Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician Bret McKenzie returns on 15 August 2025 with his sophomore solo album, Freak Out City, the follow-up to his 2022 Sub Pop debut, Songs Without Jokes.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman, the new album blends heartfelt storytelling with playful wit, crafted and road-tested during live shows across New Zealand and the US with his eight-piece band, The State Highway Wonders.
Freak Out City was recorded in both Los Angeles and New Zealand, co-produced with longtime collaborator Mickey Petralia, and features a stellar lineup of musicians from both sides of the Pacific, including Leland Sklar, Dean Parks, Joey Waronker, and a roster of talented Kiwi players.
The record includes the title track, Shouldna Come Here Tonight, and the newest single All I Need, a warm, horn-laced love song for his wife, famously known on tour as The Pomegranate Song due to its Lennon-inspired placeholder lyrics.
McKenzie, best known for his work in Flight of the Conchords, continues to shine as a singular voice in music, weaving baroque-pop charm and offbeat humor with moments of tenderness and clarity. His songs have been performed by everyone from Kermit the Frog to Lizzo, and this new chapter promises even more sonic surprises and emotional resonance.
