Betty-Anne releases ‘Slow Burn’, a debut solo album shaped by a lifetime of music, experience, and truth.

There are voices that come and go, and then there are voices that stay with you.

For more than four decades, Betty-Anne has been one of those voices. From her early days fronting Ardijah, helping define the sound of Poly funk in Aotearoa, through to a catalogue of songs that have lived in homes, on dancefloors, and across generations, her voice has always carried something deeper — something honest.

Not a return — a continuation

Slow Burn is not a return. It’s a continuation.

Released as her debut solo album, the record arrives with the weight of a life fully lived. Shaped by love, loss, and quiet resilience, it reflects what it takes to keep moving forward when things shift. Created alongside whānau and close collaborators, every track feels personal — not in a way that seeks attention, but in a way that invites you in.

There’s a real stillness to this album. A sense of someone who understands that not everything needs to be rushed, or resolved. The songs move through heartbreak, healing, and acceptance — carried by a voice that knows exactly where it stands.

You hear it in You Remain. You feel it in Pūmau Tonu Koe. In the title track Slow Burn, there’s a quiet strength in the idea that love doesn’t simply disappear — it changes, it settles, and it stays with you in different ways.

Clarity through experience

Betty-Anne has always been known for her power, her presence, and her ability to hold a room.

What stands out here is something else — clarity.

At 60, and after a lifetime in music, she’s not trying to prove anything. She’s simply telling the truth of where she’s at. There’s courage in that, and generosity too — these songs feel like something for others to hold onto, especially those finding their way through their own seasons of change.

Each waiata feels like a taonga. Not just because of what they are, but because of where they come from. They carry the people, the moments, and the experiences that have shaped her. You can hear the whānau in it. You can feel the grounding.

That’s what makes Slow Burn special.

It doesn’t look back to recreate what’s already been. It honours it, then moves forward — reminding us that growth doesn’t always happen in big moments. Sometimes it’s quieter than that. Sometimes it’s just choosing to keep going.

Betty-Anne is still doing exactly that — still climbing, still learning, still sharing her voice.

Slow Burn is out now on all major streaming platforms.

Written at his home based on real life experiences, the track carries the kind of knowledge that isn’t taught, it’s passed down – protecting the land, respecting it, and understanding your place within it, which is knowledge passed on through generations and to Te Wehi from his grandfather. 

The video stays true to that as well. It was shot on his farm – not dressed up or reimagined, just the place he calls home and looks after every day.

Born and raised in Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty, Te Wehi (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua, Te Whakatōhea) has built everything from the ground up. His music reflects real life, and people have connected with that – not because it’s pushed at them, but because it’s honest and relatable. That connection has grown across Aotearoa New Zealand, and increasingly with people further afield who relate to the story and the kaupapa behind it.

I’m Home is the title track from his debut album arriving May 1, and comes as he prepares to head out on his first headline tour across New Zealand. 

At its core, the song is simple.
It’s about respecting where you stand – and not losing that, no matter where things take you.

Download or stream

After more than a decade at the forefront of Aotearoa rock, Villainy aren’t looking back. If anything, Happy Waste feels like a reset – a sharp reminder of who they are and why they’ve endured.

Fresh off the back of a huge set at Jim Beam Homegrown 2026, the Auckland four-piece return with a track that hits immediately. It’s big, direct, and built for the stage – a song designed to land in a live setting.

At its core, Happy Waste feels more personal. It leans into the masks we wear – the version of ourselves we show the world versus what’s really going on underneath. It’s a theme the band approach more directly here, without the layers that once sat between the idea and the song.

Sonically, Villainy lean into what they do best. Strong hooks, shifting dynamics, and a sense of controlled intensity shaped by years on the road. Every element feels deliberate, built to create moments that connect in real time.

Since forming in 2011, Villainy have quietly built one of the most consistent catalogues in New Zealand rock – three albums, three award-winning campaigns, and a reputation forged through relentless touring. Tracks like Miles Away, which held the No.1 spot on the NZ Rock Radio Chart for eight weeks in 2024, only reinforced that connection with audiences.

But Happy Waste isn’t just a continuation – it signals intent. After a run of shows last year, the band returned with renewed energy and a clearer sense of direction.

As the first taste of their upcoming fourth album, Happy Waste sets the tone for what’s ahead, focused, driven, and unmistakably Villainy.

Stream/listen

There’s something about a love song that doesn’t try too hard.

On their new single 2am in Kamuela, Honolulu band Wavvy keep things simple in the best way: warm, steady, and easy to sit with. It’s the kind of song that feels like it’s always been there.

Built around a laid-back country feel with a soft island undercurrent, the track is less about big declarations and more about being present. It’s about choosing someone in the moment – no pressure, no overthinking – just connection.

