One of the newest and most brilliant acts to come out of Wellington recently is Ten24, the alternative rock four-piece that took out the Smokefree Rockquest People’s Choice Award of 2019. Steadily gaining traction and attention from throughout the capital, the band have recorded and released their very first single, entitled Blissful Affliction.

Jangly guitars start the listener off to a slow, moody verse, sung with grace and care by lead vocalist Lauren. Ambling, picked notes from six-stringer Dom gradually swell in time with the drums, before launching into a solid, power-pop chorus.

The melodic and expressive vocals reminds one of another of Aotearoa’s finest, She Loves You, with strong resemblance in singing style. The tone of the song changes with the drums, shifting the rhythm from pacing to jogging, the mood from mellow to urgent. Variations of dynamics is often lacking in certain rock genres, but Ten24 make it clear that they are anything but plain. Drummer Ben’s harmonised singing is awesomely matched in the aural backdrop, adding extra emotive “oomph” to the bold choruses and pre-choruses.

There is a hyper-creative little interlude where the drums roll back and forth, and the tune takes on a prog-rock atmosphere. The reverbing guitar lines echoes deliciously in the listener’s head, while ghost-like notes from bass player Jay is teased into the drummer’s offbeat groove, leaving one wanting more of the short but tasteful passage - One senses great things in exploring this style!

90’s rock vibes are prominent throughout the song, particularly during its verses. While the shuffling guitars sound a bit rustic, it brings out a great live-in-studio quality, wherein the vocals and guitars sound a bit lo-fi. Something can always be said for that DIY aesthetic; it’ll never go out of fashion, and it certainly does well on this song.

Here we have a very promising start from a young act, one that could cover a lot of territory by continuing to let their individual talents flourish and be heard. Versatility can also be a strength, with the way they have a foot in several genres including alternative, progressive and pop-rock, one can certainly envision a live set in which a variety of styles are covered.

If you’re after refreshing, young talent, be sure to listen to this little number. Blissful Affliction can be streamed on all major platforms; follow them on Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

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