Model Home are a Christchurch quartet who describe themselves as a “sad songs quartet.” Formed by two brothers and two old friends, the band began jamming together in a storage unit in Woolston before recording their self-titled debut EP in 2019 as a three-piece. Early singles found traction on the Student Radio Network chart, but COVID-19 interrupted the momentum before they had a chance to build on it. The break gave the band time to write more material, and when lockdowns lifted they added Tom Roud on bass to accommodate their increasingly complex arrangements.
The band travelled to Auckland to record their debut album at Roundhead Studios with engineer Steven Marr, whose credits include Kane Strang and Ben Woods. Mastered by Chris Chetland (BENEE, Scribe, Dua Lipa), …And Nobody Made A Sound was released on 15 September 2023 through a partnership between Christchurch’s Papaiti Records and Australia’s False Peak Records, pressed on 180-gram orange vinyl. The ten-track record reached number eight on the NZ Albums Chart, and singles topped the Radio Control top ten. Drawing comparisons to Rilo Kiley, Rainer Maria, and Superchunk, the album is built around the vocal and songwriting interplay of Rachael Norcross and Will Roud, underpinned by swinging drums and sparkling guitar parts.
All four members bring histories from other Christchurch and Wellington projects. Will and Tom Roud played together in the emo band Coate; Will has also performed as Yon Loader. Sean James has played in Out Cold AD and Van Houten. Rachael Norcross was previously a member of Petit Poisson. Model Home toured nationally in support of the album throughout 2023, playing alongside labelmates Carb on Carb and a rotating cast of support acts, and continued performing through 2025.
…And Nobody Made A Sound is wall-to-wall great songs, great singing and great playing.
Tony Stamp, RNZ The Sampler
Members
- Sean James (drums)
- Rachael Norcross (vocals/guitar)
- Will Roud (vocals/guitar)
- Tom Roud (bass)
Discography
- Model Home EP (2019, self-released)
- …And Nobody Made A Sound LP (2023, Papaiti Records / False Peak Records)