Finn Andrews on The Veils’ new Marvel moment & making music in a ‘Fragile World’

As musical hometown hero Finn Andrews brings The Veils back to Aotearoa for a nationwide tour, he finds himself in a position he never planned for: Being introduced to a whole new generation of fans via a 'Spider-Noir' Marvel trailer.

It’s an unexpected turn for the song 'Axolotl,' which has now had a bizarre and storied history - from being featured in the return of David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks' to its current superhero spinoff moment.

"It’s been an unexpected pleasure of doing this, getting to see your music go into these disparate worlds," Finn tells rova. 

While the Marvel sync is a buzz, it’s just one facet of a busy year for the band. The Veils have just released their latest album, 'Fragile World', a record that captures the band in a strikingly urgent and instinctive mode.

Arriving just over a year after their last release, 'Fragile World' marks a clear shift in tone. Recorded live to tape in Aotearoa by Paddy Hill, with production by Tom Healy, the album is a deliberate pivot from the band's previous work.

"I make each album, generally, as a kind of atonement for the last," Andrews explains. "Asphodels was so quiet and introspective, I think I just wanted to make something strident and full of life for a goddamn change."

The album’s title carries a duality, serving as both a reflection of the dumpster fire of the current global climate and a metaphor for the delicate, often chaotic process of artistic creation.

"It’s all I run to when things feel overwhelming," Finn says of his writing process. "Making music or making anything, really, is a worthwhile practice."

Alongside an ever-evolving sound, Finn has recognised a shift in his approach to his career. After nearly two decades making music, he admits that the once 'paralysing anxiety' has finally begun to lift. 

"It’s a radical idea to enjoy being in a rock and roll band," he laughs, noting that he’s learned it's not such a big deal to embrace the privilege of the studio and the stage without the constant fear of failure. 

That sense of enjoyment is centre stage as The Veils tour their new record around Aotearoa and beyond, hitting the South Island next before jumping over to Australia and then Europe. 

For Andrews, playing for Kiwi crowds is a unique experience - one he describes as both rowdy and uniquely respectful. Fans can expect to see the return of his iconic stage aesthetic - "the moth-bitten black suit and hat" - which he explains to his young daughter is his way of becoming a "different person" while he plays shows, before returning to his role as Papa. 

The Veils' new album 'Fragile World' is out now.