News
Plus J Mascis, Birthmark, Fat White Family, and a Wrap-up of the Last Two Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Dec 15, 2023
By Mark Redfern
Welcome to the 40th Songs of the Week of 2023. This will probably be the final Songs of the Week of 2023. More
Dec 06, 2023
By Mark Redfern
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have released a new EP, EP IV, which includes the new song “Desert Mile,” along with three previously released singles, plus various remixes, demos, and instrumental versions. Stream “Desert Mile” and the whole EP here. More
Plus Lala Lala, Ty Segall, Yumi Zouma, Julia Holter, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Nov 10, 2023
By Mark Redfern (and Andy Von Pip)
Welcome to the 37th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week Andy Von Pip, Caleb Campbell, Marc Abbott, and Scott Dransfield all helped me decide what should make the list. We settled on a Top 10 this week. More
Nov 08, 2023
By Mark Redfern
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have shared a new song, “Kicking Up Daisies.” It’s the third single they’ve shared of late and all are taken from a forthcoming EP (details of which are TBA). More
Plus Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee, Steven Wilson, The Big Moon, Wild Nothing, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 15, 2023
By Mark Redfern
Welcome to the 29th Songs of the Week of 2023. This week’s selections come from artists hailing from across the globe: New Zealand, England, Finland, Israel, and of course America. More
On Tour This Fall; New EP Forthcoming
Sep 13, 2023
By Mark Redfern
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have shared a new song, “KPR,” via a music video directed by the band. The band say its first single from an upcoming EP (details of which are TBA). Yumi Zouma are touring North America this fall. More
Plus Hovvdy, Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and Ethan Gruska, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Mar 18, 2022
By Mark Redfern (with Joey Arnone)
Welcome to the eleventh Songs of the Week of 2022. Whereas last week was the strongest seven-day period for new tracks so far this year, where we had a Top 15 songs, this week we almost didn’t do a Songs of the Week. More
Present Tense Due Out This Friday via Polyvinyl
Mar 16, 2022
By Mark Redfern
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma are releasing a new song, Present Tense, this Friday via Polyvinyl. Now they have shared its final pre-release single, “Astral Projection,” via a video that marks the third and final installment in a trilogy of videos from the album. More
Present Tense Due Out March 18 via Polyvinyl
Feb 17, 2022
By Joey Arnone
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have shared a video for their new single “Where the Light Used to Lay.” It is the band’s latest release from their forthcoming album, Present Tense, which will be out on March 18 via Polyvinyl. More
Present Tense Due Out March 18 via Polyvinyl
Jan 12, 2022
By Joey Arnone
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have announced the release of a new album, Present Tense, which will be out on March 18 via Polyvinyl. They have also shared a video for a new album single, “In the Eyes Of Our Love.” More
Plus Jarvis Cocker, C Duncan, Yumi Zouma, Pom Pom Squad, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Nov 12, 2021
By Mark Redfern (with Joey Arnone)
Welcome to the 43rd Songs of the Week of 2021. It was a packed week for new songs. There were lots of big album announcements (Jack White even announced two new albums, although he didn’t share any new songs from either of them). And Under the Radar favorite Beach House put out four new songs! So the best we could narrow it down to this week was a Top 12. More
Nov 11, 2021
By Joey Arnone
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have shared a video for their new song “Mona Lisa.” The self-directed video stars frontwoman Christie Simpson and was filmed in Lyttleton, New Zealand. More
New Song Out Now via Polyvinyl
Sep 07, 2021
By Joey Arnone
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma have shared a new song titled “Give it Hell.” It is their first song to come out since the release of their 2020 album Truth or Consequences, and it is out now via Polyvinyl. More
Truth or Consequences (Alternate Versions) Due Out October 28 via Polyvinyl
Sep 09, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma released their new album Truth or Consequences back in March, but on October 28 they are putting out a record of alternate versions of the album’s songs—fittingly titled Truth or Consequences (Alternate Versions)—and now they have shared the redone version of “My Palms Are Your Reference to Hold to Your Heart,” via a video. More
Truth or Consequences (Alternate Versions) Due Out October 28 via Polyvinyl
Aug 27, 2020
By Samantha Small
New Zealand alt-pop group Yumi Zouma released their new album Truth or Consequences back in March. Now, they’ve announced a record of alternate versions—with a new song coming every week— coming out October 28 via Polyvinyl Record Co. Listen to the redone version of “Lie Like You Want More
Truth or Consequences Out Now via Polyvinyl
Jul 24, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new album, Truth or Consequences, in March via Polyvinyl, their first for the label (stream it here). Now they have shared a video for the album’s “Sage.” Jack Shepherd filmed the video on Super 8 in 2019 and Austin Roa edited it. More
“The situation has been heartbreaking for us as the virus struck just as we released our new album.”
