Making Tracks with The MOST FM: Artist Interviews

Building on their reputation for honeyed melodies and high-energy grooves, Taranaki’s own Fin Rah Zel today releases their latest single, ‘TIME TRAVEL’. A vibrant fusion of contemporary R&B and pop-funk, ‘TIME TRAVEL’ captures a nostalgic yet fresh sound, drawing comparisons to the infectious vibes of Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, and Anderson .Paak. A musical journey with a sentimental view on personal growth, ‘TIME TRAVEL’ was written and recorded alongside renowned award-winning Producer Devin Abrams. Lyrically, it’s a track born from shared stories of growing up in the '90s and early 2000s, offering a playful perspective on life's missed opportunities, as the narrative follows a young man’s transformation from the insecurities and self-doubt of youth, to finding a newfound confidence and self-belief.

Joe Kearns is a Christchurch born and bred singer-songwriter who's been plying his trade in Chch and trying to get his unique poppy songs heard. Formerly a student of the University of Canterbury's School of Music where he has an honours degree majoring in composition, he's just released his 14th single full of his usual pop/psychedelic sensibilities with intelligent and interesting lyrics.'Forever Sun' is a personal song written about his mother as she was dying in late 2025 (very recent!). While there is sadness in the song, there's also celebration. Joe didn't want to write a dirge full of remorse, rather to help put some perspective on her passing and tell the world how he felt.

“SHIVER” is a slow-burning indie-pop track built around close emotive vocals, guitar textures and gorgeous production that opens and explodes in the chorus. Written and recorded in Christchurch, New Zealand and is about the universal lust for love and the intensity of connection; sitting somewhere between indie and modern pop. This release builds on growing local momentum. I’d love for you to consider it for NZ airplay and local content rotation.

Following on from an accomplished debut EP release that garnered praise from the likes of 13th Floor, The Listener and muzic.nz, Fiona & The Glow returns with an Indie-Pop heater ahead of their mainstage debut at Rhythm & Alps Festival.I ADORE’s driving piano melodies act as a fitting counterpoint to Fiona’s empowered vocals, while glistening lines of shimmering guitar float over the propulsive rhythm section’s lock-step grooves. Thematically, the single celebrates keeping pace with the mundane while wrestling to get the best out of the ordinary.

Tāmaki Makaurau five-piece Psycho Gab are stepping into 2026 in style! The fine purveyors of neo-soul have today released their warm and summery new single ‘Compass’ - LISTEN HERE / Watch the video HERE.Emerging in 2023, Psycho Gab have spent the last few years cultivating a unique sound formed at the crossroads between soul, RnB, jazz and pop; and ‘Compass’ delivers on all fronts. Laden with smooth grooves and lush melodies, ‘Compass’ - much like earlier releases from Psycho Gab - ruminates on a plethora of deeply personal themes but with a new-found assuredness and depth. It offers an honest and vulnerable take on navigating identity and relationships, which is bound to resonate with many.

Tauranga band Midwave Breaks are bringing the noise for 2026 with their explosive new single ‘Waste Of Time’. Self-produced on a farm in the hills overlooking the Bay of Plenty, the track marks the first radio release from the band’s forthcoming full-length album, signalling an exciting new chapter for the Tauranga-based Rockers.Waste of Time is an Ironic commentary on the relentless pursuit of the creative process, regardless of commercial value or perceived success. The need to produce, perform, and to keep pursuing a new expression, is the deeper burden and at times addiction, of every creative artist, musician or otherwise.Sonically, the new single delivers a high-energy rock-radio rush, fusing catchy baritone guitar riffs, driving drum grooves, and hook-laden melodies into a punchy, up-tempo track that defies its name and is anything but, a waste of time.

We are longstanding Christchurch alt-rock band Little Fang. 'White Muslin Summer Dress' is our new summer single about supporting those you love through chaos and mental health struggles. WMSD showcases biting guitars and snarling vocals that weave through pounding bass and drums, with a powerful change to a heavier feel and crushing bass at 1m:56s.WMSD is a new summer single about supporting those you love through chaos and mental health struggles. WMSD showcases biting guitars and snarling vocals that weave through pounding bass and drums, with a powerful change to a heavier feel and crushing bass guitar at 1m:56s. Little Fang are a long-standing Christchurch alt-rock group who deal in guitar music which evokes an emotional response through inventive chord changes and overwhelming volume. Little Fang have had multiple songs on the SRNZ charts and radioscope alt airplay charts. A band who wants to bring you the best in big, complex guitar music which changes gear on a dime.

“Alkaline” marks the band’s first single on the road to the release of the group’s debut album. Setting the tone for what’s to come, the band doubles down on the harsh riffs and beats that have become an integral part of their sound, whilst adding elements of experimentation through production choices and pulling from influences that live outside the “indie rock” circle.The track was written, produced, mixed, and mastered entirely by the band. Their hands-on approach to everything means everything you hear has been decided by them, and them alone. It also makes for a more unique, less polished, sound as the band work around the limitations of their equipment and lack thereof.

Off the back of last month's cathartic single release ‘Necklace’, West Auckland post-surf rockers Double Parked have shared another new single, ‘Buttercup’.Drenched in distorting reverb, gritty guitar riffs, and heavy drums, ‘Buttercup’ jolts with anxious and urgent energy, meshing half-spoken, half-sung verses with a raucous, high-charged hook. “Light me up a cigarette, I can’t feel my face, suck it up, buttercup, am I even breathing?” Vocalist Tom cries. Co-written between the whole band, the track's melancholic songwriting embodies the feeling of being on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Aro are a multi-award winning Te Tiriti-based duo whose artistry blends te reo Māori and English, weaving together jazz, folk, soul, and RnB influences. Their work is anchored in the values of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga - caring for ourselves, each other, and the natural world.Over Easter 2025, Aro, stepped into a new chapter of their lives, packing up their Pukekohe home and moving into their custom-fitted Rugged Kiwi caravan and hitting the road with their two tamariki (aged 1 & 4) to live a life centred around whānau, community, bicultural connection, adventure, and legacy.

With his signature mix of infectious grooves and uplifting songwriting, Sonic Delusion returns with “Smoooth” — a playful yet powerful anthem for uncertain times. Written as a positive protest song, “Smoooth” challenges corporate greed, environmental destruction, and prejudice, but flips the narrative toward hope, unity, and the dream of living with ease and compassion. Anchored by driving rhythms and rich melodies, the track is both a rallying cry and an invitation to take a breath, dance, and choose a smoother way forward. Releasing Friday 7th November 2025, “Smoooth” is a reminder that even in a chaotic world, music can carry us toward light, joy, and togetherness.

Auckland’s alt-rock-punk-shoegazey outfit, The Early 20’s, return with their third releasefrom their upcoming EP.“Girl Down South” follows on from the charting singles “Not This Time” and “On & On” , continuing the band’s blend of DIY grit and professional polish.Recorded in bedrooms just as much as studios, the track carries the same homemadeheart that defines The Early 20’s. The track is co-produced by frontman Adam Rivers, withthe finishing touches added by Noema Te Hau III (APRA Silver Scroll, 2024). Mastered byChris Chetland (KOG Studios), the new release has been refined to the core.

“Sharks” is Trauma Party’s latest dark wave/post-punk anthem — a sharp, driving track that disguises heavy themes of depression beneath pulsing basslines and urgent, dance-floor energy.Like sharks circling in the depths, the song uses visceral imagery to capture the relentless pull of dark thoughts, while its infectious rhythm and soaring guitars fight back with defiance. It’s a track that feels both dangerous and exhilarating — an invitation to confront the shadows without losing sight of the light.