Meet New Zealand’s Charming Breakout Indie-Pop Band… Borderline

If you’re looking for a band that expertly melds indie rock with contemporary pop, Borderline needs to be on your radar. Hailing from New Zealand, the emerging band made their official debut in the music sphere in 2022 with their stellar feel-good single ‘Spinning.’ Since then, the boys of Borderline have continued to hone their craft, creating evocative and immersive music, like their latest single ‘When It’s Raining.’ Backed by a hypnotic production that evokes 1980s classic rock, the single sees the band explore themes of loneliness and isolation. “[‘When it’s Raining’] tries to capture the feeling of being completely lost in your anger and sadness; when you can’t see a future where things get better; when you can’t see a future where things get better,” Borderline said in a statement when describing the single.

From recently signing with the US-based global independent record label EMPIRE to landing headline shows in New York, Los Angeles and South By Southwest (SXSW), Borderline are making their mark in the music industry and showing no signs of slowing down their upward trajectory. We were able to chat with the foursome about creating ‘When It’s Raining,’ their music influences, style icons and more.

Thanks for chatting with us, Borderline! Please, introduce your band to our readers.

Thanks for having us! We’re a bunch of mates from New Zealand in a band called Borderline

Ben (vocals, guitar, keys)

Jackson (drums)

Matthew (lead guitar)

Max (bass)

Congratulations on the success of your two recent singles! ‘When It’s Raining’ has a real grit to it—aided by its superb production. What was the journey of recording and perfecting that song like? Did you know exactly how you wanted it to sound, or was there a process of discovery in the studio?

‘When it’s Raining’ really pushed us to explore a new space we hadn’t ventured into yet with this project. It started as just the piano motif and then the drums, giving it that drive. We were very fortunate to work with Joel Jones and Nic Manders, who helped bring the song together and elevate it with their production wizardry. We’ve really wanted our new music to evoke some sort of emotion, and the beginning with the keys really sets the tone for the rest of the writing process.

It’s accompanied by a similarly dramatic music video. What was that like to shoot? How long did you have to spend drenched in water?

It was so much fun, but man, was it cold. We had a rain machine set up in a paddock in the dark. Great shots, but getting drenched and jeans are a nasty combo. Ben especially had to stay in longer for those headshots, but it was all worth it. Our director, Tom Grut, is such a master, he made the whole experience great for everyone.

You recently embarked on your first US tour. Congratulations, that’s a true milestone in a band’s career. In what ways did the experience fulfil your fantasies of a North American tour, and what elements surprised you?

It definitely felt like we were in a movie the whole time. We got to see such amazing places and try all the food. Having New York pizza and then taking the subway was so sick, just too much to mention. I think something that took us by surprise was how much you really need to prioritise sleep and health on a long tour, especially because this was the longest stretch we’ve done yet, a good 8 hours makes all the difference.

Your music is heavily rooted in 70s and 80s pop but has a distinctly modern voice; where does your music come from, what are the major influences?

We all have shared influences of great artists like Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, the Chilli Peppers etc. But what we feel really makes our sound is our diverse individual musical backgrounds and influences coming together. Collectively, we’ve grown up listening to and playing any genre you could think of, and these influences all mash together into ‘Borderline’.

And who are some other up-and-coming bands you’re listening to at the moment?

Some of our favourites are Christabel, Balu Brigada, Molly Payton, Dartz.

You also have a chic dress sense! Who are your style icons?

We’ve been loving the styles of a lot of older rock icons, The Beatles, Lenny Kravitz, Prince etc.

What is the band dynamic like? Who’s the class clown?

It’s always felt like we’re just four best mates, and we’re all jokers sometimes. Jackson keeps us on track a lot of the time (especially in live shows), and sometimes Max gets a little sleepy.

If your younger selves could see you now, which accomplishment or aspect of your musical career so far would they be most proud of?

At this point, I think being able to tell them music took us to the States would blow their minds and how now, when we put on shows, there are real fans who come knowing every word! It’s still pretty surreal for u,s too.

What’s the big dream that you hope to achieve someday?

We’ve always had the goal to be the biggest band in the world while still staying true to who we are. Maybe do 3 nights at Eden Park (our big stadium in New Zealand)

Can you share with us your plans for the rest of 2025?

We’ve been very busy in the studio! Lots of new music is coming soon that we’re super excited about, and some great live shows are on the horizon!

Check out Borderline’s latest track, ‘When It’s Raining’, here or below.