The Phoenix Foundation
The Phoenix Foundation are a New Zealand indie rock band formed in Wellington in 1997. The core lineup consists of Samuel Flynn Scott, Luke Buda and Conrad Wedde who each contribute vocals, guitar, and keyboards, and collaborate on songwriting and arrangements. The Phoenix Foundation are known for their expansive sound, genre-blending style, use of homage and work on soundtracks, collaborating with directors such as Taika Waititi.
History
The early years and ''China Cove EP'' ''(2000)''
The Phoenix Foundation was formed in 1994 by Conrad Wedde, Samuel Flynn Scott, and Luke Buda while they were students at Wellington High School. Initially influenced by heavy metal, the trio later developed a more eclectic sound, drawing inspiration from artists including Air, Sparklehorse, Spiritualized, Pavement, Sly and the Family Stone, and The Ramones. They began recording on a school 4-track with the help of their future manager, Craig Pearce, and rehearsed in Wedde’s family garage. The group’s name taken from the fictional organisation featured in the 1980s television series MacGyver.Following high school, the members leased a former Chinese mission hall on Frederick Street in central Wellington, which became a shared creative space for music, art, poetry and film. During this period, they experimented with a number of side projects, including one under the name Sauerkrauts, before developing a more psychedelic pop-rock sound.
By the late 1990s, the original rhythm section had departed and the group entered a hiatus. Buda moved to Zurich, while Wedde toured with the Indian Ink Theatre Company. Despite this, the band released its debut EP China Cove in 2000, but disbanded shortly afterwards.
A turning point came in 2001 when Buda returned to New Zealand and the core trio reunited to record "This Charming Van", which received airplay on BNet radio and sparked renewed public interest in the band.
In 2002, the Phoenix Foundation reformed with a new lineup, adding Will Ricketts on percussion, Tim Hansen on bass and Richie Singleton on drums. At a time when Wellington’s music scene was dominated by reggae and dance acts, and many rock bands had relocated overseas, the group began developing a more experimental and atmospheric approach to indie rock.
That same year, they began recording at The Surgery Studios in Wellington with engineer and producer Lee Prebble. The collaboration marked the beginning of a longstanding creative partnership that would continue across the band’s subsequent releases as well as numerous solo projects.
Albums, EPs and singles
''Horse Power'' (2003 Album)
The Phoenix Foundation released their debut album, Horse Power, in 2003. The recording sessions featured experimental recording techniques, such as placing microphones in ovens, buckets of water, and other unconventional spaces. Blending elements of alt-folk, psychedelia, electronica, and country, the album introduced the band’s eclectic sonic identity.Songs such as “This Charming Van” and “Let Me Die a Woman”, which was originally recorded in Buda’s bedroom, received significant airplay on alternative radio stations including 95bFM and RDU-FM. The album also featured instrumental tracks—a hallmark of their later work—and drew on their early metal and funk influences, particularly in “Bruiser.”
Horse Power was among the most acclaimed New Zealand albums of 2003. It was the only release nominated for Best Album at both the Aotearoa Music Awards and the BNet Awards, and was voted Best New Zealand Album of the Year by NZMusic.com. It also appeared in the Listener’s Top 10 Albums of 2003. At the 2004 Aotearoa Music Awards, the album was nominated for Album of the Year, with additional nominations for Lee Prebble for Best Engineer and Tania Mitchell for Best Album Cover
In 2007, Horse Power was released in the United States for the first time. Around the same period, The Phoenix Foundation began to attract international critical attention, receiving four- and five-star reviews from UK publications including Mojo, Uncut, and The Independent, where critic Andy Gill described them as “surely the most potent band to come out of New Zealand since the far-off days of The Chills.”
In 2023, Horse Power was remastered and released on vinyl for the first time, including both standard and limited-edition pressings, as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. The album peaked at number one on the Official Aotearoa Top 20 NZ Albums Charts, where it remained for three consecutive week.
''Pegasus'' (2005 Album)
In 2004, The Phoenix Foundation began work on their second studio album, Pegasus, with Warner Emery replacing Tim Hansen on bass. The band took a more intensive approach than on their debut, spending six continuous weeks at Surgery tracking live band takes, followed by overdubs and mixing.Musically, Pegasus marked a shift toward a darker, more cinematic sound. Instrumental tracks such as “Hitchcock” hinted at the band’s future soundtrack work, while layered arrangements and atmospheric production created a more immersive tone. The album featured contributions from guest musicians David Long, John White, Jeff Henderson, Warren Maxwell and the band’s former school music teacher, Fritz Wollner.
Reflecting on the album’s impact, Scott described Pegasus as “the point where people outside of us – DJs, music journos and our friends – started listening.”
Songs like “Damn the River” and “Gone Fishing” became fan favourites, supported by distinctive music videos – an element that would remain a consistent feature of the band’s work. That same year, The Phoenix Foundation opened for the Finn Brothers on their New Zealand tour, further consolidating their national profile.