That balance comes through in the sound. There’s a clear country influence running through it, but it still carries that unmistakable island feel. Nothing feels forced – it just lands where it should.

The song itself came together naturally. Written on a trip to Maui and brought to life with the full band in the studio – including a touch of steel guitar – it has that loose, organic feel that suits it perfectly.

Momentum building

Wavvy has been building real momentum over the past year. In 2025 alone, they released five tracks, with several landing in power rotation on local radio and picking up new editorial playlist support.

That growth is translating globally too – their Spotify audience has surged by over 1,700% in the last 12 months, now sitting at nearly 300,000 monthly listeners and more than 11 million streams across their catalogue. Aotearoa has become a key part of that story, now ranking as their second biggest streaming market.

With their debut album on the way, 2am in Kamuela feels like a strong marker – a simple, honest song that sticks with you, backed by a band clearly on the rise.

Out now on all major streaming platforms.

Listen here

When the sun is still rising but the coffee’s gone cold, how do you fill your cup?

For TheWesternGuide, Remember My Name feels like that quiet moment – a steady reminder that keeps him grounded in his artistry, with two boots on the ground even when his name is starting to carry further.

Hailing from West Auckland, Samoan singer-songwriter TheWesternGuide is carving out a distinct path in Aotearoa’s evolving country scene, representing a new wave of artists redefining what the genre means to Kiwi listeners.

His latest single, Remember My Name, plays like a personal talisman – a deeply felt mantra that keeps him anchored to his purpose, even when the path ahead still feels fresh underfoot. At its core, the song is about recognising your worth and trusting your calling, even when that voice is hard to hear.

Held close for nearly a year, the track has remained a quiet anchor through moments of doubt. Now, it feels ready to be shared – with the hope it reaches others navigating similar feelings. Acoustic and unforced, Remember My Name sits comfortably in a heartfelt country space, resonating with listeners in their late teens through to their early thirties – that time when imposter syndrome often creeps in while chasing something bigger.

There’s also a deeper thread running through the song for young Pasifika men growing up in Aotearoa, grounded in the line referencing a “Samoan boy born in milk and honey.”

Grounded in identity, shaped by sound

TheWesternGuide’s journey began in spaces where music is a pillar of community and connection. His sound is shaped by church harmonies and his Samoan culture, heard early on in tracks like Pe Moni Ea and Siva Mai.

As his sound evolved, so did his direction. An eclectic mix of R&B, soul and afro influences naturally found its way into his take on country, creating something that feels both familiar and distinctly his. Momentum followed with Hot 20 Aotearoa charting tracks like Bottom of the Bed and Dive Bar, signalling a shift toward country while still carrying the textures of where he started. The Bottom of the Bed music video further cemented that moment, earning a finalist spot at the 2025 Pacific Music Awards for Best Pacific Music Video.

Through it all, he’s stayed consistent in one thing – valuing honesty over polish, and feeling over formula.

“My dad used to always tell me that I’d make better music if I just played a guitar and sang to a crowd instead of using all these fancy beats that I always used to try to do… If I can leave behind a legacy that says, ‘just try it’, that’s it.”

That thinking sits at the heart of Remember My Name. Nothing overworked. Nothing forced. Just a clear message, carried by voice and guitar.

From backyard stages to bigger rooms

Expressing his emotion raw – straight from the heartstrings to the acoustic ones – TheWesternGuide brings a candid authenticity that feels at home both in Nashville and in Aotearoa’s backyard.

This release follows an impressive summer, where that authenticity translated naturally on stage. Supporting Kaylee Bell on her national 2025 Cowboy Up tour, performing at Sweet Home Aotearoa, and stepping onto the stage at Australia’s CMC Rocks alongside artists like Jordan Davis, Old Dominion and Riley Green – each moment building a reputation for live shows that feel open, warm and easy to connect with.

A quiet promise

When the outside world is starting to take notice, this track looks inward.

As his journey continues to unfold – from backyard beginnings and school drop-offs to international festival lineups – Remember My Name stands as both a marker of how far TheWesternGuide has come, and a signal of where he’s heading next.

More than anything, Remember My Name is a promise – to the crowds, the bright lights, and more importantly, to himself.

TheWesternGuide – Remember My Name
Available now on all major streaming platforms.

Some artists write songs, others live them first.

At 23, Myshaan Komene (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) has laid out his heart for all to hear.

With the release of his new album My Love, the rising Pacific-soul artist delivers his most personal body of work yet – a heartfelt tribute to his wife and a defining step in a journey that continues to gather momentum across Aotearoa and the wider Pacific.

