Blackout Music NZ

03/10/2026

Very nice Indeed, well done Karleshia 👏😀

Aotearoa Music Charts

24/09/2026

Karleshia DELIVERS ANOTHER STUNNINGLY POIGNANT SINGLE ‘ALTAR’

Ōtautahi-based singer-songwriter KARLESHIA returns with ‘Altar’, the second single from Karleishia’s forthcoming debut EP CHURCH TRAUMA, due out Friday 30 October.

‘Altar’ continues the story begun with their haunting, confronting debut single ‘Holy Low’, which went straight into the NZ TOP 20 SINGLES CHART at #13, a remarkable achievement which shone a well-deserved light on this singular, emerging new artist.

Musically, ‘Altar’ sits in the emotive atmospheric space Karleshia is beginning to carve out for themselves, with their distinctive and moving vocal carrying the weight of their messaging. It marks another step into the evocative body of songs exploring the aftermath of losing a faith but gaining a new life and direction through music.

A former worship leader and young adults’ leader who spent years deeply immersed in church, Karleshia knows first-hand what it means to try to make faith, sexuality and the idea of being “holy” co-exist.

Where ‘Holy Low’ confronted Karleshia’s painful experience of being used and pushed aside by their church, ‘Altar’ offers another perspective. In itself, it’s an act of surrender – not of who they are, but of releasing the guilt and the endless internal battle to accept that some things cannot be mended.

Says Karleshia: “‘Altar’ is about what it was like inside a church environment. You’re constantly trying to do all the right things — to be righteous, be holy, pray, have faith and be the person I had been taught to believe I was supposed to be—but eventually, my sexuality kept making me feel like I was ‘falling down’ again and again. I had spent years deeply involved in church, including as a worship leader and young adults’ leader, and in the end I could not reconcile the two. I had to lay it to rest and walked away from it all."

The exhaustion of processing grief made them realise it was more painful to fight than to let it go. There is grief and resignation in that decision, but ‘Altar’ is ultimately about making peace with the fact that some things cannot be reconciled, and discovering that you can still move forward anyway.

It is also a song for anyone who has experienced hardship inside a space of faith, particularly those who have found themselves questioning whether being true to themselves somehow means they are failing God.

Karleshia isn’t bothered with that question anymore, they’re making music.

‘ALTAR’ is available on all major streaming platforms from today.

KARLESHIA - debut EP CHURCH TRAUMA
Stories About Leaving, Healing, And Coming Home To Yourself.
Due out Friday 30 October

SEE KARLESHIA LIVE:

ALIVE AND UNPLUGGED
FEAT. LUCA JOASS, ANAND AND KARLESHIA
Thursday 8 October Darkroom, Christchurch
Tickets from Under The Radar here

KARLESHIA – CHURCH TRAUMA EP RELEASE SHOW!
With
Elizabeth and the Coven * Pyrrhic * Deborah Wilding
Thursday 5 November Darkroom, Christchurch
Tickets from Under The Radar here

24/09/2026

Out today.

16/09/2026

12/09/2026

09/09/2026

Thanks Muzic.NZ - and Nick.

𝗠𝗨𝗭𝗜𝗖.𝗡𝗭 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪

Haast Hunter - Album Review: Plastique
Thanks Nick!

"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭, 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘏𝘢𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘦."

Read Here: https://www.muzic.nz/reviews/album-review-plastique/

03/09/2026

SUPPORT ANNOUNCED 🔥 Local DJ and producer Josh Fawaz is opening for the one and only Jason Derulo across Australia & New Zealand!

The tour kicks off THIS MONTH - don't miss out. Secure your tickets now: https://ffm.live/jason-derulo

28/08/2026

New Single Release👏

IRISH SINGER-SONGWRITER DÓNAL GUNNING DROPS NEW SINGLE ‘BREATHING’ – AN ANTHEMIC CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Dublin-born, Aotearoa-based artist Dónal Gunning is gearing up for the release of his debut album NO OTHER OPTION this October, with new single ‘BREATHING’, offering the first taste of what’s to come.

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dnalgunning/breathing

Since moving to New Zealand in 2022 to pursue music full-time, Dónal has been steadily building his place in the local scene – releasing two EP’s and a string of singles, touring nationally twice, and his debut international tour of Ireland.

‘Breathing’ is a song about wanting more out of life. It’s about escape, connection and those moments when you’re looking for something – or someone – to make you feel fully alive again.

Imbuing a restless, carefree and fun energy, ‘Breathing’ has the vibe of an unforgettable road trip with celebratory champagne-fuelled nights and the feeling that there’s always something happening just around the corner. With a catchy, anthemic chorus, the song turns the simple act of breathing into a metaphor for letting go, reconnecting with yourself, and finally being able to breathe. There’s a pure pop sensibility to the melody, while the song also carries the grit and attitude of Dónal’s rock and grunge influences.

If you’ve seen Dónal live, you’ll know that the energy doesn’t stop when the record does. He’s a natural performer with a knack for bringing a room together – part Irish charm, part rock ‘n’ roll mischief, and a whole lotta fun. Dónal and his band THE BUCKS, will be hitting the road across New Zealand this summer, bringing ‘Breathing’ and the new album to stages around the country.

After a few years of finding his feet in Aotearoa, Dónal Gunning is ready to make some noise, and ‘Breathing’ is an excellent place to start.

NEW SINGLE ‘BREATHING’ OUT TODAY

DEBUT ALBUM NO OTHER OPTION OUT TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER
Donal Gunning

Blackout Music NZ

Stream and Pre-save Breathing - Distributed by DistroKid