One NZ and Live Nation’s Ones To Watch returns to Tāmaki Makaurau’s Tuning Fork on Thursday 5 June with a fresh lineup of kiwi rising stars to keep your eye on.

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Artists involved in this instalment of Ones To Watch include four-piece powerhouses Borderline, hip-hop trailblazer Aidan Fine, and pop-indie performer Lucy Gray.

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Rapidly rising indie-pop outfit Borderline are known for their signature blend of dreamy melodies, lush synths, and emotionally charged lyricism that appeal to their contemporaries and elders alike. The group is quickly charting a course to become a fixture on Aotearoa's live music scene - currently in the midst of performances at UK’s Great Escape plus another Ones To Watch showcase over in London, and fresh off their live debut in the US where they played to packed rooms across SXSW, New York City and Los Angeles. Alongside the release of their most recent singles ‘New Romance’ and ‘When It’s Raining’, Borderline have garnered support and praise from the likes of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, first plays and ongoing play listing amongst BBC1, Triple J, US College Radio, and an abundance of NZ commercial radio. Earlier this year, the band announced their signing to American-based, global independent record label, EMPIRE, becoming the first AU/NZ artist EMPIRE has signed since launching in the market in September 2024. Home to artists such as Shaboozey, G-DRAGON and Tyga, the signing of Borderline to this global family has positioned the four-piece on radars far beyond their local market – stoking the fire when it comes to building hype surrounding the group.

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Blending alternative hip-hop, psychedelic, and experimental sounds into a vibrant, introspective experience, Aidan Fine is unapologetically pushing artistic boundaries as a young artist, producer and songwriter. Florida-born, Johannesburg-raised and now based in Auckland, New Zealand, he is the embodiment of versatility, armed with experience and skill. Fine creates music that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable— a sonic insight into his exploration of self, struggle, and transformation. Notable singles in the past year include tracks ‘Day by Day’ and ‘Deadroses’ - which have helped him amass over 2.5 million cross-platform streams. With airplay on commercial radio, time in the studio alongside some of NZ’s most exciting acts and regularly making appearances on the Aotearoa Music Charts, Aidan Fine continues to make his mark. 

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Hailing from Ōtautahi, Christchurch, the rising pop-indie performer Lucy Gray has drawn in an audience of over 90k from around the world that resonate with her music - which takes inspiration from the likes of Boygenius, Chappell Roan and Reneé Rapp. Receiving praise for her music from NZ On Air in 2024 with their New Music Development grant, she went on to release her debut 6-track EP where her single ‘whole life waiting’ with Andy and Victoria Knopp has garnered over 200k streams. At just 17 years old she embarked on her first NZ tour with 4 out of her 6 tracks being featured in NZ On Air’s New Tracks selection. The past few years have also seen the young artist receive playlist placements on Apple Music’s ‘New In Alternative’ and across various student radio stations in New Zealand. Not slowing down any time soon, Gray’s recent single ‘Polar Orbit’ has grown her social media fan base by tens of thousands, gaining over 80k streams since its December release. Having performed both acoustically and as an opener at The Tuning Fork, Lucy is  looking forward to returning to the stage for this round of Ones To Watch. 

Following a successful March showcase in Auckland featuring Where’s Jai, Ella Monnery and BLAKE - Ones To Watch has also had a stacked 2024 with four events throughout Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland and Pōneke, Wellington with names such as Frankie Venter, Gracie Moller, MAYJUN, Casual Healing, Sure Boy, Mikeyy, Reiki Ruawai, Sam Cullen and CRYSTAL gracing the stage. Since its inception, the OTW showcase has featured a variety of genres from pop to indie, rock to hip hop. 2025’s slate is set to celebrate Aotearoa’s best when it comes to local music.

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Launched in 2017 in the United States, Ones To Watch has helped boost the careers of artists now reaching global stages, including international superstars Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa and Gracie Abrams, as well as kiwi trailblazers Benee, LEISURE and Georgia Lines. 

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Past artists are featured on the Ones To Watch homepage, where their profiles are regularly updated with the latest news and content - keeping fans engaged and expanding their reach to a global community of music lovers.

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After launching an exclusive long-term partnership in 2019, Live Nation Australasia and One New Zealand have provided One NZ customers access to Live Nation’s entertainment portfolio including music, family, and comedy tours plus festivals across the country. The strategic multi-year partnership is committed to bringing the best live experiences to New Zealand and the best New Zealand artists to the world. The unique emerging talent platform of Ones To Watch builds on this strong partnership and a mutual dedication to support grassroots initiatives.

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Check out the artists' socials and music!

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Check out all things BORDERLINE below:

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Spotify

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Check out all things AIDAN FINE below:

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Spotify

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Check out all things LUCY GRAY below:

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Spotify

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Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company composed of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit livenationentertainment.com.

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One New Zealand is one of New Zealand’s leading digital services and connectivity companies, believing every New Zealander will thrive with access to the world’s best digital services. They offer more than 3 million connections to Consumer and Business customers, and believe in being engaged corporate citizens. Their company culture embraces Diversity and Inclusion at the heart, and are proud recipients of the Rainbow Tick. For more information, visit www.one.nz.

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