Mel Parsons

Mel Parsons presents her 7th studio album 'Castle Hill' - an intimate collection of songs born from an intense creative burst. The record is named after the remote mountain village in New Zealand’s Southern Alps where it was recorded by producer Josh Logan & her long-time band. Across 10 tracks the album explores resilience, grief, self-doubt, nostalgia, presence and transformation - delivered through the artist’s signature indie-folk blend of vulnerable, reflective songwriting. Having booked the sessions before writing the songs, the album emerged from a pressure cooker situation: “I had all the band booked in but no finished songs,” Mel says. “My partner took the kids away for a week and I shut myself off from the world, working day and night. I’ve always needed a deadline, but this was a real test of focus. My songs usually simmer away for a while before they arrive, so it was a matter of getting them out of my subconscious and into song form. It was terrifying, but also a very pure way to write.” Widely regarded as one of Aotearoa’s most celebrated independent artists, multi-award winning Mel Parsons continues an extraordinary run with her latest offering 'Castle Hill. August 2026 sees Mel Parsons and her band embark on a nationwide theatre tour across some of New Zealand’s most iconic venues.