30 August 2024 - 0 Comments

Phoebe Rings is a dream-pop band offering a unique blend of introspective yearning with celestial danceable grooves. Their self-titled debut EP, a hopeful collection of musings, out October 18, 2024 on Carpark Records, is a testament to the distinctive musical style of Auckland, NZ jazz-school-trained pianist and songwriter Crystal Choi. Across six tracks, the EP is a love letter to some of the band’s influences: Studio Ghibli films, Zelda and Stardew soundtracks, Bossa Nova, Stereolab, and 90’s Korean ballads.

Daisy , the vibrant lead single from the EP, released today alongside a self-directed music video, is a dreamy pop song filled with swirling synths that fizz on the skin like a warm sun, promising growth and new starts, with the shimmery refrain “Ooh-wee-a-waa” and the uplifting mantra: “When you’re next to me, the world’s full of daisies.”

Choi’s songwriting was brought to life with Alex Freer on drums, Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent on guitar and synths, and Benjamin Locke on bass. Choi says she knew the tracks had to be recorded after the band played the songs better than she could ever imagine. And so, remotely through the Covid-19 lockdowns, the band started recording the songs that eventually turned into the Phoebe Rings EP.

Phoebe Rings started with Crystal Choi in 2019, eager for an outlet after finishing jazz School. “I got very sick of jazz. I just didn’t want that sound anymore,” she adds. “Dream-pop was my favourite thing to listen to. It fits the vibe and visuals of where I wanted to go.” Graham Reid praises the ethereal fantasy: “If the occasion arises for you to take a few moments to let the world go, this is the EP for you.”

Choi moved to New Zealand in 2000, growing up in a Korean-speaking home in Tāmaki Makaurau on the North Shore. She gravitated to the keyboard after school while her parents worked long hours to set up a new business. In an interview with Metro Mag , Choi reflects on the nuanced layers she brings growing up between cultural fabrics as a Korean New Zealander. With these inspirations, her gut tends pulls her towards the introspection of her first language, found in Korean ballads and literature. Speaking to Rat World, lyrics are the final puzzle piece after settling on a melody or groove.

The band are talented musicians in their own right. Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent (Princess Chelsea) is also bedroom pop project Lucky Boy. Alex Freer (Tiny Ruins) is known for his sultry synth-pop solo project, A.C Freazy. “Everyone is very selfless and in service of the music. We’re all on the same mission statement,” adds Freer. “We might add an interesting spice, but everyone wants to make a good soup.”

Described by RNZ as an ‘indie supergroup,’ Phoebe Rings intentionally weaves in each member’s expertise. Freer brings a polished and slick approach to the project. Meanwhile, Kavanagh-Vincent uses unconventional production techniques with rhythmic syllabic additions. Locke is a bassist with unexpected and considered lyricism. And at the helm: Choi’s agile, soaring, intimate vocals and songwriting.

They’ve since opened for likes of Arlo Parks and The Beths, and played in Fringe Festival (Outsider Sounds Festival) 2020, Nestfest 2020, Festival of Lights 2024, and Future Future Festival 2024. The momentum is infectious, with the band making ‘Best New Zealand Music of the Week,’ round-ups on the Rolling Stone , and music featured in Kid Sister (TVNZ+) and White Fever (ABC, AU). The band has also just performed as part of Going Global 2024 in Auckland.

Phoebe Rings – Phoebe Rings EP is out October 18. Pre-save HERE

Catch Phoebe Rings on a three-date EP release tour this November with Christchurch on November 11, Auckland on November 14 and Wellington November 16. All tickets at www.utr.co.nz

Tour Dates:

October 14 - 20th - Sydney, AU @ SXSW Sydney

November 9 - Christchurch, NZ @ Space Academy – Tickets HERE

November 14 - Auckland, NZ @ Neck Of The Woods – Tickets HERE

November 16 - Wellington, NZ @ Moon – Tickets HERE

Cover Art Credit: In Joo Park

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