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Coming hot off the release of her recent collaboration with Prank Sinatra, 'Answers', which was released on High Tea Records, VÏKAE has her first independent release for 2023: 'Pandora's Box' (release date 7 July 2023). Produced by long-time collaborator, Abigail Knudson, and mastered by Dan Martin. It's a heavy hitting experimental alt-pop track with dubstep elements. Performing the track for the last three years, VÏKAE had genuine demand to release this track with it popping off at every show she's played at, even having DM's after shows asking where people can find the track. Pandora's Box release date is a 777 date: in numerology this number stands for courage, strength, rejuvenation and healing.
Pandora's Box originated as a poem. Much like the rest of VÏKAE's catelogue which addresses taboo subjects like mental health and toxic relationships, the song itself focuses on VÏKAE's diagnosis with Bipolar. By addressing the mental healthcare system, VÏKAE believes more can always be done for those who are suffering with their own mind:
"system keeps us sick, so we depend on it, just a lunatic... bottle top, spinning top, Pandora's Box"
VÏKAE is the moniker of Veronika Bell; a Ukrainian-born, NZ based queer artist and singer, songwriter and classically trained musician; graduating from the University of Otago with an honours Music Degree in Jazz with a minor in Composition and Songwriting. VÏKAE’s distinctive sound blends the best of emo rebellion and pop sensibilities. Her compelling style of songwriting intertwines with brooding cinematic soundscapes and sits somewhere in the realm of ‘alternative pop’.
Releasing her debut EP in 2020; Finelines, during the pandemic. It debuted on The NZ Official Music Charts at #5 and the lead single, Finelines was playlisted by Radio One 91FM, The Hits and Radio Active. After a successful tour with kiwi Pop Princess PRINS, VÏKAE began her journey through the New Zealand summer festival circuit with her first festival being Baydreams Nelson.
As a follow up to VÏKAE’s Finelines EP, she released Love Games which is a 5 track mixtape collection of songs following her heartbreak leaving Dunedin and coming to terms with her sexuality. Working with Kate Orgais from Lil Sister PR, VÏKAE had interviews with Newshub and Women’s Weekly and garnered rotation on radio stations like Radio One 91FM, bFM and The Hits and received 5 star reviews from Music.net and 13th Floor. "Love Games showcases VÏKAE’s skill in vulnerable story-telling" - MMF (NZ, 2022). Love Games (deluxe) is set to release later this year and features an additional 4 songs.
Generating honorable mentions in the NZ Hot 20, Top 20 Charts and The SRN Charts; and has performed at some of the country’s biggest music festivals such as Baydreams (Nelson 2020), Mardi Gras (Ohakune 2021 & 2022) , Deep Hard N Funky (2022) , Summer Sounds (2022), AUM (NYE 2022/23) and Soundsplash (2023), Big Gay Out (2023), only solidifying her performative prowess.