed to spotlight emerging artists. For Ryan, being included feels surreal. “I was going through the website and just looking

Dropper's music bursts with energy. When they talk, emotions run high as they jump from memories of childhood bedrooms and favourite punk records to Wellington venues filled with echoes of the past. They talk about the sting of 90s nostalgia, the struggle of writer’s block, the heaviness of grief, their favourite guitars, and the excitement of live shows. There’s always a restless drive pushing them to chase the next song before the last one is even over. Jude and Walter both

If you are new to Mei Semones, you will find her music does not fit into just one genre. It blends the smooth feel of jazz, the gentle touch of bossa nova, the relaxed vibe of indie, and the edge of rock, all brought together by her unique bilingual songwriting. When people ask Mei how she describes her music, she starts with a simple answer. “I would say jazz-influenced indie music,” she says. “But if there’s like a whole conversation, I would probably tell them I’m influenc

May-C is an independent artist in Auckland, and her latest single, Josephine, is out now. I had the chance to discuss this with her. On this new song, she explained: On the surface, it's a romance song about yearning for someone or something. However, at its core, it's about striving for something that might not exist and the instinct to reshape yourself for others. Josephine isn't a real person; it's a concept of someone who seems more put together than you feel. The song ex

Emma Kate’s EP Autumn just dropped, and I had the chance to talk to her about it. In her own words: I've been releasing music since 2021, though it was sporadic at first. That year, I released three songs and collaborated on a few. Two years ago, I tried a rock song. I don't do rock anymore, but I don't think it's necessary to stick to one genre. I listen to all kinds of music, even though pop is my biggest influence. I enjoy writing in different styles, and there's no rule a

Growing up, Beth was always surrounded by music, from writing songs and performing in local productions to busking on the street. Later, while studying at the University of Otago, she met collaborator and producer Abby Wolfe, who encouraged her to begin recording her work. Now Beth is stepping into a new chapter with “Peace Comes With It”, the second single from her debut body of work, The Waiting Room . Following her debut release “Losing You Slow”, which arrived on 13 March

Castaway is a band of brothers brought together by their music. Beginning in a Christchurch university flat, this pop-rock band is made up of Austen (bass), Jack (saxophone, keys), Jackson (vocals, keys, guitar), Joe (vocals, drums), and Rhys (guitar). Their new single, Heart Attack, dropped today, and we had the privilege of speaking with Austen about it. Much of your promo focuses on "bringing back boy bands." With 5 Seconds of Summer started their tour today this label ha

With the release of her new song "Bodies," I had the chance to chat with artist Greta Van Den Brink, and here is how it went. Did you grow up loving music, and how did you get into music? “I grew up loving music. My dad, raised in the 40s and 50s, always played love songs and sang around the house. Mum didn’t listen to much music, so I didn’t have much influence there. I mostly listened to whatever was popular to fit in. At 19, I started finding songs that truly moved me and

Les Big Byrd is a Swedish psychedelic rock band formed in Stockholm. With their upcoming show as part of Strange Universe: Autumn Edition, we had the privilege of chatting with member Jockes. Listen Here If you are listening to them for the first time, where should you start? “We just released a new single, so that's a good start. If you want to hear what we're doing now, we have a couple of albums, so if you like it, there's a lot to discover. It's more fun to start with the

For those who don’t know him, Ali Whitton is an Indie folk singer-songwriter. Although he may be quite a traveller, he currently resides just outside of Wellington. When asked if a certain place stands out to perform, he stated, “Actually, sometimes it's a small one, and it's usually because of the crowd. In terms of, like, defining moments, like, I once played…3 or 4 shows in a day in Paris on Fete de la Musique in, like, 30 degree heat, and bouncing, rushing between shows,