munro Showcases the Sound of New Zealand

Auckland-based DJ and producer munro gives us a taste of his new sound and what the scene is like in New Zealand with a stunning mix.

There’s a hotbed of dance music talent in the Southern Hemisphere, and munro is one of the artists who has only continued to carve out space in the scene over the past half-decade in New Zealand. First making waves back in 2016 under his real name, Ian Munro, by dropping “Oracle” with Holly, he went on to grace labels including the likes of bitbird and Lowly. Fast forward to the present, and a new creative chapter has been opened for this rising artist in the scene after taking some time to refine his sound.

Defining his new world as one layered with “future nostalgia,” munro is embarking on a journey to deliver soundscapes filled with his influences from the ’90s and ’00s while marring elements of garage and indie electronic along the way. The first taste of his emotion-fueled yet sophisticated sound arrived this past month with the release of “Every Day (Is Always The Same)” on Quality Good Records. Teaming up with harvest, the track features a hypnotic blend of elements and soft vocals that play in perfect harmony with each other.

After the release of his latest tune, munro swung by to share some insight on the local scene and spun up a mix to put his influences on display. “The local scene in Aotearoa [New Zealand] is complicated to break down, but at its core, it’s really backed by the community. It’s inclusive, it’s embracing, and most of all, it’s not full of shit,” he said. “We have to do it ourselves here; the work ethic is unparalleled. We don’t have access to a massive scene with money to throw at up-and-comers. It’s truly community-led, and that’s what I love about it.”

This mix is a snapshot of my influence, the records I have on loop, and my incredibly talented friends. It’s heartfelt, it’s vibey – but most of all, it’s rewarding to dig back into the roots of dance music. New Zealand has a massive UK influence — from DnB to dubstep it’s all keenly ‘UK’. I wanted to tap into the sound I grew up around but give a nod to the trap/beats scene that I came up with. It feels so uniquely ‘ours’ and I love it.
munro

Listen to this exclusive guest mix from munro on SoundCloud, download or stream “Every Day (Is Always The Same)” on your preferred platform, and stay tuned for more from this rising star in the scene.