Earth Tongue is a heavy psych rock two-piece from Wellington, New Zealand. Guitarist Gussie Larkin is a master of the fuzz-smothered riff, and along with Ezra Simons’ off-kilter drumming, they’ve been sending punters into transcendental states since their emergence in 2016. Their debut album Floating Being (Stolen Body Records, 2019) quickly became an underground hit, seeing them embark on multiple tours across Australasia and Europe in the years since its release. Along the way they’ve picked up high praise from BBC Radio6, Bandcamp and headbangers all over the world. After touring with American multi-instrumentalist Ty Segall, the duo caught the attention of iconic Los Angeles based rock' n' roll label In The Red Records - an imprint that has released albums from the likes of Thee Oh Sees, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Wand and Ty Segall himself. In The Red promptly signed them, and released their second album Great Haunting in June 2024. Written during the pandemic lockdown era while holed up binging on 1970’s and 80’s horror movies, the nine-track album is a doom-soaked overload — conjuring vast sonics from just guitar, drums and yowls. Earth Tongue’s live show is a powerful,  cult-like experience - the perfect mix of throw-your-horns-up heavy, and can’t-stop-listening catchy. This is affirmed by the high caliber support slots they've played including IDLES, Ty Segall, King Woman, Kikagaku Moyo and Queens of the Stone Age. 

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Forged from long-term friendship and a shared passion for pushing audio-visual limits, Mermaidens are the trio of Gussie Larkin (guitar, vocals), Lily West (bass, vocals), and Abe Hollingsworth (drums). Arising from Aotearoa, New Zealand's Wellington, Mermaidens have released three studio albums to date via the legendary Flying Nun Records imprint: Look Me In The Eye (2019), Perfect Body (2017) and their breakout debut Undergrowth (2016). Their fourth self-titled album was released in November 2023, debuting and #1 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart and marking the dawning of a bold new era for the band. 

Bedazzling and powerful on stage, Mermaidens' regularly sold-out live events roam from trancelike atmospheric passages to amp-blasting post-punk / psych / shoegaze breakdowns (often in the same song). Their oft-searing sonics and gut-punching lyrics are embodied on anthems 'Soft Energy', 'I Might Disappear', 'Satsuma', and lead single from their self-titled album 'I like to be alone' — addressing such thorny themes as work dynamics, self-image, entropic relationships, and the merits of solitude.

Extending their artistic vision beyond the studio, Mermaidens make their own music videos, artwork, and even have their own custom ‘Moon Cycle’ guitar pedal. They've been invited to share the stage with Death Cab For Cutie, Sleater-Kinney, Gang of Four, Mac DeMarco, Lorde and The Veils, graced Laneway Festival’s lineup and toured extensively in Europe, the UK, and Australia.


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Awards

APRA Silver Scroll Awards
• 2024 - Finalist (Top 5) for ‘I like to be alone’

Taite Music Prize
• 2024 - Finalist for Mermaidens
• 2020 - Finalist for Look Me in the Eye
• 2018 - Finalist for Perfect Body

Aotearoa Music Awards
2024
• Winner - Best Album Art 
• Finalist - Best Group 
• Finalist - Best Alternative Artist 
• Finalist - Spotify Single of the Year 

2020 
• Winner - Best Album Art  
• Finalist - Best Alternative Artist