Wax Chattels are an Auckland-based trio who emerged from New Zealand’s post-punk underground with a confrontational, guitar-less sound that sets them apart from their contemporaries. Built around drums, bass, and synthesisers, the band carve out a deliberately abrasive sonic space that owes as much to industrial and no-wave influences as it does to the broader post-punk tradition.
The band released their debut 7″ single Stay Disappointed in 2017 through New York indie label Captured Tracks, an early sign of international interest in the group’s uncompromising approach. The release announced their arrival with a directness that would become a hallmark of their output.
In 2018, Captured Tracks issued a trio of live cassette recordings documenting Wax Chattels in performance: Live At Part Time Punks, Live At The Highline, and Live At The Stomach. The releases underscored the band’s reputation as a formidable live act, capturing the visceral energy they generate on stage.
Also in 2018, Wax Chattels released their self-titled debut album Wax Chattels, a full-length statement that cemented their position within both the New Zealand music scene and the international post-punk conversation. The record’s guitar-free instrumentation and confrontational tone drew attention from listeners and critics far beyond New Zealand’s borders.
The band followed their debut with Clot in 2020, continuing to develop their dense, rhythm-driven sound. The album demonstrated the trio’s commitment to pushing their music into increasingly challenging territory, maintaining the intensity that had defined their earlier work while expanding their sonic palette.
Wax Chattels are composed of Peter Ruddell, Tom Leggett — also known as a member of Auckland band Miss June — and Amanda Cheng. Together, the three have built a body of work that stands as one of the more distinctive contributions to New Zealand’s experimental and post-punk scenes in recent years.
Members
- Peter Ruddell (Vocals/Bass/Synthesiser, Wax Chattels)
- Tom Leggett (Drums, Wax Chattels, Miss June)
- Amanda Cheng (Synthesiser/Keyboards, Wax Chattels)
Discography
- Stay Disappointed 7″ (2017, Captured Tracks, CT-270-7)
- Wax Chattels LP (2018)
- Live At Part Time Punks Cassette (2018, Captured Tracks, CT/SP-065)
- Live At The Stomach Cassette (2018, Captured Tracks, CTSP-066)
- Live At The Highline Cassette (2018, Captured Tracks, CTSP-067)
- Clot LP (2020)