Released May 15, the new single continues the momentum that has surrounded Tadpole since their return in 2024. But this doesn’t feel like nostalgia or a band revisiting old ground. Falling Into You sounds urgent, focused and alive – a reminder of why Tadpole became one of the defining names in New Zealand rock in the first place.

Driven by Chris Yong’s powerful guitar work, Lauren Marshall’s commanding vocal performance and a darker electronic undercurrent running beneath it all, the track hits with real intent. There’s tension in it, but also melody and restraint. It captures the feeling of falling unexpectedly into love – disorienting, consuming and impossible to stop once it takes hold.

The foundations of the song came together during a jam session between Yong and drummer Dean Lawton, sparked by a drum-and-bass inspired rhythm and improvised guitar riffs that quickly found momentum. From there, the track evolved naturally, with Marshall shaping the lyrics and melodies, while DJ Kritikl added the textures and scratches that help give the song its edge.

Most of Falling Into You was recorded at Old North Studios in Kumeū, the studio of Boh Runga and Troy McKubre, with additional bass tracks recorded in Greymouth while the band were performing at the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival. It feels fitting for a band that seem to be creating wherever the momentum takes them.

Mixed by Tiki Taane and mastered by Chris Chetland, the single balances raw energy with clarity and weight. Taane says working on the track was “a blast”, praising the balance between the band’s intensity and Marshall’s vocal presence. “Stoked to see Tadpole back and firing on all cylinders,” he says.

Formed in Auckland in 1994, Tadpole helped define an era of local rock through landmark releases The Buddhafinger and The Medusa. Their return has already seen packed anniversary shows and major festival appearances alongside Good Charlotte, Highly Suspect and Yellowcard at the Auckland Domain, proving the live energy hasn’t faded with time. If anything, it now lands with more confidence and purpose.

Falling Into You doesn’t sound like a band looking backwards. It sounds like a band fully locked into what comes next.

Falling Into You is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Released today, May 8, the track blends smooth R&B and soul influences with warm island production, creating a laid-back sound that feels intimate and familiar. But underneath the easy groove sits a message that feels increasingly rare in modern love songs – patience, understanding, and learning to move through life alongside someone rather than ahead of them.

Produced by Myshaan, Take Your Time explores the realities of marriage and long-term commitment, drawing from the lived experiences of both artists. Rather than leaning into grand declarations, the song focuses on the quieter moments that often matter most – supporting your partner through pressure, giving each other space to grow, and recognising that love doesn’t always need to move fast to be meaningful.

That authenticity comes through naturally. Both Myshaan and Lomez Brown are married, and their connection on the record feels grounded in shared experience rather than performance. The chemistry between the two artists gives the song warmth and credibility, letting the emotion land naturally.

Built on soulful melodies, relaxed rhythms and island textures, Take Your Time continues Myshaan’s growing reputation for music that balances culture, storytelling and real-life emotion. It’s a track that feels reflective, reassuring and deeply human – a reminder that sometimes the strongest relationships are built by slowing down and simply being present.

Take Your Time is available now on all major streaming platforms.

The Te Whanganui-a-Tara trio have always brought substance to their music, but Ready lands with added weight. It’s warm, soulful and grounded in lived experience – the sound of a band moving with real intent.

Comprised of vocalist Timmy Porter, multi-instrumentalist Adrian Win (Ngāti Hāua, Ngāruahine, Te Ātiawa), and producer/keyboardist Josh Parata (Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Rarawa), Shivers move easily through soul, roots reggae, dub, R&B and modern production touches without losing their centre. There’s a Wellington tradition in that kind of openness – heard in acts like Fat Freddy’s Drop and TrinityRoots – but Shivers are carving out their own identity within it.

What gives Ready its strength is the story behind it. For Porter, the song reflects his road back from traumatic brain injury and the rebuilding that followed. That experience gives the track real honesty. It doesn’t lean on hardship – it speaks instead to resilience, gratitude and being ready to move again.

There’s serious pedigree behind the release too, with production from Tiki Taane and Lee Prebble. Their touch is felt in the balance of the record: groove, space and clarity, while keeping the heart of the song intact.

Since forming in 2020, Shivers have built steady momentum through singles like Right of Way, Look at ‘Em Now and reo Māori waiata Tahuti. Ready feels like another step up.

This is the first taste of a new EP due later in 2026. On this evidence, there’s plenty more to come.

Ready is available now on all streaming platforms.

Born and raised in Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty, Te Wehi (Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whātua, Te Whakatōhea) has built his rise in a way that reflects the man himself: quietly, honestly and through hard work. Long before sold-out shows, chart success and major stages, he was creating music from his bedroom while running a fencing business and teaching himself production. There was never a grand plan to chase fame. Instead, there was simply a desire to make music that felt true.

That honesty has become the foundation of a connection with audiences across Aotearoa. Fans have responded to the authenticity in his music – songs shaped by real life, family, pride, love, growth and whakapapa. In an industry often driven by image, Te Wehi has built something rarer: trust.

