At the start of 2023, a post-pandemic nurse (Niamh Pritchard) makes a move from New Zealand’s capital back to the sub-tropics of Auckland. By mid-23, after moving into one of the city’s last remaining urban farms, the band Big Sur was formed. Joined by old-time friends Hugo Butler, Rocky Parsons, Tane Moore & Evie Bamford- the first tracks of their debut EP ‘Black Mountain’ were laid.

Named after the Australian capital’s landmark mountain, the EP provides a deeply personal foray into the singer’s connections to home, land, and sea. The singer-songwriter Niamh Pritchard unearthed her triumph and sorrow on tracks such as ‘Sleeping Dogs’ - an ode to the feminine divine,  Oisín (Tír na nÓg) - the Celtic mythology that gives Niamh her name, Lands - a ‘rollicking vista’ (Chris Cudby, UTR) about political resistance and ‘Black Mountain’ - where Niamh bares all, detailing the meeting of a long lost brother. 

‘Black Mountain’ is the band’s first work as a collective and was crafted with deliberate and detailed handiwork by composer/bandmate Hugo Butler, percussionist Rocky Parsons, jazz bassist Tane Moore and multi-instrumentalist & singer songwriter Evie Bamford. An additional cast of musicians provided special embellishments, including session saxophonist Andrew Isdale and multi-instrumentalist and composer Yoonseo Shin. Their first single ‘Lands’ was released in Oct 2023 and earned them an SRN Alternative Awards nomination, a live performance on RNZ Music 101, and endorsements from Flying Nun Records, Under the Radar, and others. 

Last year they toured nationally, supporting Portland Oregon heroes Jenny Don’t and the Spurs, played multiple festivals including Cuba Dupa (Wellington) and Cross St Music Festival (Auckland). Their single ‘Lands’ will be re-released as part of the BBC TV series ‘The Ridge’ soundtrack in late 2025.

Big Sur are currently working with a producer on their debut full length album.

Photography by Crystal Chen, Irena Ekens & MusicNZ.