Coast Arcade drop debut EP NEXT TO ME

Adding to the NZ Music Month excitement, indie pop-rock band Coast Arcade have dropped their electric 5-track debut EP NEXT TO ME!

Perfectly capturing the fun, vibrant and energetic vibe of Coast Arcade, each track on NEXT TO ME is a certified banger. Including previously released hit singles ‘Surf Club’ (Official NZ Charts #20 Hot NZ 20 Singles) and ‘Highest Heights’ (Official NZ Charts ‘Ones To Watch’, #2 Hot NZ 20 Singles Chart + #37 Hot 40 Singles, #7 RadioScope Most Added + #24 NZ Airplay), it also has brand new tracks ‘Salty Blonde’, ‘Just Peachy’ and new single ‘Next To Me’ – made with the support of NZ on Air.

Coast Arcade is made up of Bella Bavin (vocals + lead guitar), brothers Chris (rhythm guitar) and Nate Tims (bass), and Thom Boynton (drums + backing vocals). All songs were written/produced by Bella over a number of years (she wrote ‘Just Peachy’ at 14). “I think this EP is an insight into where we’re at currently – a band of four friends who are 17-19 years old – and will be cool to look back on,” says Bella. “The meanings behind each song vary from struggling friendships, love, a reflection on yourself and trying to find your way as a young person in the world today. I feel like these are ideas relevant to anyone but specifically kids our age.”

Recorded at Joel Little’s BIG FAN studio with engineer Noema Te Hau, then mixed and mastered by Jono Pearce (The Beths) and mastered by Oliver Devlin (Hans Pucket). “When we recorded the EP, the boys were about to start their Uni and NCEA exams, so spent most of their time studying in BIG FAN’s main communal space, coming into the studio to record their parts. It was a pretty weird atmosphere to record an EP in but really worked for us.”

The new single and title track ‘Next To Me’ is a love song that, at 180 bpm, is the fastest song yet for the band. It’s also a bit heavier than previous singles, introducing the band’s more pop-punk side. “We love a fast upbeat song with driving drums and loud guitar, ‘Next To Me’ does that all perfectly, while being your typical teenage love song about being fine as long as that one person is beside you.”

To celebrate the release, Coast Arcade have a SOLD-OUT EP Release Show on 27th May at Auckland’s BIG FAN.

Coast Arcade formed in early 2021 at high school, bursting onto the music scene with their debut single ‘Tattoo’ (#11 Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart, RadioScope Most Added) and going on to open for Aussie legends Teenage Dads, Bootleg Rascals and The Grogans, as well as kiwi icons The Beths and Princess Chelsea. They secured spots on the Rhythm and Vines festival and Spring City festival line-ups – alongside well-established acts such as Groove Armada, Zane Lowe and Ladyhawke. Coast Arcade are definitely one to watch!

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