Fazerdaze

Last updated

Fazerdaze
1 fazerdaze singapore 2023.jpg
Murray performing in Singapore at the Trifecta Music Festival in 2023
Background information
Birth nameAmelia Rahayu Murray
Born (1993-01-19) January 19, 1993 (age 31) [1]
Wellington, New Zealand
Genres Dream pop, shoegaze, indie pop, indie rock
Years active2014–2017, 2022–present
Labels Flying Nun, section1, Buttrfly Records
Website fazerdaze.bandcamp.com

Amelia Rahayu Murray is a New Zealand singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. [2] [3] She is best known for her musical project Fazerdaze.

Contents

Murray first gained acclaim in 2014 for Fazerdaze's self-titled debut EP. She gained further recognition in 2017 after releasing her debut album, Morningside. Its single, "Lucky Girl", became a viral hit. Following a period of burnout and personal challenges, she took a five-year break from music and returned in late 2022 with Fazerdaze's second EP, Break!. Her second album, Soft Power was released on 15 November 2024.

Fazerdaze's music is best known for its intimate introspective lyrics and dreamy echo-laden production. [2] [4] [5] [6] Some of the genres associated with the project are dream pop, shoegaze and alternative rock.

Early life

Murray was born to an English-born New Zealand father and an Indonesian mother and she was raised in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. [2] [7] Her interest in playing music began when she played her father's guitar at age 13. During her time at Onslow College, a Wellington high school with a vibrant music scene, she formed a band with her friends called The Tangle. The band eventually disbanded after they graduated from high school. [8] Murray then made the decision to pursue music as her career and moved to Auckland to study music at University of Auckland. [9]

Career

Fazerdaze EP: 2014-2015

While attending university, Murray began the Fazerdaze project after several failed attempts at forming bands. Soon after, she recorded her self-titled debut EP by herself in her bedroom studio in Auckland. [2] [3] [10] [11] She self-released the EP in October 2014 and received positive reviews. [8] [10] With the help of multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Pearce, who mastered the release, [12] she achieved a dream pop sound. [10] Upon the EP's release, Murray began playing at local shows by herself with backing tracks. Eventually, she met fellow New Zealand musicians and expanded Fazerdaze's live act into a full band with auxiliary members accompanying her. [2]

Morningside: 2015–2017

Murray performing at a live concert in France in May 2017 FAZERDAZE - Paris, France.jpg
Murray performing at a live concert in France in May 2017

In May 2017, Murray released Fazerdaze's debut album, Morningside. The album was named after the Auckland neighborhood of the same name where she used to live. [nb 1] [14] [15] Morningside became a hit album with its viral single "Lucky Girl". [14] [16] [17] The single's music video was shot and directed by Samuel Kristofski. Murray edited the music video. [9] Murray suffered from burnout after the success of Morningside and she encountered problems with unhealthy personal relationships. [2] [18]

Break!: 2022–2023

After taking a five-year hiatus from music, Murray returned with Fazerdaze's second EP, Break!, in late 2022. [2] [3] [18] She stated that her hiatus has been instrumental in helping her return to music, and she ended up finishing the EP during a three-month long lockdown in New Zealand. [3] Musically, Break! is quite different from her previous work and it includes elements of dance pop and electronica. [19] In early 2023, Fazerdaze released "Flood Into" as a standalone single, which had previously been available exclusively on the vinyl version of Break!. [20] [21]

Soft Power: 2024–current

In September 2023, Fazerdaze released "Bigger, the lead single of her upcoming sophomore album, Soft Power. [22] [23] [24] On 10 September 2024, Murray announced the release date of Fazerdaze's sophomore album, Soft Power. Along with the announcement, she released "Cherry Pie", the second single from the album. [25] The song became her first No. 1 hit on the NZ Hot Singles chart. [26] [27] In the following month, she released the third single from the album, "A Thousand Years" on 9 October 2024. [28] On 15 November 2024, Soft Power was released and received critical acclaim. [29] [30] [31] [32]

Artistry and musicianship

Murray mostly prefers making music by herself. [9] Her music as Fazerdaze are considered as dream pop, bedroom pop, indie pop, alternative rock, indie rock and shoegaze. [2] [33] [14] [21] Some of Murray's musical influences include 1990s rock bands, such as Blur and Nirvana. [2]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
NZ
[34]
Morningside23
Soft Power
  • Released: 15 November 2024
  • Label: Flying Nun
  • Format: LP, CD, digital download, streaming [35]
—

Extended plays

TitleEP detailsPeak chart positions
NZ
[36]
Fazerdaze EP—
Break!
  • Released: 14 October 2022
  • Label: section1, Flying Nun
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming [38] [39]
24

