Sunreturn

In The Pits is BACK with a very special episode diving deep into the electronic worlds of AMA winner and blog diver @amamelia.zone . As Rachel says, these two know how to talk, so head to YouTube dot com to watch the full episode. “The Joy of Living” by Amamelia is out now via @sunreturn.nz 🌞

Pack: Takir Dragonstorm (purchased from @cardmerchantnz ) Track: @living.perfection - Late To The Disco (released via @sunreturn.nz ) #mtg #magicthegathering #packopening #electronicmusic #italodisco

@_big_sigh have just released their debut EP Tether and announced a tour throughout Aotearoa to celebrate. The pair start this weekend in Ōtautahi at the Lyttelton Coffee Company, grab tickets from @undertheradarnz Tether’s four stark tracks are a true reflection of Walsh & Hope Peary’s approach to Big Sigh. Limited to what we can each do in the moment with their voices and two hands, the pair trade hushed verses of delicate harmonies, lightly finger pick guitars and breathe life into a harmonium. The EP was recorded by producer @_de_stevens and features appearances from @tiare.kelly , Arden Tanner-Dempsey and multi-instrumentalist Jim Fulton. These guests accompany Big Sigh by delivering sweeping sitar, accompanying cello and tasteful percussion. “This EP is really just the combination of our voices and instruments in a room” says Walsh. “These first songs came out pretty quickly and they’re what informed the direction of the band, if that makes sense. We basically met, started working on music together and rehearsed pretty regularly for a year. It felt like a really serendipitous meeting. We were each going through some heavy stuff personally that naturally fed into the music. That was basically all of 2024: writing, talking about the songs, rehearsing, tweaking the arrangements.” Hope Peary agrees “I think these recordings capture a freshness before any thought about what it should sound like. We simply shared our songs and responded to each other in real time and then went with that. First thought, best thought. As for the overall sound these first recordings were a capture of that first creative spark between two collaborating artists.” Reflecting on the release Hope Peary notes “Playing music was something I released pursuing a long time ago so it feels absolutely surreal to be doing this after not playing or writing for over 10 years. I feel proud of what we’re created together and excited to keep making honest beautiful music!”

🪐EMOCEAN HAS BEEN OUT FOR A YEAR!!🫧 Can you believe it? Most grateful to all who have helped me turn it into a reality, and I hope you have enjoyed listening to it ✨✨ 🙏🙏🙏 Written by Gemma Syme Produced by Gemma Syme & Matthew Gunn Mastered by Luke Rowell Released by Sunreturn

On Friday Junny released OOTD, the second single from her debut EP Kumara Suite on May 21. 🔗 in bio. 
Reminiscent of the 90’s & 00’s R&B that Junny would hear on the car radio or watch after school on C4, OOTD gallops with too-forward drum machine beats, pitched 808s, computerised spanish guitar and harpsichord. OOTD was produced by Amelia Berry (@amamelia.zone ) as a part of the NZoA New Music Development Fund. “OOTD is a nostalgia driven pop song” says Junny “At the time of writing, I was reflecting on my love of popular music in my childhood - 2000s R&B groups like Destiny’s Child. Singing along to that music is how I learned I could sing and it heavily shapes my vocal sensibilities even now (also shout-outs to my mum and Okaihai College Kapa Rōpu of 2001).” “I also had @moananz , Teremoana Rapely and @ardijah_nz on heavy listening rotation at this time. Their music is everything. Amelia named @iamklee1 as inspiration which was spot on - her cover of Broken Wings is so good.” Junny’s stacked layers of harmonies are deadly, speaking truth to capital and colonial hierarchies. “OOTD is a challenge to those in power. It’s a challenge to political actors making short sighted decisions for short term individual gain that create obvious, immediate and long term harm for people and the environment. It’s about waiting for the day we don’t have to be in a state of resistance to that.” “It’s also a reminder of our collective power. We the people can do so much when we’re able to harness it together. It is in power-hoarders best interests if we feel disconnected and disenfranchised. Know that we are in this together, keep pushing forward bit by bit and one day, we will feel the relief of holding strong in our values.” “Ka whawhai tonu mātou. Ake ake ake.”

