Stars and the Underground Interview: Soundtracking the Dark Side Ahead of Goth Night at Ding Dong Lounge
- andrewtreeby
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
Dim the lights and dust off your velvet. Goth Night returns to Ding Dong Lounge this Saturday, 14 June from 7:00pm, summoning a bill of post-punk, darkwave, synthwave and shoegaze guaranteed to keep the floor moving until the early hours. Front and centre is Stars and the Underground, masters of brooding cinematic soundscapes stitched together with driving basslines and shimmering guitar haze.
Ahead of their set, we caught up with founder John Mason for an exclusive Stars and the Underground interview to talk lineup twists, unexpected international buzz, and their forthcoming album Guardians of the Night. Whether you are a dyed in black veteran or just goth curious, his story and their live show promises to pull you deeper into the Aotearoa goth scene.
Presales are $15 and available now through ACT UP Entertainment. Door sales are $25, if any remain. Read on, then see you in the fog.
Tell us about Stars and the Underground. How has the band evolved since you started?
To date, we’ve had roughly two eras before the current one. I played a few solo shows when I started back in 2017. Then in 2019, I decided to write an EP with the help of my friend Sean O’Kane Connelly, and we played as a duo. Around 2020, my friend Cat Veen joined on keyboards, and bassist Ario Manifui Kimber came on board too. Together, we released the single Nosferatu Upon Tyne and did some more shows. In 2024, I enlisted my friend John McDermott—a producer and drummer—to record an album and play live shows with us.
Your music blends post-punk, darkwave, synthwave, and shoegaze. How would you describe your sound to someone unfamiliar with those genres?
Our sound is pretty layered, with lots of keyboard and guitar parts. There’s a cinematic, wall-of-sound quality that reflects the shoegaze influence, and tight guitar melodies and synth lines from the post-punk side.The darkwave elements bring in more ambient, ethereal guitar tones, and the synthwave side is more bass-driven, with dark, retro '80s-style synth lines. The common thread throughout is the rhythm section—danceable drums and bass that anchor the songs.
Your 2020 single Nosferatu Upon Tyne received international airplay. What was it like seeing your music reach audiences around the world?
We got onto a US compilation called UnObscured Comp Vol 2 (2020) alongside bands like Altar De Fey and Ashes Fallen. I feel like that gave us some exposure. I think people appreciated the tongue-in-cheek vibe of Nosferatu—a friend of ours, Elenor from Robots in Love, even did a really cool cover of that track. It’s always nice when people show interest in your music. Music is a universal language, and it’s amazing to see how people connect with it globally.
You're releasing Guardians of the Night soon, but you’ve mentioned you can’t commit to a release date yet. What can you share about the project, and how does it differ from your earlier work?
Yeah, I said that because we’ve spent two years writing, and I want to build some momentum before officially launching Guardians of the Night. We’ve got a few more shows lined up this year before heading back into the studio to finish the last three tracks for the album. We’ll continue releasing a few more singles and videos and then look at touring and a proper album release. Musically, Guardians represents a lot of work I’m really proud of. Some songs have evolved completely from where they began. It’s the first time we’ve incorporated a dark synthwave vibe and added real danceability alongside the post-punk and shoegaze elements we explored on the Evolution Circle EP and Nosferatu. The songs are personal, but also touch on universal themes—feelings, observations, empathy, beauty, passion, and expression. John at Arch Hill has been a huge help with production and helping me realise the vision for this record.
What draws you to the goth and post-punk scenes?
Back in the 2000s, I played in a goth rock band called Winterland. We played at some of the early Auckland Gothic Balls run by Mark Wallbank, and later at Circadian Rhythms events. I’ve always loved the atmosphere, the vibe, and the aesthetic of a proper goth night. The people were (and still are) lovely and interesting—many are lifelong friends now. There’s something really special about those events when they happen.
What do you think is most misunderstood about goth music or the culture in general?
I think the stereotypical image people have of goth culture does it a real disservice. My experience of the scene has been one of open-mindedness, acceptance, creativity, independence, and artistic expression. All the things I love about the NZ music scene in general—just through a darker filter. I say give it a go: dress up, dance, have a drink, discover new music, and meet some cool people. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
How does the goth scene in Aotearoa today compare to how it was in the past?
I’ve been really impressed with today’s scene—there are lots of new faces doing things for themselves and getting involved. The nights that Frank and Andrew Treeby are running in Auckland are going really well. They’ve created safe, friendly environments with great vibes, and you still see some familiar faces too. There’s also a strong scene in Wellington with events like Shadowplay and Gathering Shadows, and Christchurch’s Sanctuary events run by Wade Byers. Now we’re seeing goth nights popping up in places like Tauranga and New Plymouth as well. And of course, there’s the ever-present Aotearoa Goth Facebook group. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any of these people if you’re interested in the scene.
The Blue Summer are also playing at Goth Night. How did you first connect with them?
Duncan and I go way back to the 2000s—I honestly don’t know how that guy plays in so many bands! He gave me some Blue Summer demos and they really resonated with me. In my opinion, they wouldn’t sound out of place on the Dais Records roster. They have a unique sound—Ricki came to mind, but it’s got more of a full band vibe with some really great songs.
Stars and the Underground have played across Aotearoa and internationally. Do you have any wild tour stories you can share?
What happens on tour stays on tour—just ask “Ginge,” our keyboard player! Haha. Yes, we went to Australia in 2019 for our first international tour. Not sure why we didn’t do it earlier. Definitely keen to go back again, and possibly even further afield once the album is out.
What are you most excited about as you return to live shows?
I love playing shows and getting out to meet people. After so much time writing and recording, it’s been really rewarding to showcase the new sound and lineup. I’ve been loving how everything sounds live—and the response we’ve gotten so far has been really encouraging.
What can people expect from your set at Goth Night Tāmaki Makaurau?
I’m really looking forward to it! You’ll hear most of the material from Guardians of the Night, as well as our latest single Lonely Black Hearts. The songs all tell stories, and I like to introduce them with little bits of context. They reflect the environments they were written in and the people they were written about.
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