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
NZ
Hot
[40]
"Little Uneasy"2015—Morningside [35]
"Lucky Girl"2017—
"Take It Slow"—
"Come Apart"2022—Break! [39]
"Break!"—
"Flood Into"2023—
"Bigger" [41] —Soft Power [42]
"Cherry Pie" [43] 20241
"A Thousand Years" [44] —
"So Easy" [45] —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Collaborations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Fraser</span> New Zealand musician (born 1983)

Brooke Gabrielle Ligertwood, professionally known as Brooke Fraser, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. After signing with Sony BMG in 2002, she gained recognition for her debut album, What to Do with Daylight (2003) and followed with Albertine (2006) and Flags (2010). All three debuted at number one on the RMNZ chart and gained her the number one single "Something in the Water". She later released Brutal Romantic (2014), various compilation albums, the live album Seven (2022) and Eight (2023). The latter two were released by Capitol CMG under her married name, Brooke Ligertwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sway (Bic Runga song)</span> 1997 single by Bic Runga

"Sway" is a song by New Zealand singer Bic Runga. It was released as the second single from her debut studio album, Drive (1997), in 1997. The song peaked at No. 7 in New Zealand and No. 10 in Australia, earning gold certifications in both countries. At the 32nd New Zealand Music Awards, the song won three awards: Single of the Year, Best Songwriter, and Best Engineer. In 2001, it was voted the sixth-best New Zealand song of all time by members of the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). A music video directed by John Taft was made for the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Clarkson discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson has released ten studio albums, eight extended plays, one compilation album, one remix album, and 56 singles. In 2002, she won the inaugural season of the television competition American Idol and was immediately signed to a recording deal with 19 Recordings, and RCA Records. She made her chart debut in September 2002 with the double A-side single "Before Your Love"/"A Moment Like This", latter of which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and eventually became the year's best-selling single in the United States. Her debut album, Thankful, was released in April 2003 and entered the US Billboard 200 chart at number one. Thankful produced the hit lead single "Miss Independent" and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muni Long</span> American singer (born 1988)

Priscilla Renea Hamilton, known professionally as Muni Long, is an American singer from Gifford, Florida. Under her birth name, she signed with Capitol Records to release her debut studio album Jukebox (2009), which was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart. She then spent the following decade co-writing songs for other artists, including the hit singles "Promise This" for Cheryl, "California King Bed" for Rihanna, "Worth It" for Fifth Harmony, "Love So Soft" for Kelly Clarkson, "Imagine" for Ariana Grande, "Who Says" for Selena Gomez & the Scene, and the global hit "Timber" for Pitbull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellie Goulding discography</span>

English singer Ellie Goulding has released five studio albums, two remix albums, eight extended plays, 48 singles, 13 promotional singles and 49 music videos. As of February 2023, Goulding had sold 27 million albums and 216 million singles, and amassed 43 billion streams worldwide. Additionally, she had sold over 2.6 million albums and over 15 million singles in the United Kingdom alone as of August 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorde discography</span>

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde has released three studio albums, four extended plays, 12 singles and 13 music videos. At the age of 13, she was signed to Universal Music Group (UMG) and started to write music. In November 2012, when she was 16 years old, she self-released The Love Club EP via SoundCloud. It was released for sale by UMG in March 2013; a song from the EP, "Royals", topped numerous single charts internationally, including the US Billboard Hot 100. The track sold over 10 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thelma Plum</span> Indigenous Australian musician (born 1994)

Thelma Amelina Plumbe, known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her debut album, Better in Blak, was released on 30 July 2019 and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan Trainor discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor has released six studio albums, two extended plays (EP), two live albums, 40 singles, 34 music videos, three independent albums, and 26 promotional singles. She self-released the albums Meghan Trainor (2009), I'll Sing with You (2011), and Only 17 (2011); they were pulled from circulation after she signed with Epic Records in February 2014. Trainor's debut single, "All About That Bass", was released on June 30, 2014, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight consecutive weeks. The single became the longest-reigning number-one by an Epic recording artist in the United States, surpassing the seven-week record held by Michael Jackson's songs "Billie Jean" (1983) and "Black or White" (1991). It topped the national charts of 58 countries and became one of the best-selling singles of all-time. As of 2015, it had sold over 11 million units internationally. "All About That Bass" was certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and preceded Trainor's debut EP, Title (2014), which peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 in September 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ella Mai</span> British R&B singer (born 1994)

Ella Mai Howell is an English R&B singer-songwriter. Her musical career began at London's British and Irish Modern Music Institute in 2014, during which time she auditioned as part of a trio on the 11th season of The X Factor. In 2015, she released her debut four-track solo extended play (EP), Troubled in October of that year. The EP and her performances on social media were discovered by American record producer DJ Mustard, who signed Mai to his record label 10 Summers Records, an imprint of Interscope Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruel (singer)</span> British-Australian singer-songwriter

