Otautahi’s indie wahine making waves in the music scene.
After meeting the friendly lass in my music class, I had a funny inkling Minnie Robberds was not your typical classmate. It didn’t take long before I recognised her voice from my Spotify.
Surfing the melodic waves, Robberds navigates adulthood as a lead female musician after her band There’s a Tuesday (TAT) won Smokefree Rockquest in 2019. Their smashing debut single ‘Pinata Head’ became the soundtrack to the 2019 kiwi summer, with over 270,000 streams and counting.
Meeting at a 16th birthday party, Robberd’s and her now best friend/band mate Nat Hutton shared a brief conversation about their love for music. One musical ‘jam’ later, the power combination was formed, and the rest is history.
Her love for music has not stemmed from this one off chin-wag, as Robberds has been playing guitar since a young age. Following in the footsteps of her also musically gifted brother, Walter Robberd’s (of the Butlers), she says she has always “looked up” to her big brother.
Aside from touring Aotearoa and writing indie anthems, Robberd’s studies Music at the University of Canterbury, as well as shreds the Sumner waves as a surf coach and talented long boarder.
Performing at festivals such as Rhythm & Vines, NestFest, Electric Avenue, and now the famed Laneway, Robberd’s is proud to rock out in a band powered by the female voice.
“I reckon it’s awesome aye. There’s so much work still to be done for equality in the music industry. For women, non-binary people and for anyone who’s not a cis white male,” Robbered’s says.
“To be a woman up there feels like ah, it’s cool. Maybe for showing other wahine that hey, this is your space too.”
After moving to the beach with her family, surfing became integral to her lifestyle. Since the age of three, the ocean has provided her with enjoyment, work opportunities, and an outlet from the world.
“It’s hard to think about anything else when you’re surfing because you’re just having a good time.”
In the colder seasons, particularly in August 2021, TAT brightened up the future of music in Aotearoa by signing to the Benee-founded record label, Olive Records. From mates to manager, the ‘Supalonely’ singer took TAT under her wing, after Minnie and Nat’s (co-singer) voices ‘melted her heart’ at Rhythm & Alps in 2020. Whilst expressing her gratitude, Robberds explains, “they’re doing super cool things for women in the industry, it’s sick.”
Female fronted bands has always appeared more enticing in Robberds music taste, as well as when it came to finding a label. “We had kind of just been wanting to be a part of something like Olive for ages, and then it was like Stella (Benee) and [Director of Olive] Poppy Tohill, a female lead label, which is really cool and feels well suited.”
Robberd’s experienced an ethereal moment stepping off a plane this September, when the line-up of Laneway was officially announced to the public, and her favourite artist was the headliner.
From covering her songs, to soon performing alongside her, Phoebe Bridgers is heading down under, performing on the same stages as There’s a Tuesday.
“Oh I am super stoked – like so happy. Really love her so it’ll be cool to watch her play. If we happen to bump into her, I’d be stoked as.”
Robberd’s relaxed, humble nature shines through when I fangirl over her and the summer she has ahead. It appears hard to digest the concept of performing at the same festival as your fave musician, but Robberd’s seems to have it under control.
Despite playing for crowds of tens of thousands, Robberds is not eagerly seeking a life of fame. Her genuine love for music means she just enjoys all the ‘cool’ moments life brings, whether that be through study, surfing, or singing.
“It’s satisfying just playing music for fun. Obviously sometimes you’re looking for the next thing, but I never feel too engrossed by that, because it’s too much fun doing what we’re doing now.”
A good soul is easy to identify, especially with an infectious smile to compliment it. And Minnie Robberd’s oozes good soul energy.
When asking Robberd’s what her favourite tune is at the moment, she quickly popped out ‘How did you get here’ by Little Sims.
When listening to the tune, it appears this female rap may provide empowerment to the wahine musician, as the lyrics entail:
“Sometimes I sit here and I wonder
I'm the version of me I always imagined when I was younger
All the doubt I had thrown at me, all the time I invested
I sit and read my own lyric books
Like, "Damn, it must've been destined".
Little Sims exhibits ideas that she’s feeling like she’s ‘made it’’, a moment Robberd’s feels she hasn’t had yet. “I definitely wouldn’t say like I’ve made it you know. But I do wonder what that would look like.”
This sense of wonder lingers often on my mind, as I can’t help but believe that Minnie Robberd’s ‘I made it’ moment is not far from shore.
Check out There’s A Tuesday on Instagram - @theres.a.tuesday and Spotify.
