16 February 2024 - 0 Comments

Cook Island native and Tāmaki Makaurau based Brandn Shiraz releases his first single of 2024, gunfinger. This release comes off the back of an epic opportunity at the internationally renowned Boiler Room event in Rarotonga - the first time the collective hits their mark on the Pacific Islands and commemorates the first of many releases for Brandn Shiraz in 2024.

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Last year, we saw Shiraz featured on the track Holding On in the latest Home Brew Run It Back album, a self-titled EP release at the beginning of the year, a music video filmed at his homeland in Rarotonga - now amassing over 54,000 views online, as well as a sold-out show at Galatos playing alongside Natia The God, Mokomokai, Nauti and Eno x Dirty.

Of the track, Shiraz says, "I recorded this track right after me and the brothers performed a sold-out show at Galatos in Auckland,” with the energy of the crowd still in his veins he says, “I must’ve still been buzzing from my performance and I wanted to channel it all back into music. The high energy and rawness was exactly how I felt at that moment."

A pillar in the local community, his new single gunfinger speaks to his ongoing commitment to impressive outputs. Most recently, Sniffers described Shiraz as the "new generation frontrunners of Aotearoa’s hip-hop scene" – a true testament to his commitment and legacy thus far. Shiraz continues to captivate listeners with his unique sound, pushing the boundaries of creativity. The track features production from Benjamin & NWAK's, NWAK, as well as Shiraz’s signature flow and metaphorical prowess.

No stranger to the music scene, Shiraz has had many prolific achievements in the New Zealand underground. We saw him collaborating with lifelong friend Tuhoea 'Lightskinjohn' Tuteao and label/collective The Grow Room on D.I.Y rap project Shiraz & LSJ, which gave him the confidence and experience to expand his songwriting capabilities.

In past years, Shiraz has also released an EP with Christoph El Truento of @Peace and Avantdale Bowling Club, he was invited onto David Dallas’ 64 Bars series, and earned props from Melodownz, who said if he could “bet all his money on anyone it’d be Shiraz”.

Listen to gunfinger here

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