Like most of us, Drax Project are frothing for a Kiwi summer. They spent last year touring the UK and Europe, and are about to announce a bunch of shows back home, but in the meantime, they've dropped a new song. 

The NZ four-piece teamed up with Aussie DJs Peking Duk and singer Kita Alexander for a collaboration via Coke Studio, which culminated in the track 'Around U'. 

"The only guideline was keep it kind of vibrant, uplifting, which kind of we gravitate towards naturally," Matt explains in a chat with rova. 

"The song originally wasn't as EDM as it is now, but it took a turn in the final production stages," Shaan adds. 

"It is an interesting mix, mixing the band with an EDM duo and then Kita, who's like an amazing singer," Matt says. "I think that's kind of part of the magic." 

Since 2013, Drax Project has gone from busking on Wellington's Courtenay Place to living in Adele's former Beverly Hills mansion, to recently performing at the London Jazz Cafe.

The band has come a long way, but their name - a mash-up of 'drums' and 'sax' remains a nod to their humble beginnings… and now causes them to cringe a little. 

"We've been trying to change our name for quite a while," Shaan admits, adding, "Wikipedia won't let us." 

"Our band name, which unfortunately has stuck for so long, is [a combination of] drums and sax because we started as buskers, just the two of us," Matt says. 

The boys were studying jazz during the day at university in Wellington, and taking to the streets at night to play party covers to boozed-up revellers. 

As for what their dream band name would be now? There are some interesting thought starters. Mystic Collagen, Frank on Tap and Frostbite Homie were just some of the options thrown around. 

Whatever you want to call them, Drax Project have spent the better part of the last decade becoming a mainstay of the NZ music scene - and taking that to the world.

Whether it's playing a flaming saxophone on stage in Europe or touring with Parliament Funkadelic music icon George Clinton, they've made us proud, and we're stoked to have them and their new tune home for the silly season.