Fazerdaze

Amelia Rahayu Murray, better known under her stage name Fazerdaze, is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.[2] Murray is known for creating music that blends dreamy pop elements with grungy shoegaze influences.

Fazerdaze
Murray performing at a live concert in France during May 2017
Murray performing at a live concert in France during May 2017
Background information
Birth nameAmelia Rahayu Murray
Also known asFazerdaze
Born (1993-01-19) January 19, 1993[1]
Wellington, New Zealand
GenresDream pop, shoegaze, indie pop, indie rock
Years active2014–2017, 2022-present
LabelsFlying Nun Records, section1
Websitefazerdaze.bandcamp.com

She released her debut self-titled EP in October 2014, recording it entirely in her bedroom studio in Auckland. Her first full-length album, Morningside, was released to critical acclaim in 2017 after the lead single "Lucky Girl" became a surprise hit.[3] Following a period of burnout and personal challenges, she took a five-year break from music and returned in late 2022 with the EP Break!.[4]

Early years

Murray was born in New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, to an English-born New Zealander father and an Indonesian mother.[5] She started playing music at the age of 13 when she began playing her father's guitar. During her time at Onslow College, a Wellington high school with a vibrant music scene, she formed her own band called The Tangle. The band eventually disbanded upon the conclusion of high school.[6]

After high school, Murray made the decision to pursue music as her career and moved to Auckland to study music. Her first full-length studio album, Morningside, was named after the Auckland neighborhood of the same name where she relocated to.[7]

History

Fazerdaze released her self-titled debut EP in 2014.[8] With the help of multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Pearce, who mastered the release, she created a dream-pop sound, using electric guitars and effect pedals.[9]

In 2017, Murray released her first full-length album as Fazerdaze, called Morningside. Morningside was a surprise hit, with the song "Lucky Girl" in particular being a success.[10][11][12] The song's music video, which was shot on film with a 16mm Bolex camera and edited by Murray herself, got over 20 million views on YouTube.[13]

Murray suffered burnout after the success of Morningside and encountered problems with unhealthy personal relationships. After taking a five-year hiatus from music, she returned with another EP, Break!, in late 2022. Murray stated that her hiatus has been instrumental in helping her return to music, and she ended up finishing the EP during a three-month long lockdown in New Zealand.[4] Musically, Break! is quite different from her previous work and includes elements of dance pop and electronica. Murray has stated that she drew inspiration from 90s bands like Blur and Nirvana.[14]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ[15]
Morningside 23

Extended plays
Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ[17]
Fazerdaze EP —
Break! 24

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album

[16][20]

NZ
"Little Uneasy" 2015 — Morningside
"Lucky Girl" 2017 —
"Take It Slow" —
"Come Apart" 2022 — Break!
"Break!" —
"Flood Into" 2023 —
"Bigger"[21] —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References
  1. "Fazerdaze - Break! Live Chat AMA". YouTube. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  2. https://www.nzwao.com/companies/fazerdaze-limited/
  3. Stubbs, Warwick (5 May 2017). "Fazerdaze - Morningside - Albums - Reviews - Soundblab". Soundblab. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  4. Lochrie, Connor (14 October 2022). "Fazerdaze Releases Long-Awaited EP 'Break!'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. "FAZERDAZE Interview- growing up in New Zealand, self confidence, music video". YouTube - SIDEWALK TALK EDM Interview. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  6. Adriana (23 July 2015). "Introducing: Fazerdaze". HVNGRY. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. Fazerdaze - The Morningside Interview | DIFFUS, retrieved 9 May 2023
  8. "Fazerdaze EP, by Fazerdaze". Fazerdaze. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  9. "Fazerdaze - Fazerdaze EP". Discogs. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  10. Renshaw, David. "Fazerdaze's Morningside Is A Coming Of Age Album For Introverts". The Fader. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  11. Glickman, David. "Fazerdaze: Morningside". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  12. Schulz, Chris. "Fazerdaze quietly sneaks out of her bedroom with debut album Morningside". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  13. https://aminoapps.com/c/indie-music-plus/page/blog/shoegazing-fazerdaze/D80g_zlQuPuxaVv6M626bGVL2LYl2w4oq3P
  14. "Break! by Fazerdaze". Bandcamp. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  15. "charts.org.nz - Fazerdaze - Morningside". charts.nz. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  16. "Fazerdaze - Morningside". Flying Nun. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. "Official Top 40 Albums 24 October 2022". The Official NZ Music Charts. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  18. "Fazerdaze EP, by Fazerdaze". Fazerdaze. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  19. "Fazerdaze - Break! EP". Flying Nun Australia. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  20. Store, Partisan Records, Fazerdaze - Break!. Partisan Records Store., retrieved 9 May 2023
  21. "Fazerdaze Deftly Explores the Pressures of Being a Musician on 'Bigger'". Rolling Stone Australia. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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