Balu Brigada Receive The Te Manu Mātārae Award at 2026 Aotearoa (New Zealand) Music Awards

Last night at the 2026 Aotearoa (New Zealand) Music Awards, Alt-pop duo Balu Brigada, comprised of multi-instrumentalist dual vocalists and writer/producer brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley, received the Te Manu Mātārae Award, which recognises artists that have made a significant impact on the music landscape in Aotearoa and beyond.

The band of multi-instrumentalist brothers have seen huge international success over the past year, building a devoted following with 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Since releasing their debut album Portal in August last year, the duo has toured globally, including an appearance at Lollapalooza. Their breakout single 'So Cold' has amassed more than 65 million global streams, topped Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart, and landed them a debut performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and featured on the soundtrack for EA Sports FC 25 " achievements that earned the duo Billboard's Chartbreaker title for April 2025.

This week, Balu Brigada kicked off their sold-out Portal Australian Tour in Brisbane. The duo will hit the stage in Adelaide this weekend, before heading to Melbourne and Sydney next week for two shows in each city.

A sweeping, emotional, and sonically adventurous collection of songs, Portal finds brothers pushing their boundaries and cementing their place as one of the most vital new voices in alternative pop. The album includes breakout singles 'So Cold', 'Backseat', and the existential pop anthem 'What Do We Ever Really Know?' – each one offering a glimpse into the band's evolving sound and introspective lyricism.

Portal was built over three years across cities like New York, Berlin, and their native Auckland, with each place leaving a unique sonic fingerprint. From the heavy, grungy textures of the NYC sessions to the serene, introspective energy of their roots in NZ, the duo curated a sound that blends indie rock urgency with alt-pop finesse and festival-sized ambition.

2026 will bring even more exciting highlights for Balu Brigada, including new music.

For all touring and ticketing information, please visit: www.balu-brigada.com