Kiwi as

It was difficult for me to keep this to just a few songs, music in Aotearoa is pretty amazing and I could’ve just filled it with Dave Dobbyn, Dragon and Hello Sailor and been done with it. But here are a few of the kiwi classics that the live band at Keystone don’t play as often.

Glorious, joyful with relevant lyrics and fun Polynesian siren beats. Takes me right back to 2009.

What would a kiwi playlist be without the biggest sell outs to grace NZ music in ages? A personal favourite because screaming the bridge at your friends in the car is a very fun time.

Like most of these songs, I don’t really need to make a case for how good it is.

An iconic masterpiece and that’s on that.

Ok I had to include some Dave Dobbyn, and this one nods to Outrageous Fortune too so double points.

Gotta be the rap version. Apparently he makes luxury watches now in Australia now. Surely makes a comeback just to play three songs at every festival next summer?

This song gives me heavy 2012 nostalgia, and doesn’t help that it featured in the trailer of every coming-of-age movie at the time.

If you’ve ever seen Shapeshifter live you’ll know exactly how magical it is to be peaking while the chorus of this song kicks in.

A groovy revolution song, nothing gets you more hype than “and though my people may not be many / we are ready for the storm to come.”

Tom Scott never misses. A genius who talks openly about his struggles growing up in Aotearoa with not much. Relatable, clever, funny, uniquely kiwi.

The University anthem.

Ah, the Blink 182 of Hillcrest. There was no greater revelation than when we realised that the guy my flatmate had been hooking up with lived at the iconic 48 May Street. Turn it into a museum and preserve the mouldy windows, I say.