Office Dog is a newer band out of Auckland, New Zealand — just now about to embark on its first U.S. tour in support of New West Records labelmates Nada Surf — born from the “solo artist” burnout of singer-songwriter-guitarist Kane Strang, who sought the collaboration of friends Mitchell “Mitch” Innes (drums) and Rassani “Ras” Tolovaa (bass).

“It was really, really time for a change,” said Strang. “By 2020, I was playing songs I had written, like, ten years ago, and I was finding it very hard to relate to those songs anymore. They were written by a very young, angsty Kane. I guess I’d grown up a bit, and I just, I didn’t feel them anymore, I didn’t believe in them in the same way that I did when I was younger.”

The trio formed in 2021, jammed and recorded their debut full-length Spiel (released in America this January) in a quick studio blitz all before they played shows live.

Strang talked to me virtually from his hometown of Dunedin about the personal and creative rebirth this band’s formation has provided him, as well as the more difficult songs to recreate on stage.

Find and share this conversation via WNXP’s podcast channel.