10 September 2024 - 0 Comments

Change can be chaotic, liberating, euphoric, and gut-wrenching—all at once. But in its wake, it always leaves behind a fresh landscape, a new chapter waiting to unfold. In recent months, New Zealand artist and producer Fazerdaze (Amelia Murray) has navigated the intensity of change, and from this emerges her transformational new album, Soft Power, set for release on 15th November via Buttrfly Records/section1.

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Alongside the album announcement comes the new single, Cherry Pie, out now. An ode to a decade-long journey of self-discovery, weaving together enveloping beats and soaring keys, while Fazerdaze’s ethereal vocals drift through a lush, atmospheric haze. “Cherry Pie began as lyrics on my phone during my first overseas trip to LA almost ten years ago," reflects Murray. "Now, at 31, this song has journeyed with me through many different versions of myself."

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Complementing the single is the official video, co-directed with Frances Carter. The visual follows a nocturnal car journey, capturing the protagonist as she sheds old layers and takes control, embracing a new chapter with bold confidence. “Frances and I crafted the video around a character who travels solo, letting go of what no longer serves her to finally take the wheel and steer into her next era” explains Murray.

Fazerdaze’s long-awaited comeback EP Break! in 2022 marked a seismic shift in her career and a powerful leap into personal freedom. After overcoming personal struggles and industry hurdles since her acclaimed 2017 debut Morningside, Break! was her moment of liberation. Praised by The Guardian, The Fader, NME, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, and previous champions including Pitchfork, MOJO, and more, the EP was followed by the recent single Bigger, which also features on her forthcoming new album.

While 2017’s Morningside was a deeply intimate bedroom pop record, Fazerdaze’s recent work has sought a more expansive sound, drawing inspiration from the likes of Tame Impala, The Cure, and U2’s The Joshua Tree. “I wanted it to sound massive,” she says, “with a feminine twist on those rock records, carving out a space where women’s perspectives shine through.” The liberating experience of recording and releasing the Break! EP nudged Fazerdaze back to her roots, working solo once again. “What I was searching for in others was something I needed to rediscover in myself,” she reflects. “ I had placed the second album on such a pedestal, but reconnecting with my original process during Break! was the key to finishing this record.”

With her new album Soft Power, Fazerdaze has unleashed an 11-track opus, steeped in fierce self-compassion and matured self-awareness, painting with a broader, more expansive palette. Playfully dubbing it a “bedroom stadium record,” she melds synths and electronic beats with classic rock touches, creating a sound that balances gritty authenticity with moments of refined pop brilliance.

“Welcome to Soft Power, Murray explains. “This is what I created during the darkest, loneliest, most tumultuous years of my life—entering womanhood, navigating the world, the music industry, and what I thought was love. In my scariest moments, this album was my anchor for hope, purpose, and light. I am so relieved and content to finally share Soft Power with you.”

The majority of Soft Power was recorded and produced by Fazerdaze herself, with co-mixing by Simon Gooding and engineering assistance from Emily Wheatcroft-Snape on the album’s drum parts. This album stands as a testament to an artist who eschews grandstanding, instead searching for truth in simplicity. Fazerdaze offers a voice to listeners who are on their own journeys of self-discovery, inviting them to tap into their own ‘Soft Power.’

Following the release of her new album, she’s set to tour North America with POND, with whispers of more tour dates on the horizon for 2025.

Stay tuned for more from Fazerdaze soon.

Photo Credit: Frances Carter

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