Episode 57: Crystal Choi & Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent – Phoebe Rings

Phoebe Rings. Credit: Frances Carter

Listen to the Trusty Chords podcast via your preferred platform of choice here.

If you're someone who likes their music a little bit dreamy, a little bit hazy, and a whole lot of brilliant, then you need to point your peepers toward New Zealand, where Auckland's Phoebe Rings have been providing just that for some years now. 

Initially beginning as something of a solo project for Crystal Choi, it swiftly expanded, bringing together a group of stellar artists to form what we now know today as Phoebe Rings.

Of course, if you look a bit closely, you might recognise some of the artists in the mix. While Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent has performed with Princess Chelsea, Alex Freer has served as a member of Tiny Ruins, and Benjamin Locke's name can be found over myriad New Zealand releases.

After releasing a debut EP a few years back, the group slowly worked toward the next logical step, debut album Aseurai – which I'm hoping I just pronounced correctly. If you've listened to it, then you'd already know just how amazing it is, and if you've not listened to it, then maybe check it out before you listen to me ramble for the next hour.

Either way, Crystal and Simeon were kind enough to join me for a chat this week, and I can't thank them enough for their time and their wonderful insights. 

Anyway, have a listen to Phoebe Rings' Aseurai, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.

Crystal Choi & Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent’s Trusty Chords

Crystal’s One Influential Artist

1. Stereolab

Simeon’s One Influential Artist

1. Sufjan Stevens

Crystal’s Three Impactful Albums

1. Stereolab – Cobra And Phases Group Play Voltage In The Milky Night (1999)

2. Tiny Ruins – Olympic Girls (2019)

3. Stan Getz & João Gilberto – Getz/Gilberto (1964)

Simeon’s Three Impactful Albums

1. Sufjan Stevens – The Age Of Adz (2010)

2. The Middle East – I Want That You Are Always Happy (2011)

3. Mid-Air Thief – Crumbling (2018)

Crystal’s Five Trusty Songs

1. Maurice Ravel – 'Jeux D'eau' (1901)

2. The Bird And The Bee – 'Again & Again' (2007)

3. Alvvays – 'Dreams Tonite' (2017)

4. Bic Runga – 'Listening For The Weather' (2002)

5. Koop – 'Waltz For Koop' (2001)

Simeon’s Five Trusty Songs

1. Blake Mills – 'Skeleton Is Walking' (2023)

2. FKA twigs – 'cellophane' (2019)

3. Beverly Glenn-Copeland – 'Sunset Village' (1986)

4. Jon Hopkins – 'Sit Around The Fire (feat. Ram Dass & East Forest)' (2021)

5. Oklou – 'thank you for recording' (2025)