Presented by Goldenvoice: New Gold Standard
An Interview with Fazerdaze
August 20, 2025
We caught up with Fazerdaze ahead of her show at The Roxy to chat about the evolution of her songwriting process, navigating the indie music scene as a woman, plus more.
When writing, are you chasing a feeling, a narrative, or something else entirely?
Fazerdaze as a project is very emotionally driven. It always starts from feelings and emotions, then the melodies, songs, creative ideas flow and follow from there.
What’s something you were afraid to express in your earlier work that you now let into your music?
I’m getting better at saying what I actually mean in the lyrics. Less smoothing over the truth or hiding behind vague lines to protect myself. Letting in a bit more of the ugliness in!
How do you balance vulnerability with self-protection when writing lyrics that feel so personal?
I’m always chasing the truest song I can write. Choosing vulnerability with songwriting almost comes with its own built-in self-protection – if a song’s good, it becomes universal, and people end up seeing their own story in it more than mine.
Are you someone who builds songs from a riff or beat first, or do lyrics lead the way?
When I really sit down to work and “write a song,” a good beat can help me get into a trance where I can mumble out a melody, and words and lyrics. I often find that much easier than sitting at my guitar trying to slam out a song! That works too, though. But sometimes songs just come to me in the shower with the lyrics and melodies fully formed. I love when that happens, haha, it varies a lot!
What has it meant to you to make work as a woman in an often male-dominated indie rock scene?
I feel proud to be a woman making music and proud to be part of the sisterhood in the music scene. A lot of us have had complicated, confusing and often traumatic journeys to be doing this long term, and I feel ultra proud and so grateful for the women who have supported and inspired me along the way. Sometimes when I find it scary sticking up for myself or voicing myself, I just remind myself I’m doing it for all women!
Do you ever think about the version of yourself who started Fazerdaze? What would she think of where (or who) you are now?
I do! Especially when I’m performing early Fazerdaze material – it connects me back to my younger self who wrote those songs. I think she’d be a bit scared of what was ahead – the complicated, messy stuff I had to face without the tools I have now. But, she’d be proud that I fought through it all and that I’m still here, and very much living out her dream!
How does being from New Zealand influence the way you show up in international music spaces like LA?
LA is such a big, cool, exciting city and it’s just humbling to be a New Zealander headlining a show there when I grew up with so much American culture on TV. It’s a dream to me. I love LA, I sometimes joke that I have more friends in LA then I do in NZ and I think that’s almost true haha.
What's a song of yours you'd recommend to a new listener?
My latest song, “Motorway” is where I’d point them! I feel like that’s the truest song to me at this moment, and it shows both sides of Fazerdaze sonically; the gritty, grungey side, but also the big expansive wide, synthy side.
What can your LA fans look forward to at your upcoming show at El Rey Theatre?
Dave and I have a special show lined up only for LA – something different from our other headline shows. Can’t wait for you to see it! ;)
