Leisure (band)

New Zealand band

Leisure

Origin| Auckland, New Zealand
Genres|

* dance
* synth-pop
* indie pop
* blue-eyed soul
* alternative R&B
* funk
* nu-disco
* nu-jazz

Years active| 2015–present
Labels| Nettwerk
Spinoff of|

* Goodnight Nurse
* Kids of 88
* Kidz in Space
* Cool Rainbows

Members|

* Djeisan Suskov
* Jaden Parkes
* Josh Fountain
* Tom Young
* Jordan Arts
* Paul Roper

Website| www.theleisurecollective.com

Leisure (stylized as LEISURE) are a New Zealand electronic music project from Auckland, formed in Muriwai in 2015.[1] The group's current lineup consists of Djeisan Suskov, Jaden Parkes, Josh Fountain, Tom Young, Jordan Arts and Paul Roper, all established musicians and producers who have performed in the Auckland's music scene since the early 2000s.[2]

They are currently signed to Nettwerk Records and to date, have self-produced and released four studio albums: Leisure (2016),[3] Twister (2019),[4] Sunsetter (2021)[5] and their fourth and most recent, Leisurevision on 29 September 2023 [6]

## Background

[edit]

Each member of the group, individually established themselves in New Zealand's music industry during the early 2000s, performing in their respective bands or projects. Suskov is best known for his psych-indie pop act, Cool Rainbows while Parkes initially gained recognition as the drummer for Auckland pop punk band, Goodnight Nurse, whose 2006 debut album Always and Never was certified gold shortly after its release.

Following Goodnight Nurse's breakup in 2010, the band's guitarist Sam McCarthy would go on to focus on his new wave project, Kids of 88 with his longtime friend, Arts. The two would go on to release their debut album Sugarpills on 16 August 2010 via Sony Music, which stemmed hits such as "My House", "Just a Little Bit" and "Downtown" which all broke into the Top 20 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.

Fountain made his name as a member of EDM, hip-hop group, Kidz in Space before becoming an in-demand producer, most notably for Auckland alternative pop singer/songwriter, Benee.

The initial formation of the group took place in 2015, after members had casual writing sessions during a spontaneous holiday at a bach in Muriwai, a West Coast region of Auckland.[7] The group has described their sound as an unusual melting-pot of contributions, having influences from funk, 1990s boom bap and R&B, and dance-pop from the early 2000s.[8]

The group released their debut single, "Got It Bad" on 23 April 2015 via SoundCloud to immediate acclaim and coverage, partly due to not revealing their identities during the initial release to garner mystery and intrigue about the project.[9] The song was also featured in the American television drama You.[10]

The band will release their fifth album, Welcome to the Mood on 12 September 2025.[11]

## Members

[edit]

* Djeisan Suskov – lead guitar, vocals, production (2015–present)
* Tom Young – bass, vocals, production (2015–present)
* Jaden Parkes – rhythm guitar, vocals, production (2015–present)
* Josh Fountain – keyboards, rhodes, sampler, vocals, production (2015–present)
* Jordan Arts – percussion, synthesizer, sampler, vocals, production (2015–present)
* Paul Roper – drums (2023–present; touring member 2017–2022)

Touring

* Alex Freer – drums (2015–2016)

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

Leisure |

* Released: 21 October 2016
* Label: Independent, Nettwerk

Twister |

* Released: 26 July 2019
* Label: Nettwerk

Sunsetter |

* Released: 3 December 2021
* Label: Nettwerk

Leisurevision |

* Released: 29 September 2023
* Label: Nettwerk

Welcome to the Mood |

* Released: 12 September 2025[12]
* Label: Nettwerk

### EPs

[edit]

Title  | EP details

|

Side A |

* Released: 30 October 2020
* Label: Nettwerk

Side B |

* Released: 1 October 2021
* Label: Nettwerk

### Certified ingles

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Certifications  | Album

|
|
|

"Slipping Away"  | 2020  |

* ARIA: Gold[13]

| Sunsetter

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "LEISURE prioritise good vibes first, music second". Beat Magazine. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
2. ^ "Concert review: LEISURE, at Crystal Palace". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
3. ^ Saw, Yadana (21 October 2016). "Leisure: yacht rockers set sail". RNZ. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
4. ^ "What To Listen To: Leisure get down and deep on sophomore album". Stuff. 20 July 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
5. ^ "LEISURE closes out the year with their fantastic new album Sunsetter". Variance Magazine. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
6. ^ "Album Review: LEISURE – Leisurevision". Recordspin. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
7. ^ "LEISURE Discuss Their Fourth Album, Leisurevision". 9 October 2023.
8. ^ "Leisure". www.thevogue.com. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
9. ^ "Leisure - AudioCulture".
10. ^ "At your Leisure: The Auckland band with more listeners in New York and Paris than NZ". www.metromag.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
11. ^ Lapierre, Megan (9 June 2025). "LEISURE Map Out 2025 World Tour Behind New Album 'Welcome to the Mood'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
12. ^ "Leisure – Missing You: 13th Floor New Song of the Day". 13th Floor. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
13. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 December 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website