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Forged for the dancefloor with producer Ben Hollamby, ‘Hideaway’ shimmers with the hallmarks of classic house music. Bright, infectious kicks, curving basslines and breathless vocals toy with tension and release, making Hideaway the soundtrack to the best night out. This is dancefloor temptation at its finest.

“I wrote Hideaway to capture that electric, universal moment of nervous excitement when you’re caught in a mutual spark but too scared to act on it,” confesses PONZ. “I wanted to bottle that feeling of dancing around a connection, those butterflies when you’re pretty sure someone likes you back, but you’re both too nervous to make the first move. It’s about those stolen glances and unspoken vibes that feel like they could explode into something real.”

The lyrics “City lights, they reflect off of you, in your eyes, I can see mine too” from ‘Hideaway’ perfectly set the scene as the opening track of PONZ’s debut album When It’s Late, capturing what she describes as “the kind of story that exists in real life but that you also see in movies, books, and art – the thrilling, awkward, heart-racing moment of connection.”

When It’s Late is the album PONZ has always wanted to make. By blending house, jungle, drum & bass, and UKG the album is designed for every aspect of a good night, from getting ready with friends, losing yourself on the dancefloor, to finding someone to share the sunrise with.

“I found myself in a creative flow, writing music late at night in my bedroom with no clear destination” reminisces PONZ. “I wanted to capture those fleeting moments of revelation you get in a crowded room or on a late-night drive, where music hits you with the raw human experience.”

“The songs came from my subconscious, reflecting the whirlwind of my early twenties. It was a time of massive change, I was navigating my first full-time job, moving cities, losing proximity to close friends, making new ones, falling in love, burning out, and finding my footing again. Tracks like Running and Sabotage capture the push-pull of chasing connection while grappling with self-doubt and fear. Shifting Seas reflects a hopeful shift toward living in the moment, while Fantasies paints a vivid, almost cinematic story.”

“Late-night drives, heartbreak, situationships, and the thrill of proving doubters wrong fueled the lyrics; I shaped these into a ‘when it’s late’ theme – nighttime moments where you’re questioning what’s beneath life’s chaos. Of course club culture also played a huge role in the album, there is something special about the way emotions hit hardest when the beat’s loud and your mind quiets down.”

Working with her producer Ben Hollamby was crucial to the sounds of When It’s Late. “We’ve been collaborating together since 2020, and our seamless workflow has defined PONZ’s sound. His involvement brought cohesion and adventure to the album. My favourite moments in the process of creating When It’s Late were working on a new tracks with Ben and hearing everything take shape.”

Reflecting on the milestone of releasing her debut album, PONZ says, “It’s so exciting to have this snapshot of my early twenties; raw, fun, and unfiltered. I’m so excited to share it with the world, and I’m hoping listeners can see their own stories in the songs.” With her fearless sound and relocation to the UK, the future looks undeniably bright for PONZ.

You can stream the album here.

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PONZ is the creative moniker of Lauren Pondes (she/her), a songwriter, vocalist and DJ from Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) who is now based in London.

2025 has been a landmark year for PONZ, with her catalogue close to cracking a million streams across platforms and a major move from Aotearoa to the UK to release her debut album. Today, fans can finally hear When It’s Late and watch the video for Hideaway, filmed on London streets with the support of NZ On Air Music.

Photo credit: Jared Tinetti