PuoroMusic

From Lewis Capaldi's emotional performance on the Pyramid Stage to Lorde's surprise album party, here's what happened at Glastonbury on Friday.

The raw lyrics and themes have mostly received praise but some find the juxtaposition with the production value has missed the mark.

Nadia Reid is amongst a group of New Zealanders playing at the massive music festival, with rumours swirling that Lorde may also make a surprise appearance.

The New Zealand musician spoke to RNZ days before she let the world into the raw, fleshy world of her new album Virgin.

Devout fans gathered to be the amongst the first to hear Lorde's long-awaited new album, Virgin, at listening parties held across the country days before the record is unveiled to rest of the world.

"People often look at me strangely when I tell them that one of my best ever festival experiences was in a portaloo."

Although Astrid Jorgensen's childhood hero Mel B was unsure about the act, the choir director says it has sparked the biggest response she's ever had.

Suga of BTS has wrapped up military service - the seventh and final member of the group to be discharged from the South Korean military. BTS is expected to reunite later this year.

This year the awards present a record 34 finalists across 13 categories.

On his latest album Hyperverse, the Crowded House member sought to capture the excitement of the in-the-moment live experience in a studio setting.

The Sampler - The latest from Quantic, Samia proffers sweet vocal tones and Stereolab return as eccentric as ever.

In an era of big budgets and bold visions, Hipgnosis crafted the visual language of 20th-century rock.

As she prepares to support iconic indie band The Pixies on a US tour, Christchurch musician Amelia Murray (aka Fazerdaze) is taking as many solo walks as possible.

Wellington bellringer Dylan Thomas - 21 - trains other young people in the ancient art of the 'peal'.

As she releases her first non-solo album, American musician and psychology student Sharon Van Etten is finding hope in solidarity and compassion.

We have crested the wave of 2025, and are currently gliding into its second half. Smooth sailing from here on out, surely. One thing we can all depend on is music to buoy us up, and with that in mind, here are some personal highlights from the year thus far.

The 61-year-old rocker will bring his tour to Aotearoa for the first time ever.

The NZ indie-folk artist discusses their new album, plus Pulp return after 24 years and Little Simz vents about her former producer.

The Lyttelton singer swings by Music 101 to play live versions of two fresh songs.

The former Beach Boy's distinctive sound - sunshine tinged with melancholy - still rings true, writes longtime fan Nik Dirga.

The Beach Boys musician, songwriter and producer who wrote and produced the 1966 album Pet Sounds, has died aged 82.

Los Angeles artist Jessica Pratt’s show brought a quiet tenderness to a chilly Meow Nui in wintery Wellington on Tuesday.

The legendary American singer and songwriter was one of the most influential and groundbreaking musicians of the late 60s, early 70s.

The Sampler: Phoebe Rings latest, Ladi6 is as effortlessly cool as ever and Salt Water Criminals impress with powerhouse songwriting.

The Oscar-winning Kiwi musician gets romantic about his wife on the new solo album Freak Out City.

The Price Tag says she has been diagnosed early and will "disappear for a bit" to have surgery this month.

In Stories of Surrender, Bono appears solo on stage, sharing stories, jokes and songs that illuminate what life is like for the man behind the sunglasses.

Astonished Devilskin call for a new category at the awards, a confusing scream into the microphone and only in New Zealand would we see crocs step up on stage.

The Christchurch based musician beat fierce competition to take home two of the top awards with her third album, Soft Power.

Stars shone, suited up and sparkled at the New Zealand music industry's big night out.

The popular New Zealand band will pick up the Te Manu Mātārae Tūi for their massive contribution to the local music landscape in the last year.

The intimate, invite-only surprise series of sets took place in the darkness of the bathrooms at an Auckland central YMCA.

Singer and musician Josh Leys has beat thousands of competitors to make it to the semi-finals.

The Grammy award-winning Kiwi singer made a surprise appearance at a Lorde-themed night at Mary’s Underground nightclub, delighting unsuspecting fans in Sydney.

Tony Stamp lends an ear to the latest from Bub, plus crisp indie-pop from Christchurch’s Mim Jensen and a lovely, lush offering from Scottish twins Cloth.