saturday 9 may 2026 ✈️ big sigh + ōtautahi xoxo

Today we release the second single, OOTD, from my forthcoming EP, Kumara Suite Produced and mixed by @amamelia.zone Mastered by @paquinsounds One of These Days is a nostalgia driven pop song One of These Days is a challenge to those in power One of These Days is an ode to our collective resilience and action in wanting for a more just world, a harmonious taiao, and a culture full of care and creativity One of these days we will be unburdened by environmentally, culturally and constitutionally destructive decisions made for short term gain One of these days you will wake with a deep sense of peace, feeling the sun on your face, stepping out into our beautiful world, one foot in front of the other (((Pupurangi))) an ancient being and the chosen symbol for this songs sentiment From water To land With shell Highly mobile Curling Unobserved For hundreds of millions of years

Super special to have ‘Not a Bee, but a Wasp’ nominated for Best Independent Début at the @independentmusicnz Taites this year. What a thrill to be nominated alongside the wickedly talented @geneva_am and @bub.band - so jazzed. To have it acknowledged at a ceremony that I’ve always held in such high esteem and always had the best time attending was cool as. Any music project is always due to the generosity and talents of many, so the biggest thank you I can muster to: - @spacemaude : co-producer, sound engineer, recorded bass! - @wickedwngz : co-producer, sound engineer, mix! - Harry Thompson-Cook: guitar! - @hinabeaming : violin, viola! - @fenikner : drums! - @kat.tomacruz : live cello! - @francescaparussini : live piano! - @standing.canoe : live bass! - @amamelia.zone : master! - @zac_arnold666 : @sunreturn.nz king! - @alikburns : music videos! - @rachel__ashby and @abigaildellavo : photos! (Rach got this one) - @look.bomb : mua! - anyone who listened, interviewed, playlisted, supported! - my family, most importantly my siblings James, Clara, Lavinia, and Toby, because I really only do anything in the hope you’ll think I’m cool xxxx

@amamelia.zone ’s The Joy Of Living hits the @aotearoacharts at #3 on the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums and #24 on the Top 40 Albums! Grab a copy on vinyl from @bandcamp and all good record stores 🌞

Now signed with Sunreturn @living.perfection releases the a four to the floor anthem Late To The Disco, taken from his upcoming debut EP Ovo Je Za Tebe (out July 17). Fans can celebrate Late To The Disco on May 1st when Living Perfection performs with support from @studfinderband and @finnjohansson2006 at @cupid__bar . 🔗 in bio Living Perfection is the musical project of Maté Vella, a songwriter and producer based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. Vella is a prolific guitarist who found his footing in Tāmaki’s teeming All Ages scene of the 2010s. Alongside Lliam Powell and Alexander Grant, he formed the post-punk outfit Cool Cult, releasing two records via Muzai, touring Aotearoa, and performing at Camp A Low Hum. The trio later expanded their lineup, becoming Trust Punks. The band released two acclaimed albums on international indie labels Wharf Cat and Spunk, earning coverage from NME and Pitchfork. More recently, Vella has turned to electronic production as one half of nxrthwxstkvrdvshivn, while performing in Sunreturn affiliated acts including Long Distance Runner, Chances Are, K M T P, and Family Band. In 2025, he launched Living Perfection as a vehicle to further his electronic practice and explore his Croatian heritage. Early singles “Steel and Soul” and “Ti Si Moj Dom” found favour with the local alternative ears. Late To The Disco juts and jives with icy synth melodies, bouncing bass arpeggiation and a distant vocal delivery akin to having a conversation in the club. Expertly mixed and mastered by @martin.phillips.audio.engineer (REPAIRS, God Bows To Math) Late To The Disco hooks the listener in with its Italo disco sheen and late-night momentum, practically insisting on sunglasses while hitting the dancefloor. “I wanted to pay homage to all the years I ignored my dancing, party self while playing in serious bands,” reflects Vella. “Of course there is room for both, but writing this music I’ve unlocked something so fun and playful.” Reflecting on the track Vella grins “This is my favourite song off of the EP, it feels like something my family would’ve heard back in the 80’s in Eastern Europe dancing the night away.” 📷 @tomsaldyton

Pack: Core Set 2020 (purchased from @hobbymasternz ) Track: @_big_sigh - Tether (out via @sunreturn.nz ) #mtg #magicthegathering #music #alternative

Count 5 with @amamelia.zone - here she shares five albums that left a lasting influence on her new album The Joy Of Living 🌞