Caru & Brandn Shiraz Go ‘Two for Two’ to Close Out the Year
Caru & Brandn Shiraz Go ‘Two for Two’ to Close Out the Year
December 5th, 2025
Caru and Brandn Shiraz return with ‘Two for Two’, closing out the year with their finest work yet. Recently praised by Rolling Stone for “one of the best EPs of the year”, this new sharp dual-sided release pairs Caru’s slick production alongside Brandn Shiraz’s unmistakable and raw MC energy. Designed as a vinyl-style Side A/B with a mid-track beat switch, it also features synthesizer and Rhodes from jazz pianist and arranger Joe Kaptein to tie it all together.
Taking inspiration from Broken Beat and UK Garage, ‘Two for Two’ carves out a sharp spot in the Aotearoa music scene, built for both club DJs and the dancers who join them. Caru and Brandn Shiraz ditch the contemporary pop-leaning UKG formulas for a slick take that nods to the genre’s underground roots.
Producer Caru says, “We always planned to follow up our first project Back 2 Back, so it’s definitely come naturally. We’ve taken our time with it to really try to expand and develop on everything we did with the first project. It’s feeling like it’s a step up in every way.”
Brandn’s reputation has been built through key industry moments, including showcases at SXSW Sydney and Going Global, along with a strong run of summer performances at Cross Street Festival, Cuba Dupa, The Others Way and opening for Wax Mustang. He now heads into a milestone 2025/26 Aotearoa summer festival run, featuring sets with Caru at Northern Bass, Matakanarama, Twisted Frequency and Island Time, where they will showcase their MC/DJ dynamic, and play out their dual EPs.
The single pays homage to DJ culture itself – by going back-to-back, trading two-for-two, to keep the dance floor moving. The ‘Two for Two’ single release is paired with a limited edition run of 7 inch vinyl records pressed by Zenith Records, only 50 available. Buy it on Bandcamp here and releasing on all digital streaming platforms on Friday 12 December.
Check out all things Caru below:
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Carl has been performing in Aotearoa’s electronic music scene since 2017, as one half of the synth-pop duo Imugi 이무기. In 2022, Carl adopted the moniker ‘Caru’, channeling his creative energies towards the dance floor. This new direction resulted in a prolific output of tracks influenced by UK Garage, Breakbeat, Jungle, and Electro.
With releases ranging from remixes of ’90s and Y2K classics to underground club bangers, Caru’s tracks regularly feature in the sets of DJs worldwide – notably Lady Shaka’s Berlin Boiler Room. He has released music through UK dance music labels such as IN THE HOUSE Records, Belters, EC2A and Profound Sound Records, as well as local imprints The Big Fresh Collective and Redline Records.
In addition to his original productions, Caru has remixed tracks from local artists including MOKOTRON, Aroha, Young Gho$t, MELODOWNZ and Bavhu.
Recent highlights include a summer DJ residency on George FM, sold-out show at the internationally renowned Boiler Room Aotearoa, Rhythm and Vines, and an Aotearoa tour with Yung Singh. Caru’s creative momentum shows no signs of slowing down – with a steady stream of shows, new releases and exciting local and international collaborations on the horizon.Cook Island native and Tāmaki Makaurau based artist Brandn Shiraz is a prominent figure in the local community. Hailed by Sniffers as a leading force in Aotearoa’s hip-hop scene, Shiraz’s commitment to pushing creative boundaries is evident in his captivating sound, with many inspirations stemming from his roots in the Cook Islands. He has a number of notable collaborations under his belt, including features on the Home Brew, Troy Kingi and MOKOMOKAI albums. In previous years, he featured on rap projects Shiraz & LSJ and Risera, and also garnered recognition in Redbull’s’ 64 Bars series. Brandn Shiraz is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the New Zealand scene, with only more heat to come.