Whether she's writing deeply personal songs or counselling someone else through a tough time, Kiwi soul singer Ladi6 (aka Karoline Tamati) believes that we're all in this together.

The exhaustion of first-time parenting has inspired Aotearoa's top country tune for 2025.

Three very different live performances were awarded at a prestigious radio ceremony in New York.

Don McGlashan plays the fourth in a series of intimate acoustic concerts celebrating 20 years of RNZ's NZ Live music sessions.

Auckland-based composer Levi Patel has fallen in love with a small city in a beautiful region of southwest China, and its led to some interesting musical collaborations.

The song, which the Kiwi singer has already performed at live shows, will feature on her upcoming album.

It's the country's first victory since bearded drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014.

Plus Greta O’Leary is serene and slightly spooky, and Clear Path Ensemble offer sumptuous jazz vibes.

Charismatic singer Ruth Carr led local electro-pop trio Minuit to glory in the 2000s - now she's hitting the stage one last time.

Five years on from his viral breathrough track 'Laxed - (Siren Beat)', Jawsh 685 sits down with The TAHI's So'omālō Iteni Schwalger to chat about what's next.

"I’m a woman except for the days when I’m a man.’ I know that’s not a very satisfying answer, but there’s a part of me that is really resistant to boxing it up.”

Rock and roll legends ZZ Top and superstars George Thorogood & The Destroyers electrified Christchurch fans at Wolfbrook Arena on Thursday evening.

The song contest is known for its eclectic songs and performances while launching successful music careers.

The indie-folk artist is celebrating the release of her debut album which has been in the making for two years.

In the early 2010s a cohort of millennial artists re-imagined the musical soundtracks of 1980s and 1990s to make a new musical genre - among them was computer musician Luke Rowell.

Plus TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe goes solo and a trio of heavy-hitters soundtrack a new anime

Expat dance duo Chaos in the CBD blend tropical flavours with citified beats on their debut LP, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe goes solo, and a trio of heavy-hitters soundtrack a new anime.

As he releases his debut solo album While I'm Distracted, the Kiwi songwriter is making magical connections in North London’s diverse music community.

The Ultrasound tour will kick off in September covering North America, Europe and the UK, with no mention of the singer's homeland on the bill.

Bell is currently one of New Zealand’s most successful music exports despite a lifetime of health battles that made her think having a baby wasn’t possible.

When the music festival called it a day in Wellington this year, nine other cities raised their hand to host the event. Hamilton was the winner.

Harry Russell - aka Harry Ratbag and Harry the Bastard - grew up in Remuera and was part of Auckland’s underground punk scene in the early '80s before heading overseas to absorb the world’s freshest music in London and New York for a couple of decades.

Rebecca Lucy Taylor was plagued by self-doubt after a hit album that preached the opposite.

The singer-songwriter plays as part of a series of intimate acoustic concerts celebrating 20 years of RNZ's NZ Live music sessions.

It's 50 years since 'Yesterday Was Just The Beginning Of My Life’ topped New Zealand's official music charts.

The New Zealand music legend will take fans on an "unforgettable journey" at the Town Hall for the first time in June.

The experimental music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner are releasing their sixth studio album with the help of a special guest - their 3-year-old.

On Blush , There’s A Tuesday show off some fantastic songwriting, plus local dub merchants Pitch Black release a collection of top-tier remixes, and American indie folk band Beirut soundtrack a literal circus.

Tina Cross reflects on her childhood dream of being a prison warden, the 1979 Pacific Song Contest win that forged her path, and the Women's Refuge charity single she was born to write.

Nikau Grace, 17, says she felt a personal connection to the anthem because her koro was in the same battalion as Sir Bom.

Lamar was leading with 10 nominations, including for artist of the year and song of the year for his Grammy-winning diss track Not Like Us.

Director of the NZ Youth Choir, David Squire, and young bass-baritone singer Tim Evans chat about working on the hit Kiwi film.

The Kiwi artist has not released an original solo track since 2021.

And as the songs fly past, there it is: Can you hear the drums echoing tonight? Sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.

Musician Byllie-jean talks about overcoming whakamā [shame] to release her debut EP Filter and the house truck that keeps her housing anxiety at bay.

