The Phoenix Foundation from Wellington: a long-running band built on songs, change, and collaboration
The Phoenix Foundation began in Wellington and moved from a local cult following to wider recognition over time. Their first release, the self-funded EP China Cove, came out in 2000, and their debut album Horsepower followed after work with Lee Prebble at The Surgery. Across later releases, the band kept changing lineups, labels, and recording methods while also moving into soundtrack work. Friend Ship arrived in 2020 and was recorded by the band in their sheds, garages, and bedrooms, with guest contributions from artists including Hollie Fullbrook, Nadia Reid, Anita Clark, Dave Dobbyn, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The band’s own words frame the approach clearly: they want songs that stay innovative and interesting.
Drop the needle
From Friend Ship (2020), credited with Hollie Fullbrook.