We Speak Music
New Zealand Named Focus Country at The Great Escape 2026
For the first time in its history, The Great Escape Festival in Brighton is handing the spotlight to New Zealand, naming Aotearoa the official Focus Country for 2026. The move signals a major moment for the island nation’s music export scene, as the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand join forces to present a 10-artist showcase takeover of Patterns on Thursday 14th May.
Running from 12pm to 4pm across both upstairs and downstairs rooms, the event will transform the venue into a concentrated snapshot of New Zealand’s sonic identity. From alt-pop experimentation to post-punk grit and Pacific psychedelia, the lineup promises a cross-section of one of the most quietly influential music scenes in the world.
Industry leaders are framing the showcase as more than a performance opportunity—it’s a strategic cultural export moment. Alan Holt of the New Zealand Music Commission described The Great Escape as a long-standing pillar of the country’s international music activity, while Live Nation New Zealand’s Mark Kneebone emphasized the importance of building global pathways while reinforcing the local ecosystem.
With alumni success stories like Lorde, The Naked and Famous, Ladyhawke, and Flight of the Conchords already shaping global perception of New Zealand music, this 2026 focus feels less like an introduction and more like an expansion of an established legacy.
ABOUT THE NZ MUSIC COMMISSION
The New Zealand Music Commission is a Government-funded agency committed to growing the NZ music business. The Commission undertakes projects and partnerships aimed at exporting NZ music and assisting music businesses in working internationally.
www.nzmusic.org.nz | international@nzmusic.org.nz | https://www.livenation.co.nz/ | www.greatescapefestival.com
We Speak Music
VAAST drops “Remember These Days” and it seriously feels like the future of French pop
France has given the world some of its biggest electronic icons. From Daft Punk to DJ Snake and David Guetta, French artists have shaped global music culture for decades. But lately, finding a track that mixes real emotion, cinematic vibes and dance energy all at once? Pretty rare.
That’s exactly where Vaast steps in.
His new single “Remember These Days” is an addictive mix of modern French electronic production and timeless pop songwriting. Think emotional melodies, huge atmosphere, deep basslines and the kind of track you want both in your headphones at 2AM and blasting during a late-night drive.
The production blends layered synths, marimba-inspired textures, synthetic African vocal elements and immersive cinematic energy. And yes, there’s even inspiration pulled from Avatar, the legendary movie universe that defined a whole cultural era. That influence gives the track its futuristic-but-nostalgic feeling, like a memory from the future.
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