Butter Wouldn’t Melt Make Triumphant Return with ‘Nettle Song’
AMA-nominated Pōneke folk act Butter Wouldn’t Melt has released a haunting new single, Nettle Song, which aptly comes just in time for Halloween.
Nettle Song sits comfortably at the crossroads of Americana, bluegrass and classic folk – channeling the sophisticated arrangements of The Punch Brothers and the emotional weight of Gillian Welch. But all the while, showcasing a unique sound grounded in Butter Wouldn’t Melt’s local identity.
An ode to the fragility of life, Nettle Song was inspired by the hidden dangers of Aotearoa’s bush – specifically the deadly native nettle Urtica Ferox, which has been linked to the cold case deaths of hikers.
“Often they were found lying peacefully with no visible injuries and for many years no-one could explain how they’d died because the poison from the nettle’s sting wasn’t showing up in post-mortems,” explains the band.
The song’s mellow and moody sonics are brought to life by a captivating video of the five-piece performing in the forest at Ōtari Wilton’s Reserve in Wellington, capturing an old-school aesthetic.
Butter Wouldn’t Melt is a mainstay of the local folk music scene, known for their timeless songwriting and authenticity, which shines through on Nettle Song. “We recorded it all playing it together in the studio – no amplification, just acoustic instruments and voices.”
This is the band’s first new music in more than a year and comes after the release of their highly praised 2025 album Where The Roots Grow Deep. Their debut album 1931 also received critical acclaim and saw Butter Wouldn’t Melt revealed as finalists at the 2023 Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Folk Artist (Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa).
Nettle Song marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band and fans will be excited to learn that there is more new music on the horizon.
Butter Wouldn’t Melt also has a busy few months of shows ahead of them, including a ‘Single Release Party’ at The Undercurrent in Wellington on Saturday, October 31.
Photo Credit: Den O’Keeffe
