Garage rock act Cindy have almost famously been performing around Auckland indie venues for most of the past decade, the more famous part including support slots with Japanese touring acts including Guitar Wolf and Shonen Knife, plus other like-minded international talent. With a debut album called ‘The Way I Do’ expected in September, their recent single All The Nice People found its way onto the July NewTracks compilation from NZ On Air Music.

Who are the Cindy members? Where are you from, and what instruments do you play?

James King on guitar and vox, from Papatoetoe; Gloria Florence on bass and vox – Awhitu; Scott Brown, lead vocals [and the answers below] from Pt Chev; Arlo Grey from Muriwai on drums. As a band we’re based in lovely Avondale’s brand new West Fried Studios.

Any other projects that NZM readers might know any of you from?

The DHDFD’s, Gloria Florence (solo), The Cavemen, Ringlets, Bargain Bin Laden. 

Was any specific music tuition important in your musical progress as individuals? 

I flunked out of MAINZ in the first month. James went to art school and paints houses for money sometimes. Gloria went to film school for a year and filmed the New World in Ponsonby burning down on her iPad. Arlo went to Europe earlier this year so that’s sort of like going to university. 

What’s the background story of how Cindy first came together?

Scott: Roy Irwin sent me a demo one day. I wrote the lyrics for it while on the toilet and then they recorded the vocals. We decided to anonymously release it. A few years later we decided we wanted to start a band so we did. And here we are. 10 years later and we are about to release our first album.

How did the name originate? 

Roy came up with the name based on the Sindy Doll which was the cheaper, crappier alternative to a Barbie. 

How has Cindy’s musical output evolved from the band beginnings to now?

Our musical output comes in waves dependent on what is happening in our personal lives as we all have full time jobs most of the time. For the first time three quarters of the band is unemployed simultaneously, so I’m hoping we can get a lot more time in the studio and make up for our lack of time to write and develop new stuff. 

Me and James are the only original members left, but I would say Gloria and James are the core of the music. They write most of the songs at the moment.

What’s been the highlight to date?

The big highlight has probably been touring Japan. Every time we go the music amazes me and the energy is unmatched. Also a few years ago we started doing the shows in the South Island. Playing the Crown in Dunedin is always incredible, I love it so much. 

How often do you get to perform live?

At the moment we have been trying to get our new record finished so we haven’t been playing live so much. I like playing small towns and I want to play more small towns. 2 Star Restaurant is our best song live for me. Maybe 10 different words for the whole song so I don’t forget what I’m meant to do and I can just climb things. 

What made All The Nice People stand out as a single choice?

We wanted to put out a song from Cindy that was different to what we had put out in the past. We like doing something different to what people expect of us. We want to get people excited about what we are doing next. 

What is the story behind All The Nice People?

Gloria wrote this song as an appreciation to everyone who listens to the music and shows up to the gigs and gives their energy. Our whole act is impossible without an engaged crowd so when the audience meets our energy we feel so thankful. 

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the track?

The guitar solo from James is probably one of my favourites he’s ever done and I’ve heard a lot of them. (I’ve been playing with him since 2004.) It’s great to see how he’s grown as a guitarist. 

Who did you record/produce it with and where?

Gloria wrote it and recorded a demo on GarageBand with her nylon string guitar and MIDI drums, then brought it to rehearsal and we instantly knew it would be a good head-banging, daggy dancing, anthem. All The Nice People was recorded direct to tape by Darren McShane at Earwig Studios, mixed and mastered by Steven Marr.

What would you like listeners to take away from the song?

Just a big thank you to the crowd who comes to our gigs. 

Who else is in your team?

Sunreturn and 1:12 are our labels. Both are the people responsible for getting anything of ours out. I love them both equally and am very grateful for their time and energy. We hope we can keep working with them. 

Since All The Nice People in late May Cindy have already dropped another single called Sunsets Don’t Excite Me. What’s spurred this creative burst? 

Plenty more to come. I struggle with recordings, prefer to just play live every now and then, but unfortunately that’s not sustainable. We have moved into a new studio now, so have settled in and are ready to release as much as we can pump out from the second half of 2026 and ’27.

Can you name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your track.

Milk: Sugar Glider
Roy Irwin: King of Pop
Salt Water Criminals: my greatest achievement 

Have you previously applied for / received NZOA funding? If so were there any criteria you struggled with in the application? 

No. We have all the criteria. 

Got any advice around funding for other bands?

If you don’t get funding get a credit card, I’d say one with a rewards program so the debt you get has perks.

How can we find Cindy on social media?

Bandcamp

Instagram

Any last words?

I love Brian Wilson.