Aotearoa's rising indie-pop quartet, Borderline, have dropped their compelling new single, 'When It's Raining', just as they gear up for their inaugural North American live shows. This release, a raw exploration of isolation, arrives hot on the heels of their signing to global indie powerhouse, EMPIRE.
The track, initially aired during an intimate session for Rolling Stone AU/NZ, has been polished into a powerful piece, building on the momentum of their earlier 2024 single, 'Heartbeat'. 'When It's Raining' delves deep into feelings of loneliness and the challenging process of navigating those emotions. The band hopes that the song will offer a sense of solidarity to listeners facing similar struggles.
Crafted at Neil Finn's renowned Roundhead Studio in Auckland, the single was shaped in collaboration with producers Joel Jones and Nic Manders, with mastering handled by Vivek Gabriel. Borderline describe the track as an attempt to "capture the feeling of being completely lost in your anger and sadness; when you can’t see a future where things get better. It’s a universal feeling, and we hope this song will make people [feel] seen and understand that they’re not alone in their struggles."
To accompany the single, Borderline have once again teamed up with filmmaker Tom Grut for a visually striking music video. Grut, who previously worked with the band on 'Heartbeat', was eager to shift the aesthetic. "It is always a pleasure collaborating with the boys. I was particularly excited about taking the bright colourful world we'd built with heartbeat and completely rejecting it with this song, really grounding it and showing off more gritty mature direction in which they're heading," he explained.
The release of 'When It's Raining' marks a significant moment for Borderline, who have recently become the first AU/NZ act to sign with EMPIRE since their expansion into the region. This partnership places them alongside international artists like Shaboozey, G-DRAGON, and Tyga, significantly broadening their reach.
This month, the band will embark on their first US tour, beginning with showcases at SXSW in Austin, Texas, followed by performances in New York and Los Angeles. "We are so excited to be touring the states. As four boys from New Zealand, this is the stuff you dream of and we couldn’t be more grateful to have the opportunity to explore America and share our music with the rest of the world," the band shared. With a new single and a major label backing them, Borderline are poised to make a memorable impact on the global stage.
For more from Borderline, find them today on Instagram and TikTok.
