Salt Water Criminals

Originally emerging from Dunedin before relocating to Auckland, Salt Water Criminals are a wonderfully ramshackle New Zealand guitar band led by songwriter Reuben Scott.

Drawing on the country’s rich tradition of independent guitar pop, alongside American alternative rock, slowcore and the occasional burst of punk exuberance, they produce music that sounds simultaneously chaotic and meticulously melodic.

Their 2023 debut House of Highs was followed by I Believe in Dog in 2025, an album that earned a place among Rolling Stone Australia’s best New Zealand releases of the year.

Recent single ‘Supermodel’ finds them exploring the sunnier possibilities of jangling guitars and psychedelic pop.

Imagine somebody discovering a lost Flying Nun single in a beach hut, then playing it very loudly.

Preferably with the windows open.