“A celestial whisper that becomes a wall of sound.”
Post Punk / Shoegaze / Dark Synthwave from Auckland, New Zealand
Stars and The Underground, a New Zealand-based project blending post-punk, shoegaze, and dark synthwave, has just released their new single, “Echolocation” —a collaboration with Hannah Berry of dark electronic act Talmar—out on May 22, 2026.
Recorded “in the heat of summer, naturally,” the track is the first preview of their debut album, “Guardians of the Night” (due in 2027), and marks a more shoegaze-leaning direction in their sonic universe.
As the band notes:
“Hannah has done an incredible job adding an ethereal edge to the song that lifts it to another level.”
John McDermott’s (ex-Headless Chickens) production and powerful drumming bridge their live energy with studio precision, showcasing clear evolution from their early days. Recently, post-punk.com described them as “hailing from the same wind-swept well as The Mission and The Church.”
In the words of John Mason:
“I think once people hear the whole album, other styles will come to the fore—like that more recent synthwave feel.”
More About Stars and the Underground
Stars and The Underground is the musical project of John Mason, former member of the band Winterland, currently based in Auckland, Aotearoa (New Zealand).
Formed in 2019, the band has released one EP, “Evolution Circle”, and two critically acclaimed singles: “Nosferatu Upon Tyne” (2020) and “Lonely Black Hearts” (2025).
They are currently finalizing their debut album, “Guardians of the Night”, set for release in 2027.
The band has performed live across New Zealand and Australia with various lineups and guest musicians. The current core includes:
- John Mason (vocals/guitar/bass, ex-Winterland since 1999)
- John McDermott (drums, recording, production, ex-Headless Chickens)
- Hannah Berry (vocals, Talmar)
Their sound fuses post-punk, shoegaze, and dark synthwave, weaving ethereal and raw textures with a distinctive Kiwi sensibility.
In John Mason’s words:
“There’s no doubt our music carries elements of post-punk, shoegaze, and dark synthwave. But we like to think we’re more than the sum of our parts—and aim to bring a uniquely Aotearoa flavor to the sound: diverse, ethereal, raw, fostering a connection with the listener and inviting them into an emotional journey.”
Key Dates:
- “Echolocation” Single Release: May 22, 2026
- World Goth Day Festival: May 25, 2026, 9am NZST
- Debut Album “Guardians of the Night”: 2027
Echolocation • Stars and The Underground • Indie Valley Music Review
“Echolocation” is, without a doubt, an immersive, ethereal, and atmospheric sonic journey, where coldness and emotion coexist in perfect tension. The track masterfully blends post-punk, shoegaze, and dark synthwave, with equal strength in concept and execution.
The song opens with a celestial whisper: Hannah Berry’s voice intones a soft “Ahhhhh… Ahhhhh…”, drenched in reverb—spatial, airy, and deeply emotive. It’s an intimate introduction evoking nostalgia, sweetness, and melancholy, lasting until 0:07.
Then—everything shifts. The instruments burst in in unison, instantly unleashing a vibrant shoegaze/post-punk identity. While leaning slightly toward shoegaze, the spirit of post-punk pulses through every layer.
The lead guitar builds a wall of diffuse distortion, with riffs that dissolve into reverb after each phrase, crafting a dense yet dynamic atmosphere. John Mason’s vocals enter with a raw, reverberant delivery, charged with emotional wear—like carrying the weight of the world, yet refusing to surrender. His tone conveys rebellion, existential corrosion, and a strange sense of resolve, perfectly aligned with the instrumentation.
One of the track’s most striking features is its unconventional structure: it begins like a chorus, hitting hard from the start and pulling the listener into a journey that is sensory, energetic, youthful, rebellious, yet also emotive, fresh, and timeless.
Mason’s voice—slightly above the mix and expertly panned in stereo—guides lyrics that flow with natural ease. The drums, rooted in alt-rock/post-punk/shoegaze, deliver a firm punch without overpowering. The bass is solid, full of character, adding clarity and depth. A second guitar plays chorus-drenched arpeggios, classic post-punk texture at its finest.
At 0:15, Hannah Berry’s voice returns. The two vocalists intertwine in a masterful harmonic duet: contrast, complementarity, balance. Together, they weave the main melodic line, guiding the narrative with ethereal grace.
The immersion continues until 0:40, when a vocal interlude brings back Hannah’s “Uhhhh… Uhhhh…”, now more intimate. At 0:50, Mason re-enters with more energetic verses, though carefully modulated, while their dual voices maintain emotional tension.
The true turning point arrives at 1:41: a bubbling, spatial, ethereal synth erupts, projecting an elongated melody that shifts the track into deeper dark synthwave territory. Yet shoegaze and post-punk persist, creating a three-dimensional, versatile fusion. The drums gain prominence, and arrangements grow bolder.
By 1:50, Hannah takes center stage with psychedelic, dreamlike whispers, expertly panned left to right, evoking an almost hallucinatory sensation. Her voice, blended with the synth, guides a new melodic phase.
From 1:55, the narrative returns, now wrapped in ethereal vocals, spatial whispers, and meticulous instrumental layers. The journey holds until the end, when all elements—drums, bass, synth—fade away, leaving only an electric guitar projecting an atmospheric fuzz, dissolving with elegance… as if to say: “This dreamlike voyage is over. Time to wake up.”
Technically, the production is exquisite: every sonic element serves a purpose—no more, no less. The mix achieves a rare balance: ethereal yet crisp, deep yet comforting. Echoes of My Bloody Valentine’s 90s sound are present, but filtered through modern, direct production with wide dynamic range, characteristic of today’s rock.
“Echolocation” doesn’t just sound—it transports.
It’s a great honor for us to present this new release, “Echolocation” by Stars and The Underground. Go listen to the track on your favorite streaming platform.