Raised in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, Myshaan found his voice early. Church was his first stage. Guitar in hand, encouraged by his mum, he grew up performing, writing and sharing music with the people around him. That foundation shaped an artist who creates from lived experience and invites others into it.

In 2023, Sway introduced his sound to audiences across Aotearoa and throughout Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. In 2024, Carry My Heart sparked a wave on TikTok, inspiring localised versions across the Islands, with Fiji leading the movement. Listeners didn’t just stream the track. They reinterpreted it, performed it and shared it within their own communities. The song travelled because people carried it.

Across three singles, Myshaan has achieved more than 117 collective weeks in the Official Top 20 Aotearoa Singles Chart. Missed Your Chance and Paint Them With You both reached #3 on the Hot 20 Aotearoa chart, while the reo Māori version of Missed Your Chance topped the RadioScope Te Reo Māori Airplay Chart. Myshaan’s momentum continues, bringing strong results and real impact.

My Love: a record written in real time

And now, My Love builds on that foundation with depth and intention.

Featuring Missed Your Chance, Paint Them With You and Pacific Beauty, the album captures the intensity of attraction and the ache of long-distance. Written during a season apart from his wife, shortly after proposing, the project explores commitment, resilience and the challenges that come with a relationship worth fighting for.

At its core, it is a love letter.

“This album is about love in all its forms,” Myshaan shares. “The infatuation, the butterflies, and the overthinking. It’s about loving someone so deeply that even when they’re not there, they’re with you everywhere.”

Blending smooth R&B, reggae influences and unmistakable Pacific soul, the album embodies his signature – emotionally raw, warm and grounded.

“This is a declaration of my love,” he adds.

More than an audience — a Pacific family

That declaration resonates because it sits within something bigger. From homes in Aotearoa to communities across Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, Myshaan’s music reflects shared stories and shared experience. The Pacific isn’t just an audience – it’s a family. A network connected through culture, harmony and lived experience.

Fresh off opening for Maoli on the Island Vibe tour and continuing to grow a digital community of more than 385,000 followers and 5.7 million TikTok likes, Myshaan is stepping confidently into larger spaces while staying anchored in who he represents.

Visibility matters. Independent. Culturally grounded. Future-focused.

My Love marks another defining step in his rise as one of the most promising voices in Aotearoa – and as part of the Precise community, we’re proud to stand beside our partners like Myshaan who turn personal stories into moments we share together.

Available now on all major streaming platforms.

Son & Water’s latest track ‘SAW’ is moving with serious momentum. Since its release on 30 January, the song has surged into the charts and shows no signs of slowing down. Built on warm, sun-soaked reggae grooves, ‘SAW’ blends soulful instrumentation and buttery summer vocals — “jammin with the Son and Water spreading love and unity.” This marks the bands fourth collaboration with producer Canaan Ene.

The response to ‘SAW’ has been immediate and impressive:

• #2 on the Hot 40 Chart (sitting just behind Noah Kahan)
• #1 on the Hot 20 Aotearoa Chart
• 409,000+ streams on Spotify alone, and climbing
• #3 on the YouTube Trending Chart, placing it just underneath global heavyweights Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars.

The numbers reflect the connection that audiences are feeling with the magic of Son & Water.

The story so far

Hamilton-based Aotearoa reggae band Son & Water are whānau through and through. Frontman Daimond Porima-Ferguson performs alongside his father, reggae legend Jamey Ferguson — co-founder of iconic Aotearoa reggae band Katchafire. After helping shape Katchafire’s signature sound from 2000 to 2013, Jamey has joined forces with his son to forge a new musical legacy.

Starting their legacy strong, the duo now hold an impressive four positions within the Official Top 20 Aotearoa Charts, currently holding a 30-week representative streak.

A Natural Arrival

Son & Water emerged in 2023 with the quiet confidence of artists who already knew who they were. Their debut single Keep That Smile introduced Daimond’s soulful, unforced vocals riding a smooth, laid-back groove, lifted by Jamey Ferguson’s unmistakable saxophone. The response was immediate and enduring. The track spent 64 consecutive weeks on the Official Top 20 Aotearoa Singles Chart and has since passed 4.5 million streams on Spotify.

That success wasn’t accidental. Son & Water’s music is grounded in connection, community, and shared history. Collaborations with artists such as Myshaan and Canaan Ene grew naturally out of real relationships rather than studio pairings. As Jamey has reflected, songs like Home came together effortlessly because their families were already intertwined — birthdays, family evenings, singing together, eating together. The music simply followed.

