Making Tracks with The MOST FM: Artist Interviews The MOST FM

Ardon England, a multifaceted force in New Zealand's music landscape. A Māori artist, Ardon is a bold advocate for diversity and inclusion, infusing his unique blend of genres with unapologetic creativity and raw emotion.

With a background steeped in dance and performance artistry, Ardon's journey into music was inevitable. Over two decades, he's traversed stages nationwide, captivating audiences with his electrifying presence.

A culmination of dreamy vocals and experiential sound, Goodnight My Darling is the vision and project of up and coming Wellington based singer-songwriter Maxine Macaulay. 

With elements of shoegaze, folk and dreamy melody, Macaulay says her ever evolving vibe is a poetic expression of her life and the places around her. Her songs take you on a cinematic journey, while her ethereal vocals lull you into a quiet sense of peace and appreciation. 

Goodnight My Darling started as an electronic project when Macaulay released her EP of self produced songs “Levitate”. She then joined forces with a band to create and release her latest nine-track self-titled album, with a mix of soul-stirring tunes including ode to love, loss and rebirth ‘The Carriage’, ‘Until I Return’ and the story of a relationship’s end in ‘The Trees Have Eyes’.

NZ born, international breakthrough artist Robinson has returned with her first single of 2024, the soaring new track ‘The War On Art’, out today.

An impatient, driving guitar with dark undertones are matched with Robinson’s emotive, powerfully raw vocal performance. When the chorus hits, ‘The War On Art’ is stadium ready; stacked with vocals and a massive rhythm section, as Robinson lyrically opens fire on the darker realities of creative industries “where they turn our dreams into a business.”

“‘The War On Art’ is the very message I have come to stand for as an artist,” explains Robinson. 

“All too often, I’ve heard and experienced the horror stories that people in the creative industries go through. They’re taken advantage of, financially struggle (even with their success), are victims of power plays, are told how to act and dress in order to ‘sell’, and are treated as nothing more than a brand that must be fine-tuned.”

Auckland-based Daily J continue to take the globe by storm with their signature blend of indie-rock and indie-pop; today dropping a new tune - the nostalgic and sentimental ‘Happy Slides’. 

It’s been an action packed few years for the local lads (three brothers Jayden, Jonny and Jesse Paul and good mate Rick Everard), who have earned a reputation as one of New Zealand music’s most successful exports with tens of millions of streams across platforms and sold out tours across countries.

The release of ‘Happy Slides’ - along with the video - marks the first new music from Daily J since last year’s double EP release SLUSH HONEY Side A and Side B. And it finds the band in reflective mode, dipping between past and present; creating a melodic postcard that anyone would hope to receive.

Aotearoa’s rising indie artist Rita Mae has returned with her first single of 2024, the unapologetically anthemic new single and video ‘Kiss The Sky’, co-written with The Naked and Famous’ award-winning artist Alisa Xayalith.

Oscillating between chill, acoustic verses and full noise, grungy, stadium-ready choruses, ‘Kiss The Sky’ sonically mirrors its lyrical meaning, being a “greedy, indulgent song about wanting everything and being unapologetic about it.”

Sam Cullen’s sound is far from what you might expect of a 23 year-old born and raised on theedge of the world in Invercargill - the bottom of New Zealand. With genuine lyrics drawn from lived experience and a rock and roll meets pop driving energy, the now Auckland-based artist is a

force to be reckoned with.



Since 2022’s ‘Run’ - EP, Sam has honed his stadium rock influences and completes his next era of releases on April 19 with his ‘Love Again’ - EP. Sam wears his heart on his sleeve with this body of work with songs about growing up and homesickness while figuring himself out a little more.



Over the past 3 years, he has steadily climbed the ladder of success; releasing three EP’s, playing on some of New Zealand’s biggest stages (including the main stage at R&V), selling out a number of headline shows and playing support slots around the country. Following a massive 10-date

solo tour of NZ in 2023, this next era introduces a 5-piece live band that brings an incomparable onstage energy.