Ladyhawke

Pip Brown, who records as Ladyhawke, came out of New Zealand with a self-titled debut album in 2008. The single "Black, White & Blue" got attention for its straightforward electro-pop sound, which pulled from 80s synth influences without feeling like a throwback. She writes and produces the material herself, handling vocals and most of the instrumentation.

Her later albums, like "Anxiety" and "Wild Things," kept that core sound while exploring different moods. Songs such as "Magic" and "Let It Roll" have a direct, melodic quality that works on both headphones and in a live setting with a backing band. In 2022, she put out "Time Flies," which was a collaboration with fellow New Zealand musician Marlon Williams.

Brown has been open about managing a lupus diagnosis, which she received in 2012, but she's continued to write and release music at her own pace. The work doesn't chase trends so much as it refines a particular space where pop hooks meet slightly darker, synth-driven arrangements.