coup de main - noun
kü-də-ˈmaⁿ
Definition of coup de main : an attack that achieves complete surprise.

Interview: Maxwell Young on his new single 'Sketches Of Dragonflies’ and his plans for 2019.

New Zealand artist Maxwell Young has just dropped a stunning new single ’Sketches Of Dragonflies’, a heartfelt song he describes as a ‘vulnerable reflection on maladaptive daydreaming’. The new release follows his debut album ‘Daydreamer’ from last July, and sees Young finding more confidence in his dreamy pop sound. Having been announced as the opening act for Snail Mail’s upcoming NZ dates next week, Young looks to continue the momentum with these live shows.

Interview: Bene on redefining being a young woman in 2019.

There’s no denying that discussion around gender in music is at an all-time high - in a world where Ariana Grande headlining Coachella this year marks the fifth time a woman will headline a festival that has been going for 20 years, female musicians are standing up and talking about issues more than ever before, whether it be calling out misogyny and abusive behaviour in the industry, or banding together with fellow women in the industry to become more inclusive and supportive of one another.

Interview: Foals' Yannis Philippakis on new album 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1'.

Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis chuckles down the phone-line on a late night call from London, "Thank you! That’s nice to hear. I think it might be mine too," agreeing that the band's new album just might be their best yet. Out today, 'Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1' precedes a promised second part expected later this year in Spring (/UK Autumn), and arrives guns blazing - sounding off dystopian alarm bells, personifying a universal relatable neurosis, and fretting over the deterioration of meaningful communication in this modern age.

Listen: Wallows' new song 'Sidelines'.

Ahead of the release of their debut album 'Nothing Happens' on March 22, Wallows have today shared a new song, 'Sidelines' - which follows up first singles 'Scrawny' and 'Are You Bored Yet?', and is the first song so far to be released from the upcoming record which features the band's Braeden Lemasters on lead vocals.

The new song comes after the band earlier this week teased a snippet of new music via a hotline for fans to call.

Listen: Vampire Weekend release two new songs, 'Sunflower' and 'Big Blue'.

Following the announcement of their upcoming album ‘Father Of The Bride’, Vampire Weekend have shared two new songs to satisfy our cravings until May 3rd, when the album is due.

‘Big Blue’, a cute, happy number consists of their usual short and sweet melodies and features a climax of electric noise and chorical cries as the crescendo.

‘Sunflower’ is slightly longer and features Steve Lacey of The Internet, as well as a funkier beat; Lacey and frontman Ezra Koenig’s voices lull us along this easy-listening track.

Calpurnia release new song 'Cell'.

Calpurnia are back with their first single of the year, ‘Cell’ - and an accompanying fresh music video. Produced by Cadien Lake of Twin Peaks, ‘Cell’ is an upbeat indie-rock anthem. “I know your brains are stuck together with glue,” croons frontman Finn Wolfhard, and the band sing and dance in the intimate, low-fi music video directed by Pooneh Ghana where we see them perform live and muck around behind the scenes, as friends do.

Review: Arctic Monkeys, Spark Arena - March 2019.

The last time we reviewed an Arctic Monkeys show in New Zealand, we made the comment that “we didn’t want to have to wait another five years until we got to see them again” - and though it has been five years since that show, their return to Spark Arena last night saw them bring a whole new show, a number of new songs, along with the classic Arctic Monkeys mosh that is so known and beloved in New Zealand.

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