Ruel Vincent van Dijk, known mononymously as Ruel, is an Australian singer and songwriter from Sydney, best known for his singles "Don't Tell Me", "Younger", "As Long as You Care" and "Painkiller". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2018, he won the award for Breakthrough Artist for his single "Dazed & Confused". Ruel's debut studio album 4th Wall was released on 3 March 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocean Alley</span> Australian rock band

Ocean Alley is an Australian alternative psychedelic rock band from the Northern Beaches. The band is made up of Baden Donegal, Angus Goodwin, Lach Galbraith, Mitch Galbraith (guitar), Nic Blom (bass) and Tom O'Brien (drums). Their style of music has been described as "cruisey psych, rock and reggae fusion".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Corby discography</span>

The discography of Australian singer-songwriter Matt Corby consists of three studio albums, seven extended plays and twenty-two singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Eilish discography</span>

American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has released 3 studio albums, 1 live album, 1 video album, 2 extended plays (EPs), 34 singles, 1 promotional single, and 30 music videos. According to RIAA, she has sold 45.5 million digital singles and 5 million albums. IFPI crowned "Bad Guy" as 2019's biggest selling single globally, selling 19.5 million units in a year span. Eilish is regarded by various media outlets as the "Queen of Gen-Z Pop". At age 17, she became the youngest female artist in UK chart history to score a number-one album. As of October 2021, Eilish has accumulated 76.7 billion career streams worldwide. According to IFPI, Eilish was the 4th best-selling artist of 2019 and 5th best-selling artist of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benee</span> New Zealand singer

Stella Rose Bennett, better known as Benee and formerly Bene, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter from Auckland. In both 2019 and 2020, she consecutively won Single of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Pop Artist at the New Zealand Music Awards. Benee initially gained local prominence with her singles "Glitter" and "Soaked", before her 2019 single "Supalonely" saw international popularity following its success on the video-sharing platforms TikTok and YouTube. Benee subsequently released her debut album, Hey U X, in November 2020.

Chloe Papandrea, known professionally as Cxloe, is an Australian singer-songwriter from Sydney, New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Webster</span> American musician (born 1997)

Faye Webster is an American singer-songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia. She has released five studio albums: Run and Tell (2013), Faye Webster (2017), Atlanta Millionaires Club (2019), I Know I'm Funny Haha (2021), and Underdressed at the Symphony (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beabadoobee</span> English singer-songwriter (born 2000)

Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus, known professionally as Beabadoobee, is a Filipino-English singer and songwriter. From 2018 to 2021, she released five extended plays (EPs) under the independent label Dirty Hit: Lice (2018), Patched Up (2018), Loveworm (2019), Space Cadet (2019) and Our Extended Play (2021). Her debut studio album Fake It Flowers was released in October 2020, and received critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Beatopia, was released on 15 July 2022, which spawned the hit "The Perfect Pair." Her third studio album, This Is How Tomorrow Moves, was released on 9 August 2024; it became her first album to peak atop the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gracie Abrams</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1999)

Gracie Madigan Abrams is an American singer-songwriter. She signed with Interscope Records to release two extended plays, Minor (2020) and This Is What It Feels Like (2021). After performing as an opening act on Olivia Rodrigo's Sour Tour, Abrams released her debut studio album, Good Riddance (2023), which moderately entered the Billboard 200. Throughout 2023, she performed as an opening act for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, and received a nomination for Best New Artist at the 66th Grammy Awards. In late 2023, Abrams was featured on a remix of the song "Everywhere, Everything" by Noah Kahan, marking her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. Abrams' second album, The Secret of Us, was released on June 21, 2024, to favorable reviews and commercial success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200.

Kaylee Bell is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. In 2013, she won the Toyota Star Maker award in Australia, making her the first New Zealand-born artist to win since Keith Urban in 1990. She released her debut studio album, Heart First, later that year. Bell has placed multiple singles in the Top 10 of the Australian Country Music Charts. She is currently the 'Most Streamed Female Country Artist' in Australia. Her second album, Silver Linings was released in November 2021. Bell opened for Brad Paisley on his World Tour NZ show late 2022 alongside Australian country singer Morgan Evans and was support act for Ed Sheeran on his Mathematics World Tour in 2023.

