Brought to you by Muzic.NZ's Lisa Jones, Muzic Speak is a fresh new interview series which pays homage some of the best up and coming acts this country has on offer.

Today we're catching up with New Plymouth's Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie, a swamp blues/rock fusion band on a mission to redefine the genre. Born from the depths of inspiration and fuelled by a love for the blues, this group of talented musicians brings a fresh and modern twist to the traditional delta/swamp blues genres. Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie should be at the top of everyone's 'ones to watch' list.

Lisa recently spoke with Courtnay about all things The Unholy Reverie:

Starting with introductions - who are the members of Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie, what instruments do each of you play, and how did you all get involved in music?

Courtnay Low - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar. The high school I went to had a really good and lively music department, it was always encouraged so I formed a band in 3rd form and just kind of caught the bug.

Keith Parker - Bass, Backing Vocals. Keith formed a band in high school too and thought he was going to be the drummer and they needed a bassist and the rest was history. Back in 1642.

Riley Smith - Lead Guitar. Growing up Riley would go along to his dad’s set ups and sound checks and was sometimes allowed a spin on the instruments and he decided then that it’s what he wanted to do when he was older.

Liana Hart - Backing Vocals, Harmonica. Liana saw Forrest Gump when she was 12 and decided she wanted to be like Jenny singing folk songs in pubs to old men, except not naked.

Chad Williams - Drums, Backing Vocals. Always bashed on pots and pans with spoons as a kid. Got his first kit for his 10th birthday and joined his first band in high school.

Can you tell us about the formation of Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie? How did you all come together?

Chad and I have played in many different bands over the years, including a White Stripes cover band called The Ego’s. For me, having Chad on drums is non-negotiable — what he brings to the table beyond just drumming is incredible.

When it came to finding a bassist, Keith Parker was an easy choice. He’s well-known around the Waikato and Taranaki regions, and international circuits in Dubai as an absolute powerhouse. He approached Chad and I after a 2 piece gig we did and said if we ever wanted bass he would be keen, fast forward 6 years to when we hit him up, and he was keen to join. The rest, as they say, is history.

Our lineup has recently gone through a reshuffle, bringing in a couple of new members. Our new guitarist, Riley, actually started out as our guitar tech. I’ve watched him play since his he was a kid in the Taranaki open mic circuit, and he’s always been a naturally gifted musician. When the opportunity arose, we knew we had to bring him on board.

Liana is another fantastic addition. She’s an incredibly skilled singer-songwriter, with talents that extend to vocals, harmonica, keys, guitar — you name it. We were so lucky that the stars aligned, and we were able to bring her into the group.

For those that have never heard of Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie before, how would you describe your music?

I’d say our sound is a blend of old and new. We draw heavily from the Mississippi Delta Blues and Dark Country as the foundation for all our music. We then combine it with the big, bold production style of modern rock.

How would I describe it? High-energy, emotive music guaranteed to get your feet stomping!

Blues is not a genre we see a lot of here in New Zealand, and it's commendable that you have set out to redefine the genre and potentially change people's perception along the way. Can you describe your creative process when writing new music?

My writing spans a wide range of genres — I’ve dabbled in hip-hop, metal, reggae, and everything in between. But early 1900's blues has always been a major source of inspiration for me.

As a band, we come from diverse musical backgrounds with varying interests, and we try to incorporate a bit of everyone’s style during the rewriting and studio process. Typically, I start by recording a rough home demo that includes drums, guitar, bass, and vocal lines. I then present it to the band for a “yeah or nah” verdict. If it’s a “yeah,” everyone writes their own parts, and we work together to refine the song.

As a songwriter, I tend to avoid trends, focusing instead on creating music that feels personal and heartfelt. Inspiration often comes from personal experiences, conversations, or anything that sparks an idea. My notes app is full of one-liners that I eventually build into full concepts or lyrics.

Everyone in the band are capable writers and we’re starting to experiment with other people bringing things to the table. So I’m really excited about that! 

Another New Plymouth act which is also making waves at the moment is The Mons Whaler, which you join for live performances and studio sessions. What other bands have each you and the other members of The Unholy Reverie been involved with, both previously and currently?

Both Chad and I were previously part of a two-piece White Stripes cover band called The Ego’s. I also had a metal band back in the day that landed the opening slot for Motörhead when they played in Taranaki.