That connection has translated into extraordinary momentum. Across 2025 and into 2026, he has consistently held the number one spot on the Aotearoa Music Charts, earned platinum and gold certifications, played standout sets at Jim Beam Homegrown and Rhythm and Vines, and joined L.A.B on tour across New Zealand and Australia.

But I’m Home suggests the story is only just beginning.

Created alongside acclaimed artist and producer Kings, the 15-track album captures the warmth, humility and emotional honesty that have made Te Wehi one of the country’s most compelling new voices. There is polish here, but never pretence. Every song feels connected to lived experience.

The title track, I’m Home, says a lot about the spirit of the project. Written at home and later recorded at Big Fan, it carries the kind of wisdom passed through whakapapa – respect for the land, understanding your place within it, and remembering what grounds you no matter how far life takes you. Much of that perspective comes from lessons handed down by his Koro/grandfather.

Its accompanying video, shot on Te Wehi’s farm, reinforces the same message. Nothing over-styled, nothing manufactured. Just the place he calls home and the life that continues to shape him.

That is what makes this album resonate. I’m Home is not trying to be anything other than a reflection of the man behind it. It carries cultural pride without needing to announce it. It speaks with emotional honesty without overreaching. It feels contemporary while staying rooted in something timeless – identity, whānau and belonging.

For many artists, success can create distance from where they began. For Te Wehi, success seems to have sharpened the connection.

With the album out now, he now heads out on his first nationwide headline tour this June, taking these songs directly to the people who helped build the movement around him. Expect strong crowds, loud singalongs and an artist meeting his moment in real time.Some albums mark a chapter. I’m Home feels like the start of something much bigger.

Listen to the album here

Released today, May 1st, the first full-length project from Honolulu duo Wavvy – James Shaw and Kala’i Pomroy – brings together the steady rise they’ve built over the past year and turns it into something bigger. It’s a confident, well-timed release from artists who already know who they are.

Moving naturally between island reggae, R&B, country and pop, Sink or Swim never feels like it’s trying to tick genre boxes. Instead, it feels like a true reflection of the band themselves, relaxed, melodic, soulful, and grounded in real feeling. Love, loyalty, connection, late-night tension and lived experience all run through the record without ever being overplayed.

There’s range here too. 2am in Kamuela carries warmth and simplicity, Clouded leans into emotion, while Risk It All brings a darker late-night energy. Collaborations with HIRIE, Likkle Jordee and 8RO8 add texture and reach, while keeping Wavvy firmly at the centre of the project.

The timing feels right. Over the past 12 months, Wavvy has built genuine momentum. Their Spotify audience has grown by more than 1,700%, now surpassing 300,000 monthly listeners, with more than 11 million streams across their catalogue. Aotearoa has become their second biggest streaming market – a clear sign their music is connecting well beyond Hawai‘i.

What makes Sink or Swim land is its honesty. Nothing feels forced. Nothing feels rushed. It’s the sound of two artists trusting their instincts and letting the songs speak for themselves.

For Wavvy, this feels less like a first step and more like the beginning of something real.

Sink or Swim is out now on all major streaming platforms. https://precise.fm/sinkorswim

Precise would like to congratulate all the incredible artists nominated in this year’s 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards. It’s inspiring to see the depth of talent across Aotearoa continuing to shape, challenge, and uplift our music community. We’re proud to have supported 9 nominees in their 2025 releases that have earned them a collective 17 nominations this AMA season.

Ka kawe tahi, ka whakakaha i ā tātou waiata. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa e tautoko ana i te reo puoro o Aotearoa.

Te Wehi

Single of the Year – Te Tino Waiata o te Tau
For Ready To Ride (Hori Shaw & Te Wehi)

Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Te Iti Rearea o te Tau

Best Māori Artist – Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau

Best Roots Artist – Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau
For Ready To Ride (w. Hori Shaw), Unfortunately, Raining, Didn’t Change A Thing, OH AH, Far Far Away, Light Up, Masterly Man

MĀ

Album of the Year – Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau
For Blame It On The Weather

Breakthrough Artist of the Year – Te Iti Rearea o te Tau

Best Māori Artist – Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau

Best Alternative Artist – Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau
For Blame It On The Weather

Hori Shaw

Single of the Year – Te Tino Waiata o te Tau
For Ready To Ride (Hori Shaw & Te Wehi)

Best Māori Artist – Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau

Best Roots Artist – Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau
For I Know A Place, Ready To Ride (w. Te Wehi), Catch A Wave

TAWAZ

Best Māori Artist – Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau
For Tuituia Rā (w. Chris Tamwoy & Marei), E Ipo (w. Mereana & HERA), Te Wahine (w. Emily Wurramara)

Three Houses Down

Best Roots Artist – Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau
For Lovers Roots

A.R.T

Best Soul/RnB Artist – Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau
For Blank Canvas

MOHI

Mana Reo
For Ka Rea (ft. Pare)

Louisa Williamson

Best Jazz Artist – Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau
For Groundwork

Hamo Dell

Mana Reo
For Tā Roha

We look forward to continuing to support these artists, alongside all of our Precise whānau, in recognising their artistry.

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards will be held and the winning nominees announced at The Civic Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday 28th May, 2026.

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