New Zealand’s hard rock heroes Shihad made ten albums during a 37-year career, but Killjoy stands above the rest.

Tony Stamp checks out the latest release from Babe Rainbow, the reissue of Unrest’s final album and DJ Koze’s kaleidoscopic new LP.

Water can be both a barrier and something that connects us, says rising star harpist Ashley Jackson.

Someone in the Auckland audience yelled a lifelong truth to Chaka Khan: “You were the reason I put heels on!” She replied in signature sass: “Yeah, that’s me, that’s what I am”.

Maipi-Clarke, the youngest MP in New Zealand’s parliament, has a starring role in Walker’s single and music video for 'Mō Āke Tonu'.

Op shopped treasures, designer threads and quirky vintage - the black carpet at the prestigious independent music awards had it all.

Mokotron, the musical identity of academic Tiopira McDowell, was honoured for his album WAEREA, which aims to represent the sounds of urban marae.

You make your world bigger when you can live outside of being comfortable, says musician Jordyn Morgan (aka Jordyn with a Why).

Neive Strang serves up slow-burning ballads, Void Waves puts out some synthy post-punk, and folk-futurist Bon Iver shakes off the gloom.

MĀ doesn't shy away from rapping about the environmental themes of her day job in pest control and biodiversity.

New Zealand's go-to saxophonist is up for Best Jazz Artist at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards.

We've left the beach from Solar Power and we're going back to the dancefloor.

The series of shows celebrate the release of the band's seventh album, Elemental.

Despite knowing the news for a while, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono is still pinching himself. "I’m just still in shock trying to make sense of it all. It's all coming to life now, it's all becoming reality.”

The Persian-Kiwi has earned five nominations at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards which she says is "crazy".

Stan Walker and CHAII lead nominations for the awards that celebrate New Zealand's music industry.

As the beloved Kiwi funk band reunites for a national tour, vocalists Che Fu and Karl Steven rewind to the 1990s.

Who drops their first-ever Māori language album, performs a run of sold-out shows overseas and releases an intimate personal documentary - all within a month? Kiwi folk legend Marlon Williams.

Tom Lark finds song gold in his family history, MĀ turns her attention to the world around us and everything is mellow with Serebii.

Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka. This is a beautiful record, and an important one.

Sparkly miniskirts shimmied, knee high boots jumped and popstar Dua Lipa transformed Spark Arena into a spicy, sweaty nightclub where under-18s were allowed.

Punk is dead, people have been saying since 1978 or so. Of course, that’s a lie. It’s still there, just constantly changing.

A capacity crowd at the new Wellington theatre embraced MJ Lenderman’s Melancholic Songwriting and indulged every note from his band The Wind.

Tony Stamp reviews American songwriter Lucy Dacus's fourth album, the third solo LP from Ringlets guitarist László Reynolds and some blunt, pithy techno from Canada’s Marie Davidson.

Heavy black clouds hinting at rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of attendees at this year’s Synthony music festival in Auckland.

The sold-out Synthony in the Domain was a magical farewell to summer as 40,000 festival-goers threw on their glitter and party gear for a nostalgic trip down dance music lane, writes Liz Garton.

Aotearoa’s premier music historian talks to Nick Bollinger about a lifetime of unearthing and keeping alive rare Kiwi tunes.

Here's how to dig into some classical music history without leaving the house.

The rock band will score a prize for their album, Killjoy, which set them on their way to New Zealand legend status.

How did a concert that started with an orchestra playing dance bangers become the biggest one-day festival in New Zealand?

Once a brake pad salesman, Nick Hayes has launched a second career, spinning techno and hard industrial dance tracks from his yard in Yorkshire.

With hair wet from a swim in Point Chev, the LA-based artist chats about her new jazz-inspired songwriting, her upcoming NZ shows and the silver lining of the Los Angeles wildfires.

A young Canadian woman has honoured her father's memory - and his massive record collection - by sharing it with the world.

Black leather jackets filled Spark Arena for the ethereal sounds of the dream-pop band.

There's so much going on at the annual festival of global music that it can feel overwhelming. The only option is to surrender, say Tony Stamp and So'omālō Iteni Schwalger.