Apr 23, 2020
By Mark Redfern
We are checking in with musicians during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to see how they are dealing with everything. What has their home quarantine experience been like so far and how is the crisis impacting both their career and art? More
Truth or Consequences Out Now via Polyvinyl
Apr 14, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new album, Truth or Consequences, last month via Polyvinyl, their first for the label. Now they have shared a video for the album’s “Lonely After.” More
Truth or Consequences Out Now via Polyvinyl
Mar 13, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new album, Truth or Consequences, today via Polyvinyl, their first for the label. Now that the album is out, you can stream the whole thing below. Also, today we posted our My Firsts interview with the band and you can read that too. More
Plus Nap Eyes, Jay Som, Wye Oak, Glass Animals, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Feb 21, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
Welcome to the seventh Songs of the Week of 2020. Since Monday was President’s Day here in America, it should’ve been a less busy week for new tracks, but there was still plenty to choose from and this week we’ve got 12 songs that we consider the week’s best. More
Truth or Consequences Due Out March 13 via Polyvinyl
Feb 18, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma are releasing a new album, Truth or Consequences, on March 13 via Polyvinyl, their first for the label. Now they have shared another song from the album, “Southwark,” via a self-directed video for the track. More
Plus Sorry, Badly Drawn Boy, Waxahatchee, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
Jan 24, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
Welcome to the third Songs of the Week of 2020. It was a mixed week for new songs. There were certainly some good tracks this week, but few that screamed Top 10 of the week. More
Truth or Consequences Due Out March 13 via Polyvinyl
Jan 22, 2020
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma have announced a new album, Truth or Consequences, and shared its first single, “Cool For a Second,” via a video for the track. They have also announced some new tour dates. More
Band Have Signed to Polyvinyl
Dec 10, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma have shared a new song, “Right Track / Wrong Man.” It’s their first track for Polyvinyl, a label they have just announced that they have signed to. The band self-produced the song and it was mixed by Jake Aron (Solange, Grizzly Bear, Snail Mail). Listen below. More
Plus Ezra Furman, Cherry Glazerr, Bill Callahan, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks
May 24, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
Welcome to another Songs of the Week. Last week we only had a Top 7 instead of our usual Top 10 and this week it’s only a little better with a Top 8. More
May 22, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new EP, EP III, last September via Cascine. Now they have shared a brand new song, “Bruise,” that’s a standalone single and is a little bit more electronic and club-ready than their usual fare. More
EP III Out Now via Cascine
Apr 25, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new EP, EP III, last September via Cascine. Now they have shared a video for the EP’s “Crush (It’s Late, Just Stay).” Robbie Barnett directed the video, with editing by Austin Roe. More
EP III Out Now via Cascine
Mar 14, 2019
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released a new EP, EP III, last September via Cascine. Now they have shared a video for the EP’s “In Camera.” Pavel Brenner directed the video, which centers on a teenage romance and features lots of dancing and synchronized swimming. More
The Lamb Out Now via Hardly Art
Sep 28, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
Lala Lala is the project of Chicago-based Lillie West. Her new album, The Lamb, came out today via Hardly Art and it’s our Album of the Week. In his review for Under the Radar, our writer Timothy Michalik declared The Lamb “perhaps one of this year’s finest indie rock records to come out of Chicago, if not the country.” More
EP III Due Out This Friday via Cascine
Sep 25, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released their sophomore album, Willowbank, last year via Cascine (it was one of our Top 100 Albums of 2017) and are releasing a new EP, EP III, this Friday via Cascine. More
Plus Danielson, Jungle, Django Django, Farao, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 14, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
We spent the week wondering if Hurricane Florence was going to hit us here at our headquarters in Southwest Virginia. Lucky for us, it seems to have angled further south, and while we may still get some heavy rains and winds in the coming days and week, it likely won’t be as devastating to Virginia as feared. More
EP III Due Out September 28 via Cascine
Sep 12, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released their sophomore album, Willowbank, last year via Cascine (it was one of our Top 100 Albums of 2017) and are releasing a new EP, EP III, on September 28 via Cascine. Now they have shared another song from it, the wonderfully titled “Crush (It’s Late, Just Stay).” More
