Tāmaki Makaurau has birthed another undeniable anthem for the modern dating era. Kiwi pop and R&B powerhouse Verity has officially unveiled her latest single, ‘Casual’, a bold, slickly produced collaboration with dynamic rapper Jujulipps. Exploring the messy, intoxicating, and often infuriating contradictions of modern relationships, the track sits comfortably in the uneasy space between attachment and romantic denial.
Built around late-night calls and blurred boundaries, ‘Casual’ directly tackles the emotional chaos of “situationship” culture. Verity’s soulful vocal delivery masterfully chronicles the confusion of executing the entire relationship playbook, from a partner who knows all of her friends and spends every night in her bed, to daydreaming about white dresses and picket fences, all while being told it is “nothing serious.”
The track finds its perfect counterweight when Jujulipps arrives with a scene-stealing, attitude-heavy verse. Bringing an unfiltered confidence reminiscent of her genre-blending influences like Leikeli47 and Nicki Minaj, the Cape Town-born, New Zealand-based rapper acts as the ultimate wake-up call, turning the song’s built-up emotional tension into an empowering reminder to know your worth.
“Together, the pair turn emotional contradiction into a hook-driven anthem that is as vulnerable as it is confrontational.”
The transatlantic collaboration first sparked while Verity was across in Los Angeles, working alongside Norwegian producer Magnus Bertelsen and legendary NZ artist and mentor Vince Harder. After crafting the foundation of the song, Verity set out to find a distinct female voice to sharpen the record’s edge. Discovering Jujulipps online, the pair immediately bonded over their shared experiences with modern dating culture, a natural chemistry that translates flawlessly into the final studio cut.
Having first built momentum through viral social media moments showcasing her massive vocal ability, Verity has fast tracked her rise through the local industry. With major milestones already under her belt—including winning the Up & Coming Artist Competition at Jim Beam Homegrown and being selected for SongHubs—the singer has quietly built an audience of over 600,000 followers across TikTok and Instagram.
With more than half a million streams already clocked on Spotify and a debut album and national tour currently in development for later this year, ‘Casual’ positions Verity as one of the most compelling, authentic storytelling voices emerging from New Zealand’s contemporary R&B landscape.
‘Casual’ is out now on all major streaming platforms.
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