New Zealand is a lesser-known hotspot for great music.
That’s because many New Zealand artists go abroad and make a name for themselves.
As a fellow island nation with almost no time difference despite being in opposite hemispheres, and often called a neighbor by longitude, it’s interesting to listen to the music of this country.
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Recommended artists from New Zealand. Popular international singers and singer-songwriters (1–10)
The FighterKeith Urban ft. Carrie Underwood
A jazzy country love song infused with disco elements.
It’s a collaboration between New Zealand-born country musician Keith Urban and American country musician Carrie Underwood.
The song was performed at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
Song of the Lonely MountainNeil Finn
A song by Neil Finn, a New Zealand singer-songwriter also known as the frontman of Crowded House.
He has won many awards at the New Zealand Music Awards.
This song was used in the end credits of the 2012 film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Supalonely ft. Gus DappertonBENEE
Emerging from New Zealand’s music scene, BENEE is an artist who weaves buoyant rhythms with an introspective worldview, grounded in alternative pop.
Since her 2017 debut, she gained domestic popularity with Soaked, and the follow-up Supalonely ft.
Gus Dapperton exploded into a global phenomenon through social media.
Her talent is well proven—she swept four awards at the 2019 NZ Music Awards—and her momentum hasn’t slowed, contributing the official song for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, among other achievements.
She’s perfect for listeners who crave genre-blurring pop and lyrics that reflect the inner self.
FreeBroods
A synth-pop anthem about the freedom to express oneself.
It was released as a digital download in 2016 by Blues, a New Zealand indie pop duo.
The track became a hit in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, and has been certified Gold.
LiabilityLorde
A song released in 2017 as a promotional single by New Zealand singer Lorde.
It is a lamenting ballad created together with American singer-songwriter Jack Antonoff, who is also known for his work with Bleachers and fun.
So TrueThe Black Seeds
The Black Seeds are a New Zealand band that captivates the world with a sound perfectly suited to sun and sea.
Since forming in 1998, they’ve blended roots reggae with smooth touches of funk and soul, naturally getting listeners to move.
Their debut album, Keep On Pushing, released in 2001, went platinum domestically.
Their signature track One by One is also known for being featured in the hit TV series Breaking Bad.
Widely acclaimed—including an award for the album On the Sun in 2004—they’re the perfect band for anyone who wants to sink into an easy, feel-good groove.
Heavenly Pop HitThe Chills
The Chills are a rock band formed in New Zealand in 1980.
As pioneers of the “Dunedin Sound,” a style of indie pop music that emerged in the early 1980s, they are also known as a cult band with worldwide popularity.
This song was released in 1990 and became a hit in New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere.