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Debt Club are a Pōneke (Wellington, New Zealand) indie-folk rock six-piece comprising River Hann-Ellen (vocals/guitar), Flinn Bellam (guitar), Elina Chester (keys), Alex Vujanic (saxophone), Darcy Monteath (bass) and Maxime Zephyr (drums). Originally formed in 2023 as a four-piece built around guitars, bass, drums and vocals, Debt Club later expanded into a six-piece with the addition of keys and saxophone. This change marked the beginning of the rich, layered sound that listeners have come to know and love. 

Since 2024, the band have shared stages with acclaimed acts including Marlin's Dreaming, Phoebe Rings and Australia's Floodlights, while also performing at festivals such as Rhythm & Vines, Twisted Frequency, CubaDupa and Newtown Festival.

I Do Mine, the opening track from the band's recently released debut album Foothold, is thoughtful, clever and delightfully offbeat. It captures the kind of nostalgia that listeners connect with so deeply. As Elina explains: 

"We've got like a contrast of sad but happy sort of stuff, almost like that nostalgic sort of feeling."

While Debt Club's music evokes a sense of familiarity, it never feels derivative. Instead, it carries the comforting weight of déjà vu. It's like the feeling of sunlight warming your face through a car window, or tasting a meal that instantly reminds you of home. 

Throughout I Do Mine, the saxophone simmers beneath the surface before bubbling up at just the right moments, following the narrator's train of thought. It feels almost like a soundtrack to self-acceptance, falling in line with the groups coming of age commentary, echoing the track's central message: you do your thing, and I'll do mine. 

The cohesion in Debt Club's music reflects the genuine connection shared between its members. Their songs feel deeply personal, making it easy to forget that this distinctive sound is created collectively by six people. As Alex shares: 

"I think around maybe when Darcy came in, it kind of cemented the six of us. We all just really loved the music. The attitude and the seriousness are kind of a by-product of that. It is a privilege to have a collective passion for something and to share it with these fellas." 

That sense of unity is especially evident in I Couldn't Care (In the Slightest). The gradual build, layered vocals and exciting clash of instruments create a euphoric release that feels tailor-made for a live audience. It's incredibly easy to imagine the instrumental break before the song's final return to the chorus during a festival set: a crowd clapping in unison, anticipation building with every beat before the band launch back in.  

The group's rapid rise has come with valuable lessons, too. Darcy shares: 

"A piece of advice I've been given by other musicians is, if it's good music, good people and good money, then if it's two out of the three, it's worth doing." 

For Debt Club, it's clear that good music and good people are already firmly in place. As Foothold introduces their sound to a wider audience, it's easy to imagine these songs taking on an even bigger life beyond the album itself. Whether on a festival stage or in a packed local venue, Debt Club has the rare ability to turn their personal reflections into moments of collective joy - and it’s exciting to imagine where this will take them. 

Listen to Debt Club: