Jeline Partners with Toby Sussex on New Feel-Good Tune
Rising indie-pop star jeline has today released her new cruisey indie-pop-folk single taking it back, her first single for 2026 and in time for NZ Music Month!
taking it back is a song that illustrates the idea of wanting to chase your dreams and wishing for a simpler life, but having to face reality and knuckle down. jeline jumps back into her recognisable indie-pop sound, whilst also introducing and adapting to the folk sounds of this single’s collaborator Toby Sussex.
“This song was written when I was working my first full-time, big girl job,” jeline reveals. “It was a time where I barely wrote music as I just didn’t have the time or energy, and all I could think about was “earn the good bucks and you can support your music”. I constantly wish music was lucrative enough for me, and music and the arts were funded/supported more financially, but unfortunately it isn’t currently and we just have to make ends meet to do what we love to do.”
jeline’s first release of 2026 deepens her catalog once again, adding to previous singles time stops (Tearaway, Flash Trax, R1, 13th Floor), lil bluebird (The Most FM, Radio Control, NZ Musician, Juice TV) and losing all of me (95bFm, Happy Mag, TAHI, The Edge), whilst also having the exciting feature of being jeline’s first proper collaboration release.
Toby Sussex, a close friend of both jeline and producer Jack Hegarty features on taking it back. Toby is an indie-pop folk-rock singer-songwriter, previously based and frequently seen biking around Pōneke/Wellington. jeline wrote this song with Toby in mind, crafting the sound and feel of this tune to fit his unique sound. His guitar performance and vocal contribution elevated taking it back from certified to elite, and Toby is sorely missed by all musicians based in Pōneke as he prepares to start a new chapter of his life in the UK.
Similar to the rest of jeline’s catalog, taking it back was produced by Jack Hegarty at his home studio, where they captured guest guitar performances and vocals by Toby Sussex. The song was mixed by Jack under heavy guidance by longtime friend and collaborator Jpec, who also provided the finishing touches by mastering the song.
The visuals were beautifully captured by Molly Doyle, on an incredibly windy and rainy Wellington morning. Shot in under 20 minutes on the rolling hills of Miramar, the inspiration was heavily based on the classic children’s book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. jeline and Toby are shot frolicking, skipping and trudging around, searching for that silver lining in their situation (song-wise and weather-wise!)
“I’d like to think this song isn’t a lonely idea, but a shared thought most musicians and creatives have had, and currently have to tackle through as part of our love for our craft,” jeline shares. “This couldn’t have been a better song to include a fellow musician friend and I’m so glad to have had Toby on board. With it being NZ Music Month as well, I hope this song will be a resonant and catchy tune for musicians who may be in a similar spot to this song!”
If you’ve ever sat at a desk and thought about what could be, being able to drop everything to do what you love (or even ever considered going on a bear hunt) then jeline and Toby Sussex are sure to strike up a chord with taking it back!
