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 2000's. [2] Due to each members commercial success and association to their previous musical acts, the project could be loosely referred to as a supergroup.

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 70’s funk, 90’s rap and R&B, all the way to dance music from the early 2000’s. [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
TitleYearAlbum
"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">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">Tim Finn</span> New Zealand musician and founder of Split Enz (born 1952)

Brian Timothy Finn is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, musician, and composer. He is best known as a founding member of Split Enz. Finn founded the band in 1972 with Phil Judd and served as lead singer and principal songwriter. Following Judd's departure in 1977, he was joined by brother Neil. Finn wrote or co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs, including "I See Red" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". While still a member of Split Enz, he began a solo career, scoring the two hits "Fraction Too Much Friction" and "Made My Day" in 1983; he left the band in early 1984, briefly returning for their farewell tour later that year.

Steriogram were a rock band from New Zealand that formed in Auckland in 1999. The band consisted of frontman Tyson Kennedy, Brad Carter, Tim Youngson, Jake Adams and Jared Wrennall. The band released three studio albums Schmack! (2004), This Is Not the Target Market (2007) and Taping the Radio (2010). The band's 2004 international hit single "Walkie Talkie Man" was used in an advertisement for the iPod and a number of films and video games.

Supergroove is a New Zealand funk rock music group. Their debut album Traction was released in 1994. The group disbanded in 1997 but reformed in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Feelers</span>

The Feelers is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid (singer/guitarist) and Hamish Gee (drums/guitar).

<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.

The Fourmyula were a New Zealand rock group formed in 1967 in Upper Hutt. They achieved considerable local success in the late 1960s, with ten of their fourteen singles reaching the New Zealand Top 20.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Six60</span> New Zealand rock band

Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters, Ji Fraser, Chris Mac, Marlon Gerbes (synthesiser), Hoani Matenga and Eli Paewai (drums).

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 for the group consisting of members, Zac Taylor, Andrew Papas, Jordi Webber, Shaquille Paranihi-Ngauma, Haydn Linsley and T.K Paradza. They released their debut single, "Come On Home". The single debuted at number one on the official New Zealand Singles Chart on 17 September 2012. Titanium released their debut studio album, All For You in December 2012. They became the first New Zealand band to have three songs in the Top 40 Singles Chart at one time.

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">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 Emily, Harry, Tucan, Robert Strange, Ruby, B, and Soul.

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

The Beths are a New Zealand indie rock band, formed in Auckland in 2014. The group principally consists of lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck. Meeting at the University of Auckland, the band signed to Carpark Records in 2018, where they have released the albums Future Me Hates Me (2018), Jump Rope Gazers (2020), and Expert in a Dying Field (2022). They have toured internationally with Death Cab for Cutie, The National, and received praise from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.

<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 that 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.

<i>L.A.B. III</i> 2019 album by L.A.B.

L.A.B. III is the third studio album by New Zealand band L.A.B., released in December 2019. Featuring the singles "Personify" and "In the Air". "In the Air" was a breakthrough hit for the band, becoming the top single of 2020 in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muroki</span> Musical artist

Muroki Mbote Wa Githinji, known mononymously as Muroki, is a Kenyan-New Zealand reggae musician. A member of the bands Cloak Bay and Masaya, Muroki debuted as a solo musician in 2019. In 2021, Muroki's song "Wavy" became a hit single in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wavy (Muroki song)</span> 2021 single by Muroki

"Wavy" is a song by Kenyan-New Zealand reggae musician Muroki, released as a single in February 2021. The song was commercially successful in New Zealand, becoming platinum certified. In September 2021, Muroki released a Māori language version of the song, called "Rehurehu".

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. https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2023/10/09/leisure/
  8. https://thevogue.com/artists/leisure/
  9. https://www.audioculture.co.nz/profile/leisure#:~:text=On%2023%20April%202015%2C%20Leisure,Got%20It%20Bad'%20to%20Soundcloud.
  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.