Leisure (band)

Last updated

Leisure
Origin Auckland, New Zealand
Genres
Years active2015–present
Labels Nettwerk
Spinoff of
Members
  • Djeisan Suskov
  • Jaden Parkes
  • Josh Fountain
  • Tom Young
  • Jordan Arts
  • Paul Roper
Website www.theleisurecollective.com

Leisure (stylized as LEISURE) are a New Zealand electronic music project from Auckland, formed in Muriwai in 2015. [1] The group's current lineup consists of Djeisan Suskov, Jaden Parkes, Josh Fountain, Tom Young, Jordan Arts and Paul Roper, all established musicians and producers who have performed in the Auckland's music scene since the early 2000s. [2]

Contents

They are currently signed to Nettwerk Records and to date, have self-produced and released four studio albums: Leisure (2016), [3] Twister (2019), [4] Sunsetter (2021) [5] and their fourth and most recent, Leisurevision on 29 September 2023 [6]

Background

Each member of the group, individually established themselves in New Zealand's music industry during the early 2000s, performing in their respective bands or projects. Suskov is best known for his psych-indie pop act, Cool Rainbows while Parkes initially gained recognition as the drummer for Auckland pop punk band, Goodnight Nurse, whose 2006 debut album Always and Never was certified gold shortly after its release.

Following Goodnight Nurse's breakup in 2010, the band's guitarist Sam McCarthy would go on to focus on his new wave project, Kids of 88 with his longtime friend, Arts. The two would go on to release their debut album Sugarpills on 16 August 2010 via Sony Music, which stemmed hits such as "My House", "Just a Little Bit" and "Downtown" which all broke into the Top 20 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

Fountain made his name as a member of EDM, hip-hop group, Kidz in Space before becoming an in-demand producer, most notably for Auckland alternative pop singer/songwriter, Benee.

The initial formation of the group took place in 2015, after members had casual writing sessions during a spontaneous holiday at a bach in Muriwai, a West Coast region of Auckland. [7] The group has described their sound as an unusual melting-pot of contributions, having influences from funk, 1990s boom bap and R&B, and dance-pop from the early 2000s. [8]

The group released their debut single, "Got It Bad" on 23 April, 2015 via Soundcloud to immediate acclaim and coverage, partly due to not revealing their identities during the initial release to garner mystery and intrigue about the project. [9] The song was also featured in the American television drama You . [10]

Members

Touring

Discography

Albums

TitleAlbum details
Leisure
  • Released: 21 October, 2016
  • Label: Independent, Nettwerk
Twister
  • Released: 26 July, 2019
  • Label: Nettwerk
Sunsetter
  • Released: 3 December, 2021
  • Label: Nettwerk
Leisurevision
  • Released: 29 September, 2023
  • Label: Nettwerk

EPs

TitleEP details
Side A
  • Released: 30 October, 2020
  • Label: Nettwerk
Side B
  • Released: 1 October, 2021
  • Label: Nettwerk

Singles

TitleYearCertificationsAlbum
"Hot Love"2015Leisure
"Take It To The Top"
"All Over You"
"Nobody"
(featuring Goldlink)
2016
"Control Myself"
"Moonbeam"
"Alone Together"2017Twister
"Money"
"Feeling Free"2018
"Falling"
"The Hype / Tied Up"2019
"On My Mind"
"Too Much Of A Good Thing"
"Slipping Away"2020Sunsetter
"Spark It Up"
"Lonely Nights"
"Take You Higher"2021
"Mesmerised"
"Summer Season"
(featuring Muroki)
2022Leisurevision
"Always"2023
"All the Good Times Never Die
(featuring Night Tapes)
"Back In Love"
"Above Me"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The D4</span> New Zealand rock band

The D4 was a rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Their music was released by Hollywood Records in the U.S., Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and by Infectious Records in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bic Runga</span> New Zealand singer and songwriter

Briolette Kah Bic Runga, recording as Bic Runga, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist pop artist. Her first three studio albums debuted at number one on the New Zealand Top 40 Album charts. Runga has also found success internationally in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom with her 1997 song "Sway".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying Nun Records</span> New Zealand independent record label

Flying Nun Records is a New Zealand independent record label formed in Christchurch in 1981 by music store manager Roger Shepherd. Described by The Guardian as "one of the world's great independent labels", Flying Nun is notable for bringing global attention to the Dunedin sound, a cultural and musical movement in early 1980s Dunedin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shihad</span> New Zealand alternative rock band

Shihad are a rock band formed in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1988. The band consists of founders Tom Larkin, Phil Knight and Jon Toogood, who were joined by Karl Kippenberger in 1991. The band were known as Pacifier between 2002 and 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Th' Dudes</span> New Zealand rock band

Th' Dudes are a New Zealand rock band that was formed in the late 1970s in Auckland, New Zealand. Hits include "Walking in Light", "Right First Time", " Be Mine Tonight" and "Bliss".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clean</span> New Zealand indie rock band

The Clean was a New Zealand indie rock band formed in Dunedin in 1978. They have been described as the most influential band to come from the Flying Nun label, which recorded many artists associated with the "Dunedin sound", and one of the first bands to be described as "indie rock".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elemeno P</span> New Zealand rock band

Elemeno P is a New Zealand rock band. The band's first album, Love & Disrespect was released on 4 July 2003, and reached number one on the RIANZ albums chart. Their second album, Trouble in Paradise was released on 24 November 2005 and includes the singles "11:57", "Burn", "One Left Standing", and "You Are". Their third album, Elemeno P was released on 26 May 2008.

