Auckland three-piece Wax Chattels have announced their second album Clot, due out September 25. RNZ Music is proud to be the first to share the record’s first single and video ‘No Ties’.
‘No Ties’ is about the experiences of being a first-generation immigrant. Wax Chattels’ singer and bassist Amanda Cheng, who is Hoklo Taiwanese, touches on topics such as cultural differences, parental sacrifice and not having a personal relationship with extended family.
“Being a first-generation immigrant, I’ve never had a personal connection with my extended family,” Amanda says, “There’s an incomparable loneliness rooted in this — I think the weight of parental sacrifice and cultural estrangement is difficult for other Kiwis to understand.”
Artwork for Wax Chattels' Clot Photo: Supplied
’No Ties’ comes from these frustrations, as well as the desperation Amanda feels as she watches the present-day political situation in Taiwan.
Wax Chattels’ formed in 2016 after Amanda and vocalist and keyboard player Peter Ruddell met at jazz school. The pair later enlisted drummer Tom Leggett.
The trio have become a fixture at venues around New Zealand with their punishingly abrasive, yet polished, live set.
“We want to play shows that make people feel uncomfortable. The goal is to leave the audience feeling slightly altered, like they have experienced — not just heard or seen — something."
‘No Ties’ is the first single from the Auckland band’s second album Clot, which comes out on September 25th.
Wax Chattels hypnotically sinister self-titled debut captured their must-see live act perfectly. Released in 2018 and supported by relentless touring, it reached #7 on the Official New Zealand Album Charts, and release week saw the title feature as #1 in Rough Trade’s Top 20 New Releases.
Tastemakers like NPR and A.V. Club came on as early champions. The album’s success at home and abroad led to the group’s nomination for Best Alternative Artist at the 2018 New Zealand Music Awards, as well as their inclusion in the shortlist for the Taite Music Prize and Auckland Live Best Independent Debut.
Wax Chattels (l-r Amanda Cheng, Tom Leggett, Peter Ruddell) Photo: supplied
