Fazerdaze on Elemental Nights & latest EP ‘BREAK!’
Returning to the music scene after a 5-year hiatus, the 2022 powerful and cathartic EP ‘Break!’ marked the beginning of a new era for Fazerdaze, crafting an empowering portrait of surrender and personal reclamation. The multi-talented creative has played across the world, including opening for Haim, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The XX & Lorde, and next will be performing as part of Aotearoa’s favourite winter festival Elemental Nights on Thu 3 Aug.
We can't wait to see you perform at Elemental Nights this year - and what an impressive line-up! IDLES, Tove Lo, Bic Runga and more. What are you most excited for about your performance and what does it mean to you to be a part of this series?
That line-up is solid so I’m stoked to see my name amongst it. And I’m excited to play solo - this will be my first solo show in years. I’m looking forward to showcasing the songs in a more skeletal, stripped back kinda way.
Last year, you returned after a 5-year hiatus with your EP 'Break!' which we are so obsessed with! What was most important to you creatively with the release of this EP?
Thank you! Well the Break! EP is all about letting go; allowing things to unravel and be ugly. It taught me how to make music again from a place of freedom, and not for the sake of my career. I’d become really blocked up with pressure and expectation after ‘Morningside’ but this EP was a really low pressure space for me to flow again, and not be so attached to outcome. It was my gateway back into music and I’ll always be thankful to this EP for that.
Since then you opened for Lorde on her nationwide Solar Power tour! What was that experience like, and what were your main highlights from it?
The Lorde tour was amazing. Ella is one my favourite artists, so I felt very honoured to be there. Getting to sing ‘Solar Power’ on stage with her in Havelock North along with RIKI and Georgia from Broods was an absolute highlight. Also eating fish and chips on the beach with all our band and crew on a sunny day off will always be embedded in my mind.
Most recently, you've released your stunning single "Flood Into"! Can you tell us about the concept of this track?
It’s a song about losing your sense of self when you fall in love and reclaiming it again in the breakup. I struggle not to lose myself when I get into a relationship - it’s something I am working on!
What's would you say is your favourite part about performing live?
In a long term, broad perspective, my favourite part about playing live is working through my fear and gathering up the courage to put myself out there. It terrifies me deeply, but what terrifies me more is living a life where I let fear stop me from doing what I want. So there’s my favourite part in a big sense! In a more immediate sense, it’s just the feeling of spirituality and heart that transmits between myself and the audience. On a good show, you tap into a divine source and share that with the audience. It feels pretty incredible and otherworldly.
What's your top piece of advice around performing live for other kiwi artists out there?
Turn down the thoughts and be in your body as much as possible :)
Who are you most pumped to see perform at Elemental Nights?
I live down in Ōtautahi so I’ll only be in town for the night of my show! But I’m very excited to see Lontalius who is playing with me - I have been enjoying his new album ‘Life on the Edge Of You’ which is absolutely gorgeous.