Goodnight Nurse was a New Zealand pop punk band formed in Auckland in 2001. The group originally began as a trio, but later changed to a four-piece prior to the release of their second album. It consisted of lead vocalist Joel Little, guitarist and back up vocalist Sam McCarthy, bassist Rowan Crowe, with drummer and back up vocalist Jaden Parkes.

Pluto is a New Zealand rock band from Auckland. Their album Pipeline Under The Ocean, released in 2005 went double platinum on the RIANZ albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cut Off Your Hands</span>

Cut Off Your Hands (COYH) was a post-punk band from New Zealand. Formed by former members of Auckland post-punk act Nova Echo, Cut Off Your Hands released a number of recordings on the labels Speak n Spell, SIXSEVENINE, and French Kiss Records. In 2020, the band announced its final shows and the release of their third album HLLH.

Titanium was a New Zealand pop boy band formed in Auckland in 2012 from the winners of The Edge radio station's competition to create New Zealand's first authentic boy band. The Edge radio station hosted auditions across New Zealand and eventually six young men were selected: Zac Taylor, Andrew Papas, Jordi Webber, Shaquille Paranihi-Ngauma, Haydn Linsley and T.K Paradza. They released their debut single, "Come On Home", which debuted at number one on the official New Zealand Singles Chart on 17 September 2012. Titanium released its debut studio album, All For You in December 2012. It became the first New Zealand band to have three songs in the Top 40 Singles Chart at one time.

Rubicon was a New Zealand pop punk band best known for their singles "Bruce" and "Funny Boy" from the early 2000s.

Cool Rainbows was a psychedelic indie pop band based in Auckland, New Zealand. According to a review, "Cool Rainbows make psychedelic indie pop music that is backed by swirling orchestration and layered dreamscapes of sound." They released their debut album, Whale Rocket, in 2012 on Lil' Chief Records.

Joel Little is a New Zealand record producer, musician and Grammy Award-winning songwriter. He is best known for his work as a writer and producer with artists Lorde, Taylor Swift, Broods, Sam Smith, Imagine Dragons, Ellie Goulding, Khalid, Elliphant, Jarryd James, Shawn Mendes, Marina Diamandis, Amy Shark, Goodnight Nurse, Noah Kahan, Years & Years, the Jonas Brothers, and Niall Horan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broods</span> New Zealand musical duo

Broods are a musical duo from Nelson, New Zealand, composed of Georgia Josiena Nott on lead vocals, with older brother and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Allan Joseph Nott on production and backing vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fazerdaze</span> New Zealand musician

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superorganism (band)</span> English indie pop band

Superorganism are an indie pop band based in London, formed in early 2017. The group originally consisted of eight members: lead vocalist Orono Noguchi, as well as Mark Turner ("Emily"), Christopher Young ("Harry"), Tim Shann ("Tucan"), Blair Everson, "Ruby", "B", and Earl Ho ("Soul").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merk (musician)</span> Musical artist

Mark Perkins, performing as Merk, is a New Zealand singer-songwriter. In 2016 he attended the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal. Merk won the Independent Music NZ's inaugural Auckland Live Best Independent Debut award in 2017. He has released two studio albums: Swordfish (2016) and Infinite Youth (2021).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yumi Zouma</span> New Zealand alternative pop band

Yumi Zouma are a New Zealand alternative pop band from Christchurch, Canterbury. The band consists of Christie Simpson, Josh Burgess, Charlie Ryder, and Olivia Campion (drums). The band's name is an amalgamation of the two friends who encouraged the group to start writing together.

<i>Swordfish</i> (Merk album) 2016 album by Merk

Swordfish is the debut studio album by New Zealand pop musician Merk released on 18 November 2016 by Dew Process and Flying Out. It was written and produced by Merk under his real name, Mark Perkins.

References

  1. "LEISURE prioritise good vibes first, music second". Beat Magazine. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. "Concert review: LEISURE, at Crystal Palace". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. Saw, Yadana (21 October 2016). "Leisure: yacht rockers set sail". RNZ . Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  4. "What To Listen To: Leisure get down and deep on sophomore album". Stuff. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  5. "LEISURE closes out the year with their fantastic new album Sunsetter". Variance Magazine. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. "Album Review: LEISURE – Leisurevision". Recordspin. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  7. "LEISURE Discuss Their Fourth Album, Leisurevision". 9 October 2023.
  8. "Leisure". www.thevogue.com. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. "Leisure - AudioCulture".
  10. "At your Leisure: The Auckland band with more listeners in New York and Paris than NZ". www.metromag.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 24 December 2024.