New Music & Video Release - Play For Keeps tease their debut EP with 'Presumptuous' - 17th April 2026
Artist Name - Play For Keeps
Release Name - Presumptuous
Release Date - 17th April 2026
Genre - Indie, Indie-Pop, Pop Rock
Label - Play For Keeps
Play For Keeps show no sign of slowing down as the five-piece continue to carve a path right through the heart of Aotearoa’s indie pop-rock landscape with their new single, ‘Presumptuous’.
Blending crunchy guitars and punchy drums with a driving bass line and astute lyricism, ‘Presumptuous’ is a fun and highly infectious pop-rock anthem, which places the rising band firmly on the map.
“It’s nothing too deep - just a simple love song hoping the person you like vibes you too,” says the band’s lead singer Simon Hart. “Hopefully it's a motivation for anyone listening, to be brave and ask a person out!” he adds.
Produced by Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams, Folk Bitch Trio), ‘Presumptuous’ perfectly captures Play For Keeps’ sound and sums up what the band is all about - spreading joy!
‘Presumptuous’ follows the triumphant release earlier this year of the band’s debut single ‘Handsome Boy’ - another hook-laden earworm brimming with feelgood energy. ‘Handsome Boy’ made its mark on student radio and featured as RDU’s “hit pick” on the station’s weekly Top 10.
The song also received rave reviews from some of the country’s most discerning music critics and blogs:
“‘Handsome Boy’ gives us a light melody that’s catchy, swinging, commercial and emotive all at once. With the potent tenor of lead vocalist/rhythm gat player Simon Hart we get something akin to The La’s crossed with the Boo Radleys, but uniquely his own” - Flash-Trax
[These] “self-described ‘jazz school survivors’ take a sharp poke at those suits and smooth talkers full of ambition who circle the world of business and politics insinuating their way in by kow-towing. Their debut single in advance of an album produced by Tom Healey, which should sit neatly at rock radio
– Graham Reid, The Listener
Both ‘Presumptuous’ and ‘Handsome Boy’ will feature on Play For Keeps’ debut EP, which is out later this year. Exciting times!