MACEY Releases Sophomore Album ‘Once’
Acclaimed New Zealand-raised singer-songwriter MACEY today unveils his highly anticipated sophomore album, Once, via FiveAM / Warner Music New Zealand.
Written over three years and largely shaped during a transformative four-month stint in London, Once marks a significant evolution for one of New Zealand’s most compelling young songwriters. Expanding beyond the deeply autobiographical lens of his acclaimed debut album The Lovers, MACEY embraces a broader, more cinematic approach to storytelling, weaving together vivid characters, shared experiences and observations from life in one of the world’s busiest cities.
“I went to London and couch surfed for four months, meeting heaps of new artists and writers,” MACEY explains. “The first day taking the tube was so overwhelming. There were so many faces, stories and energies all around me that I ended up writing ideas on almost every trip to and from sessions. Being in a completely new city, while also reconnecting with my roots, gave me a whole new perspective. A lot of nostalgic themes started seeping into the songs, and I found myself writing not just about my own experiences, but about the people I was seeing and imagining around me.”
Across thirteen tracks, Once captures fleeting moments of connection, heartbreak, resilience and self-discovery. While themes of grief and loss remain present – including reflections on the passing of MACEY’s father and the aftermath of significant relationships – the album approaches these subjects with a newfound sense of acceptance and understanding.
“The album still touches on grief and loss like The Lovers did,” he says. “But this time there’s much more reflection and understanding rather than anger and fear. I’m not always the centre of every story either. There are a lot more shared experiences and outward perspectives throughout the record.”
The album opens with the fan-favourite ‘Seaside Wishes’, setting the tone for the record with its heartfelt storytelling and emotional depth. Elsewhere, first released single ‘Mona Lisa Money’ delivers a folk-infused cautionary tale chronicling a man’s relentless pursuit of wealth at the expense of everything that truly matters. Alongside tracks such as ‘Clementine’, ‘We Still Happened’ and ‘Call It Even’, MACEY showcases a growing confidence as both a lyricist and storyteller, balancing intimate vulnerability with richly detailed narratives.
The title track, Once, stands as one of the album’s emotional centrepieces, exploring the uncertainty and hope that exists within long-distance love, while songs throughout the record navigate themes of capitalism, identity, addiction, human connection and the passage of time.
Musically, Once expands MACEY’s sonic palette, blending indie-rock, folk, soul and Brit-pop influences into a sound that feels both timeless and distinctly his own. The result is an album that draws inspiration from classic storytelling traditions while remaining grounded in contemporary experiences.
“I got to experiment with different ways of expressing myself because of all the new people, places and culture I was surrounded by,” MACEY says. “It challenged me as a writer and helped me find new ways to tell stories.”
Since emerging with his debut album The Lovers, MACEY has established himself as one of the country’s most distinctive songwriting voices. His ability to pair poetic lyricism with raw emotional honesty has earned widespread acclaim and a rapidly growing audience across New Zealand and beyond.
With Once, MACEY delivers his most accomplished and deeply personal body of work to date – a collection of songs that invites listeners into a world filled with strangers, lovers, memories and moments that linger long after they’ve passed.
Catch MACEY live this evening for his headline show at The Tuning Fork, Auckland NZ
MACEY presents Once: Album Release Show
Tickets HERE
