Your ultimate barbecue playlist
Fat Freddy’s Drop are icons of the Kiwi summer, writes Kate Robertson.
Fat Freddy’s Drop are icons of the Kiwi summer. The two have become so synonymous it’s impressive any other music breaks through at humble New Year parties and drinks at the bach.
Their music is smart, fun, and easy to consume. It’s a universal crowd pleaser that rarely comes up against opposition in a group environment, making it a goto for social gatherings across the Aotearoa.
But what do you play when it’s the middle of summer and you’ve come in way too hot on your alltime favourites?
You can’t play AC/DC or Metallica because that’s far too polarising for a catchall group. Same goes for weird house music or particularly alternative and sparkly pop music (what I would play on loop, if given the opportunity).
It’s surprisingly stressful deciding what to ‘‘chuck on last minute’’ when you actually leave it until the last minute. Enjoy my pickings for music that might not be your guests’ usual jam but will win them over and, most importantly, won’t have them rudely trying to commandeer the AUX cord.
Aotearoa Alt: You love New Zealand music but can’t be having any of the stuff that’s already had major airplay this year (Mitch James, Openside, Son of Zion, Broods and the like). You also want to show your friends that you’re hip, cool, and down with the kids. Cue some of the most poppin’ slightly alternative but still very palatable acts in Aotearoa right now.
The Beths are a logical starting point. Their album Future Me Hates Me became an instant classic. Rolling Stone named Happy Unhappy their song of the summer, they topped Paste magazine’s Best New Artists list for 2018 and were a finalist for the APRA Silver Scroll Award. Chelsea Jade’s debut album Personal Best is left-of-centre pop