Keith has an impressive resume, having performed professionally in Dubai and other locations around the world. Liana is also a member of Fin Rah Zel, while Riley plays in the fantastic band Little Ashes.

Being involved with two bands at the same time must come with its own challenges. What are some of the challenges you have encountered, and how did you overcome them?

To be honest, it’s been relatively easy so far. I keep the two separate, and we’re all friends who genuinely support each other’s ventures.

That’s the beauty of the Taranaki music scene — everyone wants to see one another succeed. There’s a great “pass the gat” mentality that comes with being part of a small, tight-knit community. Here, there’s room for everyone to thrive.

Everyone is juggling something, families, work, other bands. It’s all down to really clear communication, Band app calendars that everyone updates so it’s as easy as looking if people are busy or if there’s a window to get together etc. 

You have some real beauties on your 2024 EP Mercy, such as The Great Wave and Vulture, Vulture! What are your favourite tracks on the EP, and why?

Thank you! Personally, my favourites are the ones you mentioned. The Great Wave is a deeply personal and somewhat self-indulgent piece I wrote about the passing of my father. It’s a song that, unfortunately, I think a lot of people can relate to. Dad always told me to write a song for him, but I never got around to it while he was here. So, the track became both an ode to that running joke between us and a heartfelt tribute to a great man. It also serves as a space for listeners to grieve whatever they may be going through.

Vulture, Vulture! was originally intended to be an instrumental track, which is why the vocal lines are relatively sparse. I wanted the riffs to take centre stage and drive the song. With the guidance of Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace Studio, we were able to turn it into the beast that it is today!

Your live performances are known for their captivating energy. How do you prepare for a show?

Terribly would be the honest answer. We’re usually pretty rushed for time between soundcheck and playing because we all have work and families to juggle outside of CATUR. It’s a hectic, high-energy vibe. Somehow, we manage to squeeze in a couple of beers and a quick meal before taking that rushed, anxious energy onto the stage. Surprisingly, it creates a buzz that we feed off and channel into the crowd.

To counter this constant whirlwind, we put a lot of effort into making sure everything is tight and well-rehearsed before the day of the show. That way, all we have to focus on is getting the gear in, running line checks with our fantastic sound man Andy Bedford, and putting on a great performance.

High energy is really important to us. We all come from backgrounds where putting on a show is prioritized over making sure every single note is pitch perfect. While we definitely strive for technical precision, what matters most to me is connecting with the audience. I’d rather watch—and be—a part of a band that moves and shares its energy with the crowd than one that stands still, focused solely on being technically flawless. 

New Plymouth has always had such a great music community, what local acts you think New Zealanders should check out?
There’s so many incredible original bands based down here. Some of my favourites are:
Infinity Ritual, Twin Tiger, Trip Change, TheSlacks, Fin Rah Zel, Liana Hart, The Mara, Bush Buds and Little Ashes.

What NZ bands and musicians would you be keen to collaborate and/or tour with, and why?

Tami Neilson is a huge inspiration for us — we absolutely love her, not just for her music but for who she is and how openly she shares her life with her fans. Opening for her one day would be a dream. We’ve got a slew of softer tracks that we think could pair beautifully with her style.

Grant Haua from Swamp Thing is another big influence. He’s a highly respected musician and an incredible writer, and we think some of our material would complement his perfectly.

The Datsuns are classic, high-energy New Zealand rock, and playing with them would be an absolute blast. Devilskin would be super fun too — we love those guys!

Tadpole — how good are they? We’d love to collaborate with them someday.

Also The Bums, we’ve tried for so long to link up with them. It’s coming though!

What can we expect to see from Courtnay & The Unholy Reverie in the coming year?

We’ve got more releases on the way! New singles will be dropping from January onwards, and we’re making steady progress on our second EP, which is currently halfway done in the studio. Our focus is also shifting toward hitting the road more often and securing some of those bigger touring support slots that every man and his dog are chasing.

What advice would you like to share with up and coming musicians?

The grind is real, but you’ve got to keep pushing. There are so many people, like Muzic.NZ, who are in our corner and rooting for us. It’s easy to get disheartened when you start comparing yourself to others and their progress, but the key is to stay in your lane and focus on releasing great music.

Because even if that’s as far as it ever goes, you’ve created something meaningful and shared it with the world. Those creations will resonate with pockets of people, and that’s what it’s all about, right? Connection!

Photo Credit: Leonie Moreland

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