Babe Martin Releases New EP Not a Bee, but a Wasp
Babe Martin Releases New EP Not a Bee, but a Wasp
November 14th, 2025
Not a Bee, but a Wasp greets its listeners with warm washes of violin, seascapes of piano and Zoë Larsen Cumming’s singular voice combine to create a sonic world beamed in from another time and place.
“A friend described listening to Not a Bee, but a Wasp, from start to finish as sounding like a woman letting her hair down,” humours Larsen Cumming. “For me, Not a Bee, but a Wasp is an exploration of change. It begins with apprehension and anticipation (‘Calendar,’ ‘Sundog,’ ‘April in the City’), and moves into the ambiguity of newness (‘Only Good’) and acceptance of a new reality (‘Summer Fruit’).”
“Every song is very personal and with each of them I was documenting this transition and decision making process, whether I knew it or not. They are listed in the order they were written, as this is the way they make the most sense.”
“With this EP my confidence as a songwriter has grown. I like saying more with less. I love writing that is very frank, and like to emulate that in my own work.”
When recording the EP, Babe Martin was joined by her live band, featuring Harry Thompson-Cook on guitar, Amy Borovich (HINA) on violin and viola, Fen Ikner (LIPS) on drums, and Maude Minnie Morris on bass. Not a Bee, but a Wasp was mixed by Navakatoa Tekela-Pule (LEAO, Erny Belle, Noa Records) who shares co-production credits along with Morris and Larsen Cumming.
“Both Maude and Nava are such incredible producers and sound engineers in very different ways. Maude is very technical and understands how to get the sound I am describing, or the best out of any instrument. Nava completely understood the feel and the energy of the songs, and how to translate the emotion to mixing techniques. Both of their styles helped shape these songs and bring the vision to life.”
Now that Not a Bee, but a Wasp has taken flight Larsen Cumming takes a moment to appreciate the collective energy that has shaped it. “I want to enjoy it and really appreciate it, and all the work that has gone into it. I am so grateful to everyone who has helped bring it to life. It’s really special looking around a rehearsal room, or the studio, and thinking ‘wow, all these people are so generously offering up their time and talent to something that is so personal and special to me.’ I really don’t take it for granted.”
“It’s tempting to jump straight to “okay, what’s next,” but I am reminding myself to really soak it up. I love Not a Bee, but a Wasp, and I’m incredibly proud to be sharing it.”
Fans can celebrate these songs live when Babe Martin performs Not a Bee, but a Wasp with a seven-piece band at the Auckland Unitarian Church on November 20. Navakatoa Tekela-Pule’s enigmatic music alias Schofield Strangelove will perform as the opening act. Tickets for the seated show are limited and available here.
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Babe Martin is the musical project of Zoë Larsen Cumming (she/her), a musician and songwriter based in Tāmaki Makaurau.
With a voice like velvet, and an acerbic deftness to her lyrics, Babe Martin is a performer on the rise. Her debut release, The Versoix EP in 2023, revealed a triptych of confident and arresting songs, and announced Larsen Cumming as a songwriter to watch. Since Versoix, Larsen Cumming has spent time crafting new music while performing in the bands of peers including Jazmine Mary, HINA and Isla Noon.
As the sun sets and the year draws to a close Babe Martin releases her new EP Not a Bee, but a Wasp in its entirety. Fans can purchase the digital files along with the limited edition Eleventeen Ceramics merch ahead of her appearance at the Auckland Unitarian Church on November 20. Babe Martin has entrusted a seven piece band to celebrate these songs and has enlisted Schofield Strangelove as the opening act.
Photo Credit: Ali Burns