Built for the Stage

Despite being a relatively new name, Son & Water have quickly earned their place on some of Aotearoa’s biggest stages. They delivered back-to-back performances at One Love Reggae Festival in 2024 and 2025, before closing out 2025 with a four-date national tour alongside House Of Shem and Brutha Rodz, stopping in Hamilton, Palmerston North, Whakatāne, and Rotorua.

Along the way, they’ve shared stages with Katchafire, Sons Of Zion, and Ardijah, while also stepping beyond traditional festival settings. Highlights include performing at the 2023 NRL Pacific Championship Final and at Chiefs Super Rugby home games in Waikato. Wherever they play, Son & Water bring the same intention — performances built on warmth, energy, and inclusion, where audiences feel less like spectators and more like whānau.

Looking Forward

Now firmly established as a rising force in Aotearoa music, Son & Water are turning their focus toward growth at home and abroad with the release of their debut album. Momentum is already on their side. Across 2025, their monthly listeners doubled, pointing to a fanbase growing organically rather than overnight.

With Jamey Ferguson’s seasoned musicianship alongside the youthful presence and voice of Daimond Porima-Ferguson, Son & Water feel poised rather than rushed. There’s a sense they’re only just getting started. With new projects lined up and a clear vision ahead, expect their name to keep climbing charts and screens throughout 2026.

Precise Digital is celebrating a standout 2025 for their partners, who have secured eleven of the Top 20 New Zealand singles and four of the Top 20 Te Reo Māori singles in Recorded Music NZ’s Official End Of Year Charts. The announcement tops off a defining year for the company and its partners, shaped by bold visions and waiata that resonated deeply with audiences across Aotearoa.

2025 saw breakthrough moments and continued momentum for Precise partners including Te Wehi, Hori Shaw, Myshaan, Tawaz, Lomez Brown, Son & Water, and House of Shem – a collective display of talent that speaks to the diversity and depth of the Aotearoa music landscape. The success is a reflection of both commercial impact and cultural connection, and of the trust and relationships that sit behind every release.

Additionally, Te Wehi and Hori Shaw are the only Aotearoa artists to feature in the National Top 50 singles chart, a rare achievement in the age of global music dominating NZ charts and a testament to their widespread appeal and impact.

As a Precise partner, artist Te Wehi says that having a team that supports his vision has made all the difference.

“The support I’ve received for my music this year has been incredible. I appreciate everybody listening and following my journey and I’m excited to bring new music and a new live show in 2026,” says Te Wehi.

Michael Giles, CEO of Precise Digital, says the successes are an added benefit to what a privilege it is for Precise to walk alongside partners who back their own vision and shape their own paths forward.

“We’re incredibly proud of all of our partners and what they’ve achieved this year. The trust they place in us means everything. Our focus has always been the long game – building sustainable careers and supporting artists to create a legacy that they and their whānau can live off. We’re excited to continue that journey together with our partners into 2026, and beyond,” he says.

Precise Digital extends its congratulations to all Aotearoa artists on an outstanding year of music.

Precise Digital is proud to announce that it has been awarded Platinum provider status with Spotify, recognising its commitment to excellence in digital music distribution and its proven track record of supporting artists across the globe.

The Platinum status is Spotify’s highest level of recognition for content providers, reserved for companies that demonstrate best-in-class delivery standards, reliability, and catalogue quality.

As a Platinum distributor, Precise Digital has met and exceeded Spotify’s benchmarks for:

• Metadata accuracy – Ensuring artist content is delivered with precise and reliable information.
• Delivery speed & reliability – Guaranteeing fast and seamless release scheduling for artists.
• Protecting against infringement – Ensuring deliveries do not infringe on third-party rights.
• Protecting against artificial streaming – Taking measures to minimise the impact of artificial streaming on our repertoire.

“We are honored to be recognized by Spotify as a Platinum provider,” said Michael Giles, CEO of Precise Digital. “This achievement reflects our commitment to empowering artists and labels with trusted, transparent, and efficient distribution services. We take a great deal of pride in representing our partners’ music to the highest standards. Our Platinum status will mean even quicker deliveries and expanded feature access for our partners.”

This milestone solidifies Precise Digital’s position as a trusted partner for independent artists, labels, and rights holders worldwide, ensuring their music reaches global audiences with the highest level of professionalism and care.

Why this matters

• Fan-centric economics: Lissen’s model is designed so that a listener’s support flows to the artists they actually play.
• Deeper engagement: Built-in experiences and rewards encourage discovery and super-fan activity, turning attention into real support.
• Everywhere fans are: Lissen is available on iOS, Android, and the web, making it easy for audiences to connect with your music.

At Precise, we exist to grow artists’ audiences and revenues while protecting their independence. Partnering with Lissen strengthens that mission by adding a platform built for fairer economics and richer artist–fan relationships.

Visit the Lissen website