Indie-pop darling Heidi Simpson shares her perfect weekend playlist.

Heidi Simpson is a singer, tune maker, pop music believer and certified cool girl. The Tāmaki Makaurau native typically muses on Saturday nights and the emptiness between waiting for something to happen, but her recently released single ‘Best Kept Secret’ is her first reflection on joyful romantic love. “The track itself feels very whimsical and dreamy and cathartic,” she says. “When I sent it to one of my friends she said it made her feel like she was 16 and in love – I hope that other people feel that too.”

The single is Simpson’s third release this year from her upcoming EP, due to be unveiled in early 2025. As an independent artists, she fits in music-making between her regular 9-5, and says it’s important for artists to have trust in themselves in their creativity and work ethic when working without a label. “I’m super lucky to be surrounded by amazing musicians and producers who help out significantly and offer amazing insight and advice,” Simpson says. “I think deciding when a song is done and when to release it is such a different process each time, and I tend to just operate on what feels right at the time … it has to be real, and I think a little imperfection can be good.”

In Simpson’s eyes, there’s no better way to enjoy her music than letting it soundtrack a journey somewhere through headphones. “I want my songs to be songs that people can dream to, so anywhere you can be in your own little perfect world,” she says. And now that ‘Best Kept Secret’ is out in the world, Simpson can focus on creating her personal perfect weekend: Saturday’s Britomart markets, dressing up and going out, reading in the park, an Uber ride alone with your headphones in, and a much-needed debrief on events with flatties and friends.

Here are the tracks, channeling pop nostalgia and soft aches, that make Simpson’s weekend perfect.

Momma – ‘Speeding 72’

I think this is an awesome driving around on the weekend song. Momma is one of my fave bands, and I think the feeling this song gives me would be perfect for a Saturday afternoon. 

Dora Jar – ‘Timelapse’

This is one of my favourite songs released this year. To me it feels like how I’ve felt this year, kind of watching everything around me change and speed by and being powerless to it and wondering who you are, but in a beautiful and transformative way. 

Gwen Stefani  ‘Cool’

This is literally one of my favourite songs of all time, it was my favourite when I was a kid and I still love it so much now. It’s soooo bittersweet, and I love the production so much. Perf weekend song forever, also I love the music video. I love this era of music a lot but obviously a lot of it is for nostalgia reasons. 

Office Dog – ‘Intact’

Office Dog are one of my favourite NZ bands. Their album they released last year I listened to so much, so when they released an EP this year that was great news. I love their songwriting so much and this is probably my favourite song from the EP. Not really for any particular reason there’s just something about it that I find really addictive to listen to and the more I listen the better it gets.

Adrienne Lenker – ‘Anything’

I think this is a song I will never get sick of, the songwriting is perfect and so beautiful. There’s honestly not a whole lot else I can say other than you’re doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t listened to this song but just beware because you might cry.

MARINA – ‘Primadonna’

This is one of my favourite pop songs ever and whenever it plays at a party it’s so fun. If you need hyping up it’s perfect and I feel like she was so right when she wrote “I can’t help that I need it all, the primadonna life, the rise and fall” cause sometimes it really does feel like that …

Quiet Light – ‘Twirl’

Quiet Light has so many beautiful songs but this one feels so special to me. The verses make me feel so many emotions. So magical and sad.

Lana Del Rey – ‘Off To The Races’

I couldn’t not put a song from this album on this playlist. I feel like this is the album that was THE album for me growing up, she does such a good job of creating a world in her albums. Listening to it in year 7 this song was my favourite and still holds up for me. It’s theatrical, chaotic and romantic which I love in a song. 

Addison Rae – ‘Diet Pepsi’

I love Addison Rae and her rebrand has been so fascinating. I genuinely love the music she’s making and this song is everything I love about pop music. It’s just so fun and I can’t wait to listen to it and have the best summer ever :P