Phoebe Rings

Phoebe Rings, the emerging New Zealand dream-pop group, have shared “Cheshire,” the latest from their recently announced self-titled debut EP, out October 18th on Carpark Records.

Of the Alice in Wonderland-inspired trip through the rabbit hole, Crystal Choi says “‘Chesire’ is about my battle of not being able to accept myself the way I am, and dreaming of a day where I reconcile and embrace myself (where I could “dance with the mirror”). There are hints of life where that actually happens, but it kinda smiles and disappears, like the Cheshire cat. I was right in the middle of listening to heaps of Stereolab whom I still love, and hence the influence of the arrangement.”

Last month the band announced Phoebe Rings with “Daisy,” the vibrant lead single that Paste called “multi-faceted at every turn” saying the song “is as floral and spritely as its title suggests. With a style that reflects the layered, dimensional love that stitches together the cultural tapestry of Choi and her band’s instincts.”

Choi’s songwriting was brought to life with Alex Freer on drums, Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent on guitar and synths, and Benjamin Locke on bass. Choi says she knew the tracks had to be recorded after the band played the songs better than she could ever imagine. And so, remotely through the COVID-19 lockdowns, the band started recording the songs that eventually turned into the Phoebe Rings EP.

The release is a testament to the distinctive musical style of Auckland, NZ jazz-school-trained pianist and songwriter Crystal Choi. Across six tracks, the EP is a love letter to some of the band’s influences: Studio Ghibli films, Zelda and Stardew soundtracks, Bossa Nova, Stereolab, and 90’s Korean ballads.