Plus Lost Under Heaven, Lala Lala, J Mascis, The Goon Sax, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Aug 24, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
This week’s Songs of the Week is packed. Firstly boygenius, the new supergroup featuring Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers, released three songs this week and all were worthy of the list. Thus we decided to expand it from a Top 10 to a Top 12, so that 10 separate artists were still included, be even that wasn’t enough, so we added one more for an unlucky Top 13. More
EP III Due Out September 28 via Cascine
Aug 21, 2018
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released their sophomore album, Willowbank, last year via Cascine (it was one of our Top 100 Albums of 2017). Now they have announced a new EP, EP III, and shared a new song from it, “In Camera.” More
Another Dark Year Was Brightened By a Plethora of Fantastic Albums
Dec 30, 2017
By Mark Redfern
2016 was regarded as a fairly rough year by many, but 2017 was no walk in the park either. 2016 was mired by the deaths of several beloved musical icons (David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, and Sharon Jones among them) and the disappointing and divisive Presidential election, but in 2017 we had to deal with the ramifications of said election (we’d say that roughly 95% of the musicians we interview likely don’t support many, if any, of President Trump’s policies). More
Willowbank Out Now via Cascine
Oct 25, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released their sophomore album, Willowbank, a few weeks back via Cascine. Now they have shared a video for the album’s first single, the truly wonderful pop song “December.” The video was filmed in and around Yumi Zouma’s hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand and features singer Christie Simpson wandering around the city, sometimes singing the song. More
Issue 62 Also Includes Interviews with Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, The Horrors, Wolf Alice, Jessie Ware, King Krule, and Much More
Oct 20, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our Fall 2017 Issue, which is out now digitally via Under the Radar’s app and the magazine app Readly. The print version has shipped out to subscribers and stores and will be on all newsstands soon (as well as available soon digitally via the magazine app Zinio). The issue features Julien Baker on the cover. More
Both Artists Touring the West Coast Together This Week
Oct 18, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma released their sophomore album, Willowbank, a few weeks back via Cascine. They are about to embark on some West Coast tour dates with label-mate Chad Valley (led by British singer/musician/producer Hugo Manuel) and so the two artists have traded remixes. More
Support Under the Radar on Patreon to Access Exclusive Content
Oct 06, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
If you support Under the Radar‘s Patreon page at the minimum contribution of at least $1.00 a month you get access to our Patreon-only feed featuring exclusive content only available to Patreon supporters. More
Alex Lahey's I Love You Like a Brother Out Now via Dead Oceans and Yumi Zouma's Willowbank Out Now via Cascine
Oct 06, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
This week we have a tie for Album of the Week, two albums we’ve been digging for awhile and both by artists who hail from south of the equator: Australia’s Alex Lahey and New Zealand’s Yumi Zouma. Below is info on each album. More
Plus Björk, Grooms, Jessie Ware, Cut Copy, Yumi Zouma, Alex Lahey, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 15, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
Okay, okay. Since starting our Songs of the Week posts, we’ve slowly increased from having five songs, then six songs, then seven songs, then eight songs, and then for the last couple of weeks, nine songs. We think it’s time to just settle on an even Top 10. More
Willowbank Due Out October 6 via Cascine
Sep 12, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma are releasing a new album, Willowbank, on October 6 via Cascine. Now the band have shared a video for a new song, “Half Hour.” The simple black & white clip was self-directed by the band and features close-ups and pulled back shots of the band’s members against a white wall, looking cool. More
Plus Alex Lahey, Jessie Ware, Mathew Dear + Tegan and Sara, Ted Leo, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Sep 01, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
What a packed week for great new tracks. We could have easily done a Top 15. Some artists that almost made the cut include A. Savage, Bully, John Maus, Father John Misty (remixed by The Haxan Cloak), Tricky, Wolf Parade, and Zola Jesus. More
Willowbank Due Out October 6 via Cascine
Aug 29, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma are releasing a new album, Willowbank, on October 6 via Cascine. More
Plus Alvvays, Ariel Pink, Yumi Zouma, Madeline Kenney, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Aug 18, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
