MITI Introduce a Bold New Chapter with ‘Wasting More Time On You’
There are breakup songs that dwell on heartbreak, and then there are songs that slam the door shut. With their new single Wasting More Time On You, country duo MITI delivers the latter, a confident, hook-filled anthem introducing frontwoman Tiana Miti as one of New Zealand’s most exciting new voices in country music, with a rare mark of international polish behind it. The track was mixed and mastered in Nashville by Aaron Chmielewski, whose credits include Taylor Swift, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Faith Hill.
Built on classic country storytelling with a modern edge, Wasting More Time On You is equal parts grit, grace and attitude. Driven by Tiana’s commanding vocal performance, the track refuses to wallow in regret, instead embracing self-worth with unapologetic confidence.
“I wanted this song to have that real Nashville sound, the kind you hear on the records that made me fall in love with country music in the first place,” says Tiana. “Getting to work with someone who’s mixed for artists like Taylor Swift made this feel like the record I’d always imagined making”.
Singing “This ain’t a game, there’s no restart” before declaring “Don’t even think that if I’m blue, I’ll be wasting more time on you,” Tiana delivers every line with conviction, while playful moments like “Lord knows what I was thinking, walking ’round with something I just got from lost and found” (followed by the ad-libbed “You’re done”) showcase the sharp wit and feminine sass that give the song its personality.
Accompanying the release is a cinematic music video set inside a lively Western bar, where Tiana steps fully into the spotlight. Performing with guitar in hand, riding a mechanical bull, and backed by an infectious atmosphere, the video builds alongside the song before culminating in a soaring bridge that highlights the warmth and power of her vocal performance.
There’s a particular kind of country song that doesn’t try too hard, the kind that simply tells the truth and lets the melody do the rest. That’s the space Tiana Miti writes from.
Raised in Porirua, Tiana grew up surrounded by music, shaped by her mother’s cassette tapes of Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash. Those early influences became the foundation of MITI’s sound: authentic country storytelling, honest songwriting and melodies that linger long after the final chorus.
Working behind the scenes is Tiana’s brother, Sonny Miti, the band’s songwriter, guitarist and producer. Together, the siblings have built MITI around a shared love of timeless country music, Sonny crafting the arrangements while Tiana brings the songs to life through a vocal style that favours feeling over polish. Pairing their songwriting with Aaron Chmielewski’s Nashville mix has given the duo their most ambitious release to date, capturing the polished, radio-ready sound that has long inspired them.
Rather than chasing trends, MITI is carving out a refreshingly authentic place within New Zealand’s evolving country scene. As a new wave of country artists continues to capture audiences around the world, Tiana is emerging as one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new voices with the ambition, authenticity and songwriting strength to become New Zealand’s answer to Ella Langley. Wasting More Time On You arrives as a confident statement from a duo determined to help shape the next chapter of New Zealand country music.
Confident, catchy and impossible to ignore, Wasting More Time On You is the sound of an artist stepping into her own and making it clear she won’t be looking back.
