There is an undeniable magic that happens when a band consists of childhood friends who grew up learning their instruments in the same room. For Auckland quartet Borderline, that lifelong chemistry serves as the absolute engine behind their self-titled debut album. Arriving today via EMPIRE, the record presents a stunningly mature, genre-blurring statement of intent from a group of musicians who are still only 20 and 21 years old.
The album kicks off spectacularly with ‘Can’t Stop Myself’, a track that instantly establishes the band’s widescreen sonic ambitions. Combining driving guitars with an expansive rhythm section, the track feels like a modern stadium-pop anthem viewed through a gritty alternative-rock lens.
From there, the tracklist refuses to stay boxed into a single lane. Songs like ‘Skyline’ and ‘Terrify’ lean heavily into sleek, groove-laden R&B influences, while previous hit single ‘Watching It Burn’ puts their knack for undeniable indie-pop melodies on full display. The centerpiece of the record’s playful energy, however, is ‘That Girl’. Driven by shimmering vintage synthesizers and a funk-fueled bassline, the track sees the band leaning fully into their affection for classic late-80s pop production, giving lead guitarist Matthew McFadden and bassist Max Harries plenty of room to cut loose.
What truly elevates this record above standard indie-pop fare is the craftsmanship behind it. Initially sketched out across various home studios before being polished within the walls of Auckland’s iconic Roundhead Studios, the production balances pristine commercial gloss with the raw, tangible energy of a live band. Vocalist Ben Glanfield steers the ship with a charismatic, flexible vocal performance, grounded by the precise, driving percussion of drummer Jackson Boswell.
Rather than hiding behind studio tricks, the band lets their tight live musicianship do the heavy lifting, delivering an album that sounds just as ready for massive summer festival stages as it does for late-night car stereos.
For a band that has spent the last year collecting breakout nominations alongside domestic pop royalty at the Aotearoa Music Awards and wrapping an extensive 14-date North American tour, this debut doesn’t feel like a tentative first step. It feels like an arrival. Borderline have been vocal about their desire to become a genuinely massive band, and with a debut album this infectious, cohesive, and meticulously executed, they have given themselves the perfect launching pad to achieve exactly that.
Borderline 2026 Album Tour Dates
To celebrate the release of the record, Borderline are taking their new tracks directly to the stage with a comprehensive run of dates across New Zealand before heading over to the UK this August. Tickets for all dates are on sale now.
New Zealand Leg:
- Friday 3 July – Q Theatre, Auckland
- Saturday 4 July – Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton
- Saturday 11 July – James Hay Theatre, Christchurch
- Thursday 16 July – Totara Street, Tauranga
- Saturday 18 July – Sir Howard Morrison Centre, Rotorua
UK Leg:
- Wednesday 5 August – The Deaf Institute (The Lounge), Manchester
- Thursday 6 August – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow
- Friday 7 August – Hallamshire Hotel, Sheffield
- Saturday 8 August – The Louisiana, Bristol
- Sunday 9 August – The Underground, Plymouth
- Tuesday 11 August – Green Door Store, Brighton
- Wednesday 12 August – The Social, London
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