At the 2005 AMA, Pegasus was nominated for Album of the Year. Additional nominations included Lee Prebble for Best Producer and Reuben Sutherland, alongside The Phoenix Foundation, for Best Music Video for "Hitchcock.
In May, 2025 the Phoenix Foundation released a Pegasus - 20th Anniversary Edition on limited edition transparent blue vinyl. Remastered and reissued under their own imprint, the release marked two decades since the album’s original debut.
Pegasus peaked at number seven on the AMC Top 40 Albums Chart where it remained for fourteen weeks. It peaked at number one on the Top 20 NZ Albums Charts, where it stayed for seven weeks.
''Happy Ending'' (2007 Album)
The Phoenix Foundation released their third studio album, Happy Ending, in September 2007, which featured the single "Bright Grey".Written during the band’s first U.S. tour earlier that year—where they played twelve shows over three weeks, including several dates with The Veils—Happy Ending reflected a more upbeat and confident sound. Tracks such as "Bleaching Sun", "40 Years" and "Bright Grey" showcased this tonal shift, with "Bright Grey" described by Scott as exploring themes of "future angst."
The album included contributions from guest musicians including Age Pryor, Tom Callwood, and Craig Terris. Both “Bright Grey” and “40 Years” became BNet Top 10 tracks, each supported by a music video directed by Taika Waititi, then an emerging filmmaker. Waititi also starred in “40 Years,” giving the video its distinctive offbeat tone.
Happy Ending received widespread critical acclaim. The New Zealand Herald called it "one of the best examples of pop music to come out of New Zealand".
The band’s connection with the Finn Brothers also continued to grow. In 2008, they supported Split Enz on their high-profile reunion tour, performing to large audiences across the country.
At the 2008 AMA, Happy Ending received nominations for Best Group, Best Rock Album, and Single of the Year for "Bright Grey." Lee Prebble won Best Producer and was also nominated for Best Engineer. That same year, “Bright Grey” was shortlisted for the APRA Silver Scroll Award which recognises excellence in New Zealand songwriting..
Happy Ending peaked at number five on the AMC Top 40 Albums Charts, where it remained for ten weeks.
''Merry Kriskmass'' (2009 EP)
In December 2009, The Phoenix Foundation released Merry Kriskmass, a six-track EP developed during the sessions for their next studio album, Buffalo. The band described it as "a fun, slightly odd" project."The release compiled tracks that didn’t fit the tone of the forthcoming album but highlighted the band's playful and experimental side. It was accompanied by a live performance opening for Jarvis Cocker in Wellington, offering audiences an early glimpse into the band’s evolving sound.
''Buffalo'' (2010 Album)
The Phoenix Foundation released their fourth studio album, Buffalo, in New Zealand on 26 April 2010. Written over 18 months, the album was recorded at the band's rehearsal space, The Car Club, and at The Surgery.Buffalo was the first Phoenix Foundation album to be released on vinyl. Most of the recorded material appeared on the final tracklist, while "Dickheads Abound" and "Middle Dream" were issued as digital bonus tracks. During the recording sessions, bassist Warner Emery amicably left the group and was replaced by Tom Callwood, who had previously contributed cello and double bass to earlier releases.
The album marked a musical and professional turning point for the group. Critics noted a more refined and cohesive sound, blending upbeat pop songs, ambient synth textures, and atmospheric ballads. The title track, with its stomping beat and surrealist lyrics, became one of the band’s most recognised songs. Other singles included "Flock of Hearts" and "Golden Ship."
In January 2011, Buffalo was released internationally. The album received widespread critical acclaim in the United Kingdom, including a five-star review in The Guardian and positive coverage in The Times and other publications.The album also received airplay on BBC 6 Music and led to a UK and European tour, culminating in a performance on Later... with Jools Holland in October 2011, where the band performed "Buffalo" and "Flock of Hearts."
Actor Russell Crowe shared his praise for the album on Twitter, calling it "pretty strange stuff," albeit misspelling the band’s name.
At the 2010 AMA, Buffalo was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Rock Album, and Single of the Year for "Buffalo." The Phoenix Foundation won Best Group and Best Producer. Lee Prebble won Best Engineer, and Paul Johnson won Best Album Cover. "Buffalo" was also nominated for Best Music Video, directed by Nathan Hickey.
The album was later nominated for the 2011 Taite Music Prize, New Zealand’s annual award for best album of the year.
In 2020, the band released Buffalo: 10 Year Anniversary Edition, which included seven previously unreleased tracks referred to as The Du Son EP, made available through a download code included with the vinyl edition.
In 2024, Buffalo was described by Radio New Zealand as an essential New Zealand album, and the band have referred to it as their most collaboratively written release.
Buffalo peaked at number four on the AMC Top 40 Albums Charts, where it remained for sixteen weeks, and was included in the End of Year Top 50 Albums.