Charlottesville, Virginia is only just over an hour a way from Under the Radar‘s headquarters. It’s the best local city to see shows in and it’s a great little progressive college town that we visit often. So we watched in horror, disbelief, and disgust last weekend as the violent and tragic events in Charlottesville surrounding the white supremacist rally dominated the news. More
Willowbank Due Out October 6 via Cascine
Aug 15, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand indie-pop band Yumi Zouma are releasing a new album, Willowbank, on October 6 via Cascine. Previously they shared the album’s first single, the truly wonderful pop song “December,” which was one of our favorite Songs of the Week. More
Plus Everything Everything, Deerhoof, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks
Aug 04, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
The War on Drugs’ last album, Lost in the Dream, was our #1 album of 2014 and a lot of other people agreed with us too. Based on the four singles shared thus far from their forthcoming new album, A Deeper Understanding, the band is already in strong Album of the Year waters for 2017. More
Yumi Zouma Covering Oasis' (What's the Story) Morning Glory? For Sounds Delicious Vinyl Series
Mar 10, 2017
By Christopher Roberts
New Zealand synthpop band Yumi Zouma have covered Oasis’ 1995 Britpop classic “Champagne Supernova.” In fact, they’ve gone a step further and covered Oasis’ entire classic 1995 album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? It will be released on April 6 on limited edition vinyl (only 1,000 copies, each with a download card) as part of Turntable Kitchen’s Sounds Delicious vinyl subscription series. More
For Sounds Delicious Vinyl Series Also Featuring Local Natives, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and More
Dec 13, 2016
By Christopher Roberts
Death Cab for Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard is set to cover Teenage Fanclub‘s 1991 album Teenage Fanclub’s Bandwagonesque in its entirety. It will be released on limited edition vinyl (with a download card) as part of Turntable Kitchen’s Sounds Delicious vinyl subscription series. More
Plus New Tracks from Ryn Weaver, Happyness, Lemonade, Medicine, Gold Panda, Little Dragon, Mr. Twin Sister, Bass Drum of Death, Celebration, Lily & Madeleine, Yumi Zouma, and Others
Aug 08, 2014
By Michael Wojtas
Welcome to Under the Radar’s weekly playlist, where we compile the best and most exciting tracks to debut online in the last week (give or take). In this mix we’ve got new songs by Tweedy, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Ryn Weaver, Happyness, Lemonade, Medicine, Gold Panda, Little Dragon, Mr. Twin Sister, Bass Drum of Death, Celebration, Lily & Madeleine, Glass Ghost, Zammuto, Yumi Zouma, Wyldest, Swim Mountain, and more. Look no further, your Friday and weekend playlist is here. More
Air France Broke Up Two Years Ago Today
Mar 26, 2014
By Laura Studarus
Two years to the day that Air France announced their breakup, Joel Karlsson and Henrik Markstedt are back. Sorta. More
Debut EP Out Now on Cascine
Mar 05, 2014
By Laura Studarus
Today New Zealand trio Yumi Zouma relased not one but two videos. More
Self-Titled EP Due Out Feb 11 on Cascine
Jan 31, 2014
By Laura Studarus
Over the past few weeks New Zealand’s Yumi Zouma has slowly been charming us with cuts from their lite-disco debut EP. More
Interviews
“The situation has been heartbreaking for us as the virus struck just as we released our new album.”
Apr 23, 2020
By Mark Redfern
We are checking in with musicians during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to see how they are dealing with everything. What has their home quarantine experience been like so far and how is the crisis impacting both their career and art? More
Mar 13, 2020
By Mark Redfern
My Firsts is our email interview series where we ask musicians to tell us about their first life experiences, be it early childhood ones (first word, first concert, etc.) or their first tastes of being a musician (first band, first tour, etc.). For this My Firsts we talk to Charlie Ryder of Yumi Zouma. More
Nov 20, 2017
By Kyle Mullin
Even before they settled on an approach for writing and recording their sophomore album, Christie Simpson and her bandmates in the rising New Zealand synth pop troop Yumi Zouma knew what they wanted to avoid. More
Reviews
Mar 30, 2022
By Andy Von Pip
Present Tense, New Zealand quartet Yumi Zouma’s fourth album, strives for an evolution rather than a revolution in terms of their overall sound. The band—who comprise of Josh Burgess (vocals, guitar), Charlie Ryder (guitar, bass, keys), Christie Simpson (vocals, keys), and Olivia Campion (drums)—embrace a more gradual step forward rather than take a huge sonic leap. After all, they aren’t exactly renowned for their wild feral rock ‘n’ roll, so the shift is subtle rather than seismic. More
Oct 05, 2017
By Stephen Mayne
For the members of New Zealand four-piece Yumi Zouma, it’s been a long road home. It started with EPs created from files sent across continents, and progressed to a debut album recorded together but outside their homeland. Willowbank is the great return, the band finally comfortable as a band, heading back to record the follow-up to last year’s Yoncalla. More