You, Me, Everybody – Misdirection: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day

Best NZ Folk Artist finalists, You, Me, Everybody return with their new single, Misdirection – an upbeat bluegrass track that dances through life’s detours with energy and heart.

Here is the blurb with more:

Blending sharp musicianship with lyrical honesty, the song is a playful yet thoughtful reflection on the twists and turns that come with finding your way. It’s about learning as you go, laughing at the missteps, and keeping pace even when the path ahead gets uncertain. Driven by rhythmic grooves, tight harmonies, and the band’s signature contemporary take on bluegrass, Misdirection captures the feeling of moving forward without always knowing exactly where you’re headed—and finding connection in the process.

The music video brings that theme to life, following the band as they travel across the North Island of New Zealand to reunite for a tour. Shot on the road, it features stops at some of their favourite small venues and intimate house concerts, all framed by the stunning rural landscapes that shape so much of their sound and story. More than just a tour diary, the video highlights the sense of inclusion and community that’s central to the band’s ethos—sharing music in spaces where everyone’s welcome, and every detour has its place.

Misdirection was produced by Nashville based musician and producer, Rachel Baiman and engineered by Troy Kelly at Armoury Studios in Wellington. It was mixed by Grammy winning bluegrass specialist, Sean Sullivan (Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Sturgill Simpson, John Hiatt), and mastered by Bobbi Giel at Welcome to 1979.

About You, Me, Everybody:

You, Me, Everybody is redefining the boundaries of bluegrass in Aotearoa. Rooted in tradition yet reaching boldly into the future, the band blends virtuosic musicianship with innovative arrangements to craft a progressive acoustic sound that pushes well beyond the stomp-and-holler of typical Americana. While their live shows deliver plenty of toe-tapping moments, this is a collective of New Zealand’s finest acoustic instrumentalists, carving out a unique space where bluegrass meets bold creativity.

Hailed as New Zealand’s first Bluegrass Supergroup, their formation generated immediate buzz. Their debut performance—opening for The Felice Brothers at Auckland’s Tuning Fork during the Americana Fest—was quickly followed by a studio session that birthed their self-titled debut EP in early 2020. The EP reached number 13 on the NZ Album Charts and earned them a nomination for Best NZ Folk Artist at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards. Their debut full-length album, Southern Sky, followed in January 2021 and also broke into the Top 20 NZ Albums Chart.

“Exhibiting more talent and emotional depth than the Instagram-influencing kids with laptops that dominate the charts… this is a golden release. 5 stars.”
 — Peter-James Dries, Muzic.net.nz

International recognition soon followed. In 2021, the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) invited You, Me, Everybody to perform as one of just four international acts featured during their online leadership summit—curated by none other than Grammy-winning folk artist, Sarah Jarosz.

Their music reached global audiences again in 2023, when their song Stranger was featured twice in the hit Netflix series Sweet Tooth. The exposure sparked renewed interest at home, fueling a national tour and a nine-date run across Australia.

You, Me, Everybody was founded by brothers Laurence and Sam Frangos-Rhodes, who grew up immersed in acoustic music. A chance encounter with a bluegrass fiddle inspired Sam to dive into traditional string instruments, starting on fiddle before becoming one of New Zealand’s most skilled mandolin players. Laurence, inspired by flat-picking legend Tony Rice, took up guitar and now handcrafts the instruments he plays.

They recruited a who’s who of the local Americana scene: James Geluk (The Frank Burkitt Band, Fables) originally joined on bass, later replaced by Rob Henderson (The Shake ‘Em On Downers) in 2023. Nat Torkington, a respected five-string banjo player from The Pipi Pickers, and powerhouse vocalist Kim Bonnington, known for her work across the Wellington folk circuit, round out the group’s rich sound.

With their genre-bending take on bluegrass, You, Me, Everybody is not only expanding the musical horizons of New Zealand, but also planting a southern Appalachian seed in southern Pacific soil—and watching it grow into something wholly original.

Website: www.yme.nz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/youmeeverybodyband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you_me_everybody_band/

Listen on Spotify https://bit.ly/YMEBand

 

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