Flamingo Pier‘s dancefloor-filling exploits date back over a decade, supporting an international club and festival reputation built since they first came together as a trio in the east London district of Hackney. Their self-titled debut album served up ‘euphoric disco hooks, to classic house choruses and forays into Latin funk, balearic and psychedelia’, and Flamingo Pier have a second album due later in 2026. The album’s first single, Cool Nights, featured on NZ On Air Music’s August NewTracks compilation.

Who are the Flamingo Pier members and what instruments do you play?

The core music makers are Brad Craig, Dominic Jones, Luke Walker and our long time percussionist is Isaac Chadderton. Guy Harrison joins the band on keys and trumpet when we play live. We’re all from Auckland originally, but met and started in London

Where are you all living currently?

We’re based in Auckland, but often go back to London.

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

Brad was in Two Cartoons. Guy plays with Tom Scott and has played with Troy Kingi.

What’s the background to how Flamingo Pier came together?

We were introduced to each other in Hackney Wick, London as we serendipitously all moved into the same warehouse within a month of one another. It’s a creative area in London once famed as having the highest concentration of artist studios in the world, but now it’s apartment blocks.

How did you come up with the band name?

We threw parties on a floating pontoon in Hackney Wick, hence the pier. We had flamingos as part of the party decorations…

How has the musical content evolved from the band beginnings?

I’d say we have more live elements where earlier output was more electronic.

What’ve been some of the Flamingo Pier career highlights to date?

Playing Troubadour in LA was a special one. Signing our first record to Soundway. Playing Heidegluhen, a magical club in Berlin. Playing in Egypt and seeing the pyramids together.

What instruments feature when you’re performing live?

We have electric guitar, bass, trumpet, a selection of keyboards and synths, drums and congas.

What made Cool Nights stand out for you as a single choice?

It’s fairly instant, catchy and works on the dancefloor. We played early versions of it in our DJ sets and the response was good before people knew the song.

What is the lyrical message behind Cool Nights?

As the club is winding down you step outside for a cigarette and see the person you’ve been locking eyes on the dancefloor with all night. Do you say hi or walk on by?

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

The bass line baby.

Where did you record the single?

We made the demo at our studio in Balmoral, Auckland, then put finishing touches on it at Roundhead. We made it in one day – so the quickest writing process for any of the tracks, 

What would you like listeners to take away from this track?

Dance from the hips

Who else is in your team? 

Tom Grut is creative director; DRM/The Orchard – digital distribution; Holiday Records – vinyl; Issac Macfarlane – socials/marketing; Banished – NZ bookings.

What was happening for the band in 2019/’20 when Tripping Up and Hold It were doing so well for you?

People were loving the grooves.

What has kept Flamingo Pier  together in these post-Covid years?

We’re friends who love making music and playing at parties. We’d be doing it no matter what.

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

Nathan Haines – Give Thanks
Romi Wrights – Quick to Forget
Borrowed CS – Hearsay ft. Mara TK

You have an album due in October. It’s been five years since the first one – why now?

We got back from touring the USA in late 2024 and knew it was time to make a statement, after a couple of EPs.

Have any of your previous single releases been included on NewTracks?

Don’t believe so.

You received NZ On Air Project funding for the album, as well $25k album tour funding. What’s that meant you could do you wouldn’t have otherwise?

Allowed us to make some great videos and art to support the release, put some budget into marketing and mix/master/record.

How can we find you on social media?

Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Who did you make the music video with? 

Tom Grut was creative director alongside an amazing filming team and a group of incredible dancers. We brainstormed over many caffeine fuelled cafe sessions over a year. We filmed them all in two days and built our own set in a warehouse to make that possible. That experience did include accidentally setting off the fire alarm when we were using a smoke machine.

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re into?

Tetragrammaton, Tape Notes, Resident Advisor podcast, My Analog Journal