Auckland, New Zealand, power duo Iveta & Simone are thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of their highly anticipated new single, entitled “Psycho Baby”.

Iveta & Simone are the edgy female vocalists behind tracks including “Sunshine”, “More Than A Man”, and “L.O.V.E”. Their music is upbeat and thought provoking, often centering around relationships and the challenges that come along with them. Their music is best described as a fusion of contemporary, alternative rock, and new age and offers an eclectic sound that is loved by their many fans, to whom the duo serves as inspirational role models.

“Psycho Baby” is no exception, with its mellow yet striking rhythm and sound that capture the attention of listeners right away. The two are currently touring, with upcoming shows slated for Takapuna Bar, Kalah Bar, Cambridge Cosmopolitan Club Inc., and Hamilton Workingmen’s Club Inc., and “Psycho Baby” is being implemented into Iveta & Simone’s latest shows, giving audiences a first glimpse at their newest track.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Iveta & Simone about their newest music, challenges, technology and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

Simone: I was born and lived most of my life in New Zealand.

Iveta: I was born in Bulgaria and live in Auckland, New Zealand.

IS: We started performing as a covers duet, with the goal of writing and performing our own music.  Our current song PSYCHO BABY is probably best described as a mix of adult contemporary, alternative rock and new age sound.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

Simone:  I was born into a musical family so it was only natural that I would grow and develop my own skill.   Iveta and I met  as members of a girl band, I soon realised that Iveta and I shared the same desire to create and perform music. We find that our personalities, skills and drive complement each other and it is hearing our music and artistic ideas take shape that motivate us to strive forward, that and our love of live performance.

How is this new release different to previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?

Iveta: When we write and release a song our goal is that it connects with our followers.

It’s our goal that our music entertains people but we also want people to identify with our songs, that it is perhaps uplifting or that reminds them of their life experiences or struggles both good or bad.

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

IS:Technology helps to get our product out directly to, what is more than ever, a world village, although, it is a large, competitive village…………

What was the last song you listened to?

Simone: REHAB Amy Winehouse….my husband and daughter listen to a lot of Pendulum, Myles Kennedy and electronica and also a lot of music from the last 40 years…..so with that variety playing around me it is not surprising that we have an open minded view of music.

Iveta: COURAGE Celine Dion…that is what all we need right now.

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

IS: We think currently that we will stay with electronic formats as being the best medium to deliver our music to the biggest audience, having said that, we can’t help but like the nostalgic idea of releasing a vinyl record at some stage.

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

IS: They are all great.

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

IS: Facebook, Spotify, our website…

Anything else before we sign off?

Iveta: We can finish our conversation with one inspirational quote for strength during difficult times:  “ Difficult times, test you and in doing so, help you unlock all the hidden treasures you hold within. Even though you feel like giving up, this inner power inevitably guides you ashore giving you a taste of what you are really capable of. ”