There’s something special about catching artists right on the verge of global stardom. New Zealand band Borderline has the talent and sound, and with their self-titled debut album, they’re poised to win over audiences worldwide.
Formed by childhood friends Matthew McFadden (lead guitar) and Jackson Boswell (drums, vocals), later joined by high school mate Ben Glanfield (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards) and soon after by Max Harries (bass guitar, saxophone), their sound is both nostalgic and uninhibited, capturing the moments that shaped their youth and early adulthood.
Among the album’s 13 tracks, produced by Nic Manders, who also helmed their EP Chrysalis, is “That Girl,” an anthemic, romantic tribute to the band’s unapologetic love of synth-heavy ’80s music.
We chatted with the alt-pop rockers about making the album, touring, and what’s next.
JUICE BOX PRESS: Albums often follow a strong narrative thread, but this record feels more like a collection of “snapshots” of different experiences. Why did you decide to approach the album that way instead of centering it around one overarching story?
BORDERLINE: This album was written over a really pivotal two year period for us – leaving school, going to University, then leaving Uni to pursue music full time, so a lot of change and growth both as individuals and as a band too. The record really acts as a time capsule for the last couple years, so taking moments from our lives and writing music about it felt really special and very cathartic for us.
JUICE BOX PRESS: This is a self-titled album. What made you decide to name the record after the band, and what does that choice represent for you at this stage of your career?
BORDERLINE: This album is the culmination of years of us developing as people, and as artists and writers, and we really feel like we’ve settled into who ‘Borderline’ is and will be, so it felt really fitting to name it after ourselves. It’s our debut album, and a bit of a statement to the world that we’re only just getting started.
JUICE BOX PRESS: The album was produced by Aotearoa Music Award-winning producer Nic Manders, with whom you previously worked on your EP Chrysalis. How did that collaboration first come about, and what was it like reuniting for this project?
BORDERLINE: We’re all huge fans of Nic’s work; he truly is the master of blending the live organic sound with a polished well produced pop record, so it was really a no brainer to work with him on this project. Some of us have known him for quite a few years, so there’s a really great relationship there, and now, especially after finishing the album, he’s part of the family.
JUICE BOX PRESS: Your sound has such a vintage-inspired funk to it. What artists or records were you listening to while making the album, and who were some of your biggest inspirations during the process?
BORDERLINE: We all come from really diverse musical backgrounds, and between us listen to a really wide variety of artists and genres, so it’s a bit of a mix of a lot of things. We definitely took a lot of inspiration from artists like Prince, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac & Coldplay, to name a few.
JUICE BOX PRESS: You’ve been praised as a must-see live band, especially after supporting Teddy Swims on his New Zealand arena tour. While writing the album, were you already thinking about how these songs would translate live? Are there any moments or elements you’re especially excited to perform on stage?
BORDERLINE: We’re always thinking about how music will translate live while we’re writing it. When it comes down to it we’re a live band, we play all our instruments in the studio and on stage, so it’s really natural for us to take that into consideration. There’s a lot of really exciting points in the show; we’ve taken moments from songs on the album and really amplified them in the live context to make for a really special show that flows and showcases us all as musicians and writers.
JUICE BOX PRESS: Looking back on the finished project, what are you most proud of?
BORDERLINE: I think we’re just really proud of the music. A big goal for us was making music that we would personally listen to and enjoy, and we still really love this project and listen to it with the same excitement and passion from when we first wrote the songs. We’ve really developed a lot as songwriters, and are so proud of the album and are so excited for people to hear it.
JUICE BOX PRESS: What can fans look forward to next?
BORDERLINE: We’re about to take the album on tour across New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe, and we can’t wait to play these new songs live and meet so many of you around the world. Beyond that, we’re always writing and recording new music, so you’ve got that to look forward to as well.
Featured Photo Credit: Tom Grut
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.