For all of our comprehensive NZ Music Month coverage, head to the Rolling Stone New Zealand homepage.
If you found yourself at Rhythm and Vines this past summer, chances are Chores brought the party to your New Year’s celebrations.
This award-winning Kiwi electronic duo, now based in Melbourne, specialise in crafting emotive electronic tunes with euphoric dance-pop production, always seeking out clever collaborations (Ella Minehan, Elaskia).
Their latest track, “Too Far Gone”, released last month, is a club-ready anthem featuring the ethereal vocals of Nelson pop artist Indyah over a dreamy synth-based soundscape.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ caught up with Thommy Simmons, one half of Chores, to discuss his current favourite New Zealand artist and celebrate NZ Music Month this May.
And Simmons, who also pursues solo work (check out the sleek sounds of tracks like “Way U Feel” and “Over It”), has his finger on the pulse of the local dance scene. “As a whole, the quality and variety of New Zealand electronic music at the moment is incredible,” he says.
Simmons identifies another New Zealand artist who’s making waves on the dancefloor and beyond: Aotearoa-born, London-based electronic producer 33 Below, AKA Jack Laven.
Laven is behind hypnotising dancefloor cuts infused with a lot of UK-born influences – particularly garage and house – and was nominated for Best New Artist at the 2023 Panhead Rolling Stone Aotearoa Awards. He’s had some big moment recently, like being the support act for producer-of-the-moment Fred again.. and sharing the stage with RL Grime for an 18-date tour across the US.
Here’s why Chores think everyone should tune in to 33 Below:
Firstly, there’s a bit of bias because 33below obviously makes electronic dance music, so we’re always going to have a predilection to go for that particular type of artist.
But for us, he’s definitely creating the sound we personally love, a bit more unique and pushing the envelope in terms of creativity.
His sound is a bit more international sounding, with a nice hybrid blend of what we hear in NZ and when we’re in Melbourne! As a whole, the quality and variety of New Zealand electronic music at the moment is incredible.
A very close runner-up is Kedu Carlo – definitely worth checking out too!”
