Eigenface are heading out on a tour around Aotearoa to celebrate the release of their debut album, with support from Michaela Tempers.

Eigenface is a New Zealand/New York trio that blend folk intimacy, dream-punk atmospheres and electronic experimentation. Their songs move between comfort and unease, pairing bright melodies with dissonance, layered vocal harmonies and richly textured arrangements.
"Eigenface have developed a softly charming style that finds beauty in uncertainty. Their sound finds comparison with US indie rock acts Loma and Son Lux (both also trios), but for many the apparent connection will be to the stellar likes of Radiohead and Portishead." (Richard Thorne, NZ Musician). "It's the type of thing you can listen to over and over again" (Chi-Chi Attard, Happy Mag - Australia). "Dynamic, intriguing and addictive: it pulls you in and refuses to let go" (Oliver Zurita of Expansión Radial - Spain).

The band comprises Penelope Esplin (French for Rabbits, Lake South, Grawlixes) on synth and vocals, Elliot Vaughan (CNZ/NZSM Composer in Residence 2024, Moth Quartet, RNZ Concert Presenter) on bass and vocals, and Logan Valentine (Moon Lander) on electric guitar and vocals. For these shows, Penelope and Elliot will be travelling as a duo, bringing Eigenface into a more intimate live setting. The group formed from an impromptu challenge to write and perform on one another's work, the result became a cohesive set of songs, resulting in Eigenface's self-titled debut album.

Released on Home Alone Records, Eigenface arrives on October 2, 2026. Recorded and mixed by Vaughan and mastered by Harris Newman (Wolf Parade, Buck Meek, Godspeed You! Black Emperor), the album features Vaughan's lush string arrangements throughout. Across its songs, the band explores memory, place, relationships and the tension between beauty and discomfort through expansive arrangements, electronic textures and intimate storytelling.

Eigenface’s debut single, House by the Sea, reached #1 on RDU (Christchurch), #4 on Radio1 (Dunedin) and #2 on the Student Radio Network Charts. Eigenface have appeared at Day in the Bay, The Performance Arcade and Newtown Festival, and shared stages with Lake South, Julian Temple and Birdfeeder.

Michaela Tempers is a writer and musician based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa. Tempers singing voice has been described as “a rare warbling instrument that will leave you grasping for comparisons” (Tony Stamp, RNZ). “Her voice and musical vision establish her as a striking new presence in our ever growing and evolving folk music landscape – honest, rich, insightful.” (Tim Gruar, Muzic.NZ).

Tempers’ debut EP, recorded alongside producers Brooke Singer (French for Rabbits) and Chris Armour (Miles Calder, Louis TM ), is brimming with “sincerity leavened by wit and uniquely dynamic constructs” (Richard Thorne, NZ Musician). Tempers will be joined by Dayle Jellyman (organ) for the North Island shows, and Chris Armour (guitar) for the Wellington show. She has opened for Creedence Clearwater Revival, Holly Arrowsmith, Jed Parsons, Irish folk band Boega, as well as Australian folk artists Boy & Bear.

Eigenface Album Release Tour
Friday 2nd October – Space Academy, Christchurch
Saturday 3rd October – Pearl Diver, Dunedin
Friday 6th November – Vogelmorn, Wellington
Saturday 7th November – Porridge Watson, Whanganui
Thursday 12th November – Big Fan, Auckland
Friday 13th November – Last Place, Hamilton

Tickets on sale via undertheradar.co.nz