Corey Friedlander has been at the forefront of New Zealand metal since joining 8 Foot Sativa at 17, shaping live shows and international tours before expanding his drumming legacy across City of Souls, In Dread Response, and Shepherds Reign. Gideon Voon’s guitar work in Shepherds Reign has propelled the band onto global stages, winning multiple Pacific Music Awards and playing shows alongside The Hu and Disturbed.

“We’re really just some spooky nerds who appreciate dark, funereal, sublime aesthetics and seek community in the gloom,” says Duncan of The Blue Summer. With roots in funk and darkwave, the Pōneke band is set to play their first-ever Auckland show at Goth Night. We spoke to Duncan about their genre-defying sound, the evolution of Aotearoa’s goth scene, and what keeps the community alive in 2025.

Ahead of Goth Night at Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday, we caught up with John Mason of Stars and the Underground to talk lineup changes, global reach, and the band’s upcoming album Guardians of the Night. From post-punk roots to cinematic synthwave soundscapes, Mason reflects on the evolution of the goth scene in Aotearoa and what to expect from their latest live set. Read the full interview before the fog rolls in.