bad for education – Close My Eyes: 13th Floor New Song Of The Day

Independent surf and punk rock outfit bad for education have stormed back onto the Tāmaki Makaurau music scene with a killer new track, Close My Eyes. 

Here is the blurb with more:

Just under three minutes of rollicking rock ‘n’ roll, Close My Eyes is a riff-driven tune about love and mortality, “and finding the hope in both”, says  bad for education’s William Walker.


“I wrote the song originally in 2020 during Covid. I had just moved to Wairoa from Auckland to run and own an organic orange juice business. I had so much time to write music between juicing oranges and selling juice. And I gradually refined the song over the next five years.”

“Writing music in Wairoa helped me deal with grief as my father, Paul Walker [a music industry figure] was passing away in Auckland at the time from PPA,” adds William.

Co-produced by multi-instrumentalist William and Chequered Patterns, Close My Eyes also features Sinisha Milkovic on bass and Corbin Khutze on drums, and it is the first new music from  bad for education since 2023.

Packed with style, swagger and sincerity, and a vibe reminiscent of New Zealand’s 80s indie and alt rock scene, the song shines a light on one of Aotearoa’s most exciting and original independent acts. Helping to convey the song’s message is a video made by Ashley Pitman from Pitman Films.

“‘Close My Eyes’ is about Heaven and Hell, and Earth being in the middle of it all, and how truly wonderful life can be… sometimes haha! The music video is directed by Ashley Pitman and references The Myth of Sisyphus, who was made to carry a boulder up a mountain forever. It’s a really cool video!” says William, who received support from NZ on Air’s Pan-Asia fund to create the song and video.

The artwork for the single, photographed by Tak Soropa, with Lola Key on graphic design, also comes with deep and personal meaning.

“It’s a reference to a Tom Jones album, THE GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME. My father loved this song. I’ve been listening to it again this year, I love it too! The album cover resonated with me. I loved the green font and the border,” says William.

About bad for education:

bad for education  is an independent surf and punk rock outfit from Auckland, New Zealand. Created by multi-instrumentalist William Walker. Fast tempos, catchy riffs, and heartfelt lyrics, drawing influences from acts such as The Strokes, Pixies, and Arctic Monkeys and early 2000s New Zealand Music.

bad for education‘s sound offering is refreshing yet familiar, striking a balance between innovation and the cherished hallmarks of Rock and Roll.

Live, bad for education becomes a collective force of rotating musicians. Performances are a spectacle of authenticity and entertainment. Homegrown tracks meet the communal spirit of the crowd…

“You can’t help hearing some of the legends of New Zealand Power Pop and Punk. Dave Dobbyns’ Dudes and Toy Love. Walker tells me his father managed the iconic Gluepot Pub venue, over that time when great music from here and overseas was pouring out.” – 13th Floor.

Follow bad for education:

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