Rising New Zealand indie-pop band Borderline recently announced the July 18 release of their new EP Chrysalis via EMPIRE.
Crafted from years of deep-rooted friendship and intuitive collaboration, Chrysalis showcases the band at their most confident and exploratory yet. Across five genre-defying tracks, the four-piece—Ben Glanfield (guitar/vocals/keyboard), Jackson Boswell (drums/vocals), Matthew McFadden (lead guitar), and Max Harries (bass)—pulls from a wide palette of influences, blending elements of indie rock, funk, pop, and nostalgic synths into something entirely their own.
Chrysalis also marks a moment of growth and transformation for Borderline. After years of playing together, the band has evolved into a more confident and fully realized version of themselves—both musically and personally. The EP captures that turning point, channeling their collective experience into a bold, genre-blurring sound.
The EP includes recent singles “New Romance,” a lush, melodic dive into the thrill and vulnerability of modern love, as well as “Heartbeat” and “When It’s Raining. All have charted in New Zealand and earned international attention, landing on key DSP playlists including New Music Friday, New in Pop, and Alt Pop, while also receiving radio support across Australia (Triple J, SYN), the UK (BBC Radio 1, student radio), and U.S. college stations. The tracklist is rounded out by “Mi Amor” and “Breakdown.”
Borderline’s story is as tight-knit as their sound: childhood friends from the same neighborhood, the bandmates have been making music together in some form since elementary school. Their chemistry—equal parts telepathic and playful—translates into live sets that are immersive, danceable, and emotionally rich. After breaking through with their 2023 Perfect Movie Scene EP, which charted in New Zealand and broke into North America’s College Radio Top 200, Chrysalis marks a bold new chapter.
“When you listen to us, I’d love for you to have some sense of connection with Borderline,” says Matt. “We want you to feel like you’re a part of this.”
“I hope you connect with the four of us,” agrees Jackson. “If you could hear our camaraderie in the music, that would be really special.”
With millions of streams and early critical praise from outlets like Coup De Main and Rolling Stone AUS – who declared “Borderline look set for big things and promise a fun, feel-good listen” – the new EP is set to further cement the group as a band-to-watch.
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