Groundbreaking New Zealand DJ Lady Shaka is a proud femme queen turning international dance floors into a celebration of joy and diversity.

RNZ's Tony Stamp reviews the latest LP from Wellington sibling band Womb, alongside Panda Bear’s latest collection of sunny harmonies and Eddie Chacon’s smoky RnB.

Bob Marley, Beyoncé and New Zealand opera great Dame Kiri Te Kanawa are on the King's rotation.

Nearly 40 years after he first got on the decks, Kiwi hip-hop pioneer DJ Manuel Bundy (aka Manuel Matisi) shares the six songs closest to his heart.

Despite 50 years in the business, soul legend Chaka Khan's voice is as strong as ever, she says, and she has no plans to put up her performing shoes yet.

After a busy year performing a "half-hour of power" at international music festivals, Auckland indie band The Beths spent the summer back home mixing their upcoming album.

Staring into the void of Covid and lockdowns, musician Reb Fountain was scared. She started having crazy dreams that would wake her up, with a need to record the thing she was dreaming about.

Country music is here to stay to in Aotearoa, so saddle up and enjoy the ride.

A decade since its inception the Christchurch music festival stands as arguably the "biggest festival in Australasia".

Tony Stamp puts Laneway festival's youngest performer, American garage-rocker Benjamin Booker and Pōneke's Ripship under his musical microscope.

Deva Mahal on attending the Grammys, her upcoming show at Wellington's Fringe Festival and being inspired by WOW.

After exploding onto the world stage with their 2024 album Cartoon Darkness, big dreams are coming true for Melbourne punk band Amyl and The Sniffers.

Police blame alcohol and violence on a widespread crackdown. But organisers say that's "misinformation".

Fresh from winning three Grammys, Charli XCX captivated a 30,000-strong crowd at Auckland's Western Springs Stadium.

The Australian model and architect walked the red carpet at this year's Grammys in an outfit one tiny sheer body stocking away from being completely nude.

Tenor Pene Pati says it was such a far-fetched dream to be able to make this debut. He's proud to represent Samoa and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This month, the "elderly rockers" tour NZ. Their biggest problem is getting through all the hits, guitarist Ian Moss tells Summer Times.

American country singer Luke Combs makes a new fan of So'omalo Iteni Schwalger.

Local albums, international releases, docos and shows - what Tony Stamp is getting amped about in music.

Auckland finally has a post-New Year's party to be proud of. All it took was Australian music producer Fisher showing us how it's done.

You're ready to go the show, and check out your favourite band - but then it's called off. What do you do next?

Poet and songwriter Tucker Zimmerman shot to newfound fame this year - at 83.

Tony Stamp looks back at a year of musical offerings from the UK and North America - from industrial disco to affable country.

Buffalo was the album that lifted the profile of Wellington band The Phoenix Foundation both here and internationally. Nick Bollinger peels back its sonic layers with the group's three main songwriters.

Electronic musician Tiopira McDowell is challenging other creatives to make a distinctive local sound for Tāmaki Makaurau.

For 75 minutes on Monday night, Auckland's Spark Arena was transformed into a euphoric nightclub experience for the closing night of Troye Sivan's Something To Give Each Other Tour.

From learning guitar in Dargaville to seeking enlightenment in India, Doug Jerebine's musical journey has been a richly textured one.

Want to forget yourself for a while? Listen to Bic Runga's often-overlooked third album, writes Nick Bollinger.

Secure your 3D moon googles and slip on a compostable plant-based LED wristband.

Hitting multiple festivals isn't practical for a lot of Kiwis, and picking the right one can feel intimidating. Here's RNZ's guide to help pick the perfect summer gig.

This was a night for celebration, and if this band needed a crowd coming together, they couldn't have asked for much more than this one.

Some residents surrounding Eden Park said it was the loudest concert they had heard. Whether that's true is hard to say.

Taonga pūoro practitioner Horomona Horo has been recognised as an Arts Laureate for his talent, which he describes as "a different type of magic".

I wasn't sure what kind of crowd would show up to see the American actor's rock band - would it be DC fans wanting to see Aquaman? Metalheads just there for the music? Or excitable aunties just hoping for a glimpse of a certified dreamboat?