MEL PARSONS CLAIMS HER FIRST-EVER TOP 40 #1 ALBUM WITH CASTLE