Music Industry News

Alt-pop-rock duo Bird Machine (Luke and Jenna Grbin) have today released their highly anticipated sophomore EP HEY HUMAN and punchy new single ‘St Elmo’s Fire’.

Taking the listener on a journey, this new EP blurs the lines between pop, rock, shoegaze, and alternative soundscapes as it explores, what Luke and Jenna describe as, “diverse facets of human experiences in relationships and self-discovery, with every track delving into unique dimensions of the human journey.”

The EP features the new anthemic, alt-rock single ‘St Elmo’s Fire’, which combines dreamy verses, driving guitars, catchy vocal hooks and the ultimate chorus build. Bird Machine say they hope the track encourages listeners to “resist artificial influences, and keep their eyes open to the genuine realities of life.”

Complete with fuzzy guitars, synths, and lush vocal layers, HEY HUMAN was recorded entirely at the duo’s home studio in Kirikiriroa. Several tracks were written alongside members of Bird Machine’s extended whānau, and the duo played almost all the instrumentation in the recording process. Jenna impressively mixed and mastered the EP with the help of Aubrey Mitchell (Big Fan). A true grassroots project, this translates to the authenticity in Bird Machine’s sound. It even crosses over to their music videos, which were entirely filmed and edited by the pair – and which they have a new one to look forward to – out 1 March!

Following the release of their 2022 debut self-titled EP, Bird Machine describe HEY HUMAN as the result of taking on a more “alt-pop approach, while keeping some progressive elements and heavier sounds.”

Combining two passions, raising autism-awareness and music, Bird Machine are celebrating the release of HEY HUMAN with an all-ages show at Hamilton Walmsley Farm on the 23rd of February and donating all proceeds to Autism New Zealand. Their drive for autism-awareness comes from their young autistic son, who the pair dedicated previously released single ‘Hellos and Frowns’ to. Joining them for the show are Tāmaki Makaurau indie band Back To The Hillside and emerging talent Aotea. Tickets can be purchased from Under The Radar.

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Luke, an Aussie with an architectural background, has always found his true calling in music. Jenna, a Hamilton native, carries forward her family tradition of music and performance. Together, they make up duo Bird Machine – an innovative blend of early 90s alt-rock, dreampop, and folk wrapped up in catchy pop melodies. Already winning over listeners in the alternative space across Aotearoa (Radio Active, Radio Control, 95bFM, Radio One) and with the success of HEY HUMAN single ‘Closure’ (#1 LifeFM YouChart) after its release in October of 2023, Bird Machine’s highly anticipated EP HEY HUMAN is not one to miss!