'You Never Run' by The Response

 

A Kiwi group: finally. 

For some reason Spotify does not publish it's "Australian and New Zealand" New Release Friday category anymore. 

In fact, Spotify seems to be doing it's best to make it harder and harder to find country or region specific new releases by genre or type.

Which is a big pain.

Anyway.

This is the new single by the New Zealand group, The Response, who originally joined up in Vancouver, Canada and then 'moved back' to Christchurch, New Zealand (hard to find out exactly what that means).

More, anyway.

Some label them as 'Indie Pop', only I find this song closer to Indie Rock, which is why it's featured here.

'moody' by Royal Otis

 

 

Moody with a small 'm' - lots of groups do that these days, which I suppose a way of getting around many other songs with the same name. That out of the way.

Royal Otis are an Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney, and even have their own Wikipedia posting.

Anyway, this is their latest single released on 9 May 2025.

'A song about a girl' as lots of them are, and this one's slow dreamy ballad to get into.

'3AM' by The Velvet Hands

 

 

 A single released 1st May 2025.

One of those not to give up on. And I nearly until 0.55 into the song.

It takes off and suddenly becomes a great song.

'The Tinman' by World News

 

From the EP by the same name, released on March 30, 2023 (note the year!).

So I take back some comments about Spotify's (very) below average recommendation algorithm, otherwise know as your "Discover Weekly".

Although I must say, the second song on this EP 'Wrapped in Gold', I do remember hearing at some stage.

Back to The Tinman: these guys have some impressive harmonious rhythm guitar work, that just gets better into this song.

'Face in the Mirror' by James and the Cold Gun

 

 

  From the album of the same name, released 25 April 2025

'Lovesick Lullaby' by YUNGBLOD

 

 

  A single released 25 April 2025