Abstract Fish Lungs is a local band with deep roots in the Raglan community. From casual jam sessions to performing on stage, their journey has been shaped by friendship, shared passions and the support of those around them. In this Q&A, lead singer Josh Alexander shares how the band came together, how they’ve grown, and what’s next for this talented group of musicians.
Who’s in the band and what are their roles?
There are four of us in the band. I’m the lead singer and play rhythm guitar, Hendrix is on bass, Wai Ariki shreds lead guitar and does backing vocals, and Lily plays the drums.
How did the band originate? How did the idea form and what was the vision for it?
In 2021, Wai Ariki and I met on a weekend up Mount Ruapehu and recognised each other from Raglan. We found a shared interest not only in snowboarding but also in music. We were in and out of lockdown, so we had time to get together and make a song. We got Wai Ariki’s cousin, Travis, to jam on bass, and he suggested Lily as a drummer. When Travis couldn’t make our Earthbeat festival gig in 2023, we pulled in Hendrix to cover, and he’s been with us ever since.
Where did you first start playing and what was the response?
The name, Abstract Fish Lungs, originated from our first gig at the Whāingaroa Talent Factory (WTF). We made the name thinking we could change it, but after months of brainstorming, it ended up sticking. The response to our music was good; we only had two originals at the time. The gig resulted in our first song, “Misery,” being recorded by one of the WTF mentors, Nikau Te Huki.
How has the band developed over time and what changes have happened with style and genre?
It wasn’t until Earthbeat 2023 that we began refining our sound and performance on stage. We developed a theme of telling stories with the instrumentation and then writing lyrics to convey a message. Our music developed a heavier sound, but the vocals maintain a clean melody. As a band, we’ve grown so much tighter, and with each performance, we’re more comfortable jumping around on stage.
Tell us about your Rockquest experiences and how you placed.
Rockquest was a fun experience. We placed in the top 30 out of 900 bands in New Zealand. We won Rockshop vouchers, along with money to put towards recording a song. They’ve also set up five gigs that we’ll play over the summer.
What are the highlights and benefits for you all belonging to the band?
All of us are great friends and enjoy each other’s company. The band road trips and post-gig parties bring us together.
What are some of the honest challenges that come with the experience?
Band practices—they’re either awesome and super productive, or we get nothing done.
How often do you practise and where?
We practise at least once a week, but if a gig comes up, it’s three or more times. We have a dedicated band space at my house, and we’re lucky I live out of town so we can play for as long and loud as we want.
Where do you currently play, and what are you working on or releasing?
At our last gig, we were asked to play as the feature act of Bandquest, the junior version of Rockquest. We were stoked to be asked and had an epic time performing. We are currently working on recording new songs and releasing an EP.
There must be some great supporters who have helped you along the way. Who would you like to thank?
I’d like to thank all the band parents for always giving us opportunities to push our music. Also, my sister Bella, who performs a cameo duet with me at gigs and is our number one band groupie, and all our mates who turn up to our gigs to support us.
Josh Alexander
Abstract Fish Lungs