Royel Otis are an Australian guitar-pop duo from Sydney. The band was formed in 2019 by Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic. They released three EPs, including Sofa Kings, before their debut studio album, Pratts & Pain, was released in February 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Fazerdaze - Break! Live Chat AMA". YouTube. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Thomas, Fred. "Fazerdaze Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lochrie, Connor (14 October 2022). "Fazerdaze Releases Long-Awaited EP 'Break!'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Renshaw, David (12 April 2017). "Fazerdaze's Morningside Is A Coming Of Age Album For Introverts". The Fader . Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Fazerdaze's Sparkling Guitar Pop Finds the Balance Between Darkness and Light". Bandcamp Daily. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Hill, Marty (14 June 2017). "Fazerdaze: Experiential Learning". Under the Radar. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "FAZERDAZE Interview- growing up in New Zealand, self confidence, music video". YouTube - SIDEWALK TALK EDM Interview. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  8. 1 2 Adriana (23 July 2015). "Introducing: Fazerdaze". HVNGRY. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 Chatterjee, Uppy (3 July 2017). "Why Fazerdaze is DIY and going her own way". Red Bull. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 Wylie, Lachlan (16 November 2014). "Fazerdaze - Fazerdaze EP". Happy Mag. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Fazerdaze EP, by Fazerdaze". Fazerdaze. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Jonathan Pearce - The Beths". MMF AOTEAROA. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  13. ↑ Stamp, Tony (13 October 2022). "Why Fazerdaze disappeared". RNZ. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  14. 1 2 3 Schulz, Chris (4 May 2017). "Fazerdaze quietly sneaks out of her bedroom with debut album Morningside". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  15. ↑ Fazerdaze - The Morningside Interview | DIFFUS, 4 May 2017, retrieved 9 May 2023
  16. ↑ Glickman, David. "Fazerdaze: Morningside". Pitchfork . Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "Fazerdaze - AudioCulture". www.audioculture.co.nz. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  18. 1 2 Stamp, Tony (13 October 2022). "Why Fazerdaze disappeared". RNZ. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Break! by Fazerdaze". Bandcamp. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  20. ↑ Moir, Tammy (10 March 2023). "Fazerdaze releases 'Flood Into' a journey of love, loss and personal reclamation". Happy Mag. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  21. 1 2 Lochrie, Conor (9 March 2023). "Fazerdaze Recognises Lost Love on Shoegaze Anthem 'Flood Into'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  22. ↑ Carter, Daisy (2 November 2023). "Fazerdaze: "I feel a lot less worried about what people think now"". DIY. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  23. ↑ Lochrie, Conor (14 September 2023). "Fazerdaze Deftly Explores the Pressures of Being a Musician on 'Bigger'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  24. ↑ Kendall, Arun (13 September 2023). "Track: Everything is 'Bigger' for Fazerdaze as she releases ethereal new single ahead of Australian and European tour". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  25. ↑ Lochrie, Conor (10 September 2024). "Fazerdaze Announces Long-Awaited Second Album 'Soft Power'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  27. ↑ "NZ Charts". www.instagram.com. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  28. ↑ "Fazerdaze Shares New Single 'A Thousand Years'". Rolling Stone Australia. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "Fazerdaze 'Soft Power': Album Review". Rolling Stone Australia. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  30. ↑ Kendall, Arun (14 November 2024). "Album Review: Fazerdaze wields her 'Soft Power' with aplomb in a majestic new album". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  31. ↑ jaredeichmann (14 November 2024). "Album Review: Fazerdaze – Soft Power". The Indy Review. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  32. ↑ Pywell, Matty. "Fazerdaze, "Soft Power"". FLOOD. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  33. ↑ Stubbs, Warwick (5 May 2017). "Fazerdaze - Morningside - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab". Soundblab. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  34. ↑ "charts.org.nz - Fazerdaze - Morningside". charts.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  35. 1 2 3 "Fazerdaze - Morningside". Flying Nun. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "Official Top 40 Albums 24 October 2022". The Official NZ Music Charts. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  37. ↑ "Fazerdaze EP, by Fazerdaze". Fazerdaze. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  38. ↑ "Fazerdaze - Break! EP". Flying Nun Australia. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  39. 1 2 Store, Partisan Records, Fazerdaze - Break!. Partisan Records Store. , retrieved 9 May 2023
  40. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  41. ↑ Lochrie, Conor (14 September 2023). "Fazerdaze Deftly Explores the Pressures of Being a Musician on 'Bigger'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  42. ↑ Pedder, Alan (10 September 2024). "Fazerdaze previews new album 'Soft Power' with lead single "Cherry Pie"". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  43. ↑ "Hot 20 NZ Singles". The Official NZ Music Charts. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  44. ↑ Lochrie, Conor (10 October 2024). "Fazerdaze Ponders Power Dynamics on 'A Thousand Years". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  45. ↑ "Fazerdaze Drops Music Video For Final Single "So Easy" From Sophomore Album "Soft Power"". Groovest. 15 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.

Notes

  1. ↑ Murray currently resides in Christchurch. [13]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.