The Spinoff Music’s Songs of the Month: February

Our sword-queen returns, a reliable popstar deepens her foundations and Aldous Harding mesmerizes us with the power of dance. These are the songs of the month – five international, three local – as picked by The Spinoff’s culture editor Sam Brooks. International Handmade Heaven by Marina Marina, now sans the Diamonds, has been one of … Read more

The Spinoff’s unofficial celebrity eating tour of New Zealand

Alex Casey scours the internet to assemble the definitive guide to eating like a celebrity in New Zealand.  Just like a teacher buying bog roll at the supermarket or a chimpanzee riding a Segway in dungarees, there’s something not quite right about seeing a celebrity eat somewhere normal. Because if celebrities eat at normal places, … Read more

Turning sorrow into glass: Celebrating the return of Robyn

Last week, Robyn released ‘Missing U’, her first solo single in since 2010. Ellen Falconer writes about the Swedish pop artist’s enduring relevance and the incredibly therapeutic power of her music. Eight years’ absence is a long time for a pop star in 2018. In this era of a seemingly endless stream of #content and … Read more

Five of the best artist playlists on Spotify

Every artist is making Spotify playlists these days. Amanda Robinson listens to four of the most popular – and one that isn’t, but really deserves to be. Lorde In the ‘Homemade Dynamite’ episode of The Spinoff’s Behind The Melodrama podcast, Lorde talks about how “sometimes it’s just about having your arms around your friend’s shoulders … Read more

Pod on the Couch: Pop music catch-up time!

The Spinoff and Spark proudly present Pod On The Couch, a weekly podcast exploring music and the people that make it. This episode: Henry Oliver talks to Kate Robertson and Calum Henderson about some recent pop music highlights. Spinoff Music editor Henry Oliver talks to contributor Kate Robertson and staff writer Calum Henderson about Lorde’s Melodrama, Selena’s ‘Bad Liar’, … Read more

Best Songs Ever: Carly Rae Jepsen continues to do no wrong, Teeks’ voice needs a better song, and more…

Our regular round-up of new songs and singles, this week featuring Carly Rae Jepsen, Future & Kendrick Lamar, Teeks and Drax Project. SONG OF THE WEEK Carly Rae Jepsen – ‘Cut to the Feeling’ Is Carly Rae Jepsen the new Robyn? This is the best straight-up pop song of the year so far. Combining Robyn-esque electro with Belinda … Read more

Six songs to torture your workmates with now you’re back at work

You’re probably back at work this week. And it probably sucks. But if want to bring some of the light-hearted silliness of the holidays into your fluorescent offices, Josh Drummond has a six-song playlist that’ll be fun. For you. A lot of us are going back to work this week, and it’s a mixed blessing. … Read more