First in our festivals of Aotearoa series

As we move closer and closer to the 12th edition of Twisted Frequency, we wanted to talk to other festival crews of past and present to share some insights into the reality of what it’s like to conduct large-scale underground events in Aotearoa, as well as reminisce on the parties gone by and celebrate the future of the scene. As we are sure you all know, it has been a tough time for Twisted recently and we feel that talking about these topics openly and honestly is one way we can attempt to make the change we all want to see. We also wanted to make sure we are using our platform to shine a light on the legends who have put in the mahi and taken the big risks to bring you music in its best possible form: Loud & outdoors.

For the first interview of this series, we reached out to our good mates over at Resonance, they had some very beautiful and interesting thoughts:

Tell us about Resonance and how it started?

Resonance began with a phone call and a dream to create a space for underground bass music, wellness and art to thrive.

It’s a tough time for festys, which is why we’re stoked to see you announce a second year. How are you guys feeling currently?

After the success of Resonance 2026 and the overwhelmingly positive community response, we really felt we had to continue. With so many other festivals ending, we know these spaces are needed more than ever.

We’re feeling excited and hopeful, with some understandable apprehension given the current economic and social climate. Heading into summer 26/27, we want to create something equally special, while being able to give something back to the people who give so much to us. The support is there, and we’re doing our best to build something sustainable that allows our community to keep coming together.

Why do you think it is so important to create these spaces for the underground and alternative scene?

These yearly gatherings are the closest thing many of us modern humans have to ritual. They offer something that can be missing from everyday life: a place to celebrate, communicate, express ourselves and process this life together authentically.

In a world moving increasingly online, we want to keep art, music, culture and human connection alive. Underground music and arts gatherings can be incredibly healing, offering a sense of peace and belonging, particularly for young people. We want to help create a community where the next generation can grow up knowing what it feels like to express freely, be themselves and belong.

Earlier this year was your first edition—it looked and sounded like a massive success. Tell us a bit about how it went?

This year was incredible. From the first idea to the final gathering, we felt deeply supported by our friends, family and wider community. People gave so generously of their time, skills and resources, coming together in such a heart-centered way to get the job done. We were blessed with beautiful weather, stunning land, an incredible lineup and the art and artists who brought our dreams into physical reality. From medics and security to crew and guests, everyone contributed to making it such a playful, friendly and joyful place. We’re grateful to every person who played a part and we’re still riding the wave of what we created together.

Resonance seems to have a specific style when it comes to music curation, can you tell us a bit about the kinds of artists you are hosting?

Max (ASHEZ) puts a lot of effort into curating a specific vibe for Resonance and focuses on bringing a fresh and unique sound to NZ.  The “Resonance Sound” is predominantly melodic, vibey, juicy, wampy bass music, but overall has a diverse variety of music genres. Max has spent the last 4-5 years touring North America, Australia, New Zealand and Central America and during that time has watched and connected with a lot of artists that he wants to eventually bring to Resonance over the coming years. He has an extensive list of acts he plans to bring out and a lot of them will be their debut performances in NZ.

Any scoops on the lineup for this upcoming event?

- We have over 10 international artists for Resonance this year. 

- A couple of hints below…

- One act is a cousin duo live bass act from the US

- One of the artists is from Qualia (Chmura’s collective) but not Chmura or Saturna.

- One artist has 2 released EP’s with ASHEZ.

- One act gets very scared

- One duo find kitchen tasks effortless

For your team, what is the importance of operating in a different way than the mainstream festivals around NZ?

We haven’t set out to be different for the sake of it. We’re simply trying to operate in ways that feel authentic to our beliefs and our care for the community. What matters most is how people feel when they’re with us, and the peace, connection and inspiration they take away.

We plan to grow slowly and refine what we offer each year. Bigger isn’t always better, and more isn’t always necessary. We want to welcome all ages, from babies to elders and everyone in between, creating a space that reflects life itself and encourages care for others, balance and growth.

Operating independently, without sponsorship, gives us the freedom to create in ways that feel aligned and that’s something we treasure. We’ve seen so many festivals fall over, so our aim is to keep going in a way that’s sustainable for both people and planet. Hopefully, Resonance also shows what can happen when people take a chance, stay true to themselves and come together around something they believe in.

New festivals of this scale and production value don’t pop up very often. What would you say to aspiring festival organisers—any advice or things to avoid/remember?

Start small and humble. Don’t assume you’ll sell loads of tickets or commit to spending money you don’t have. Be realistic about the possibility of shortfalls and what you can personally afford to cover. Use the resources available to you, upcycle, recycle and get back to basics.

Your word is your currency: honour your agreements and mean what you say. Your people are everything, and without them, nothing happens. Keep your team tight, because the people you share the dream with will make all the difference. Treat their time, skills and contributions with care and never stop telling and showing your crew how much you appreciate them.

We have an immense amount of talent here in this tiny country at the bottom of the world, so showcase local artists. Be kind, stay true to what’s inside and leave room for something unexpected and perfectly imperfect to emerge. Creating something you deeply believe in can lead to something utterly priceless.

Is there anything else you’d like to add or speak about?

The underground scene can only survive; and ideally thrive, if we all keep showing up. If you’re able to, buy a ticket to a local gig or take yourself along to another festival purely to play. Financial support helps keep these spaces alive, and buying tickets early makes an enormous difference to the people working behind the scenes to make them happen.

A deep thank you to whoever is reading this. Thank you for being part of the underground music and arts scene, for coming out and staying present in a world that’s moving increasingly online. Times are uncertain, but we will always need places to gather and celebrate life. As long as we keep supporting each other and showing up, we’ll still have a place to play.

Massive thank you and respect to the Resonance crew for their kupu and for what they do up north. Head their way to check out what they’re upto and keep an eye out for more of our festival interviews. Long live the underground.

Interview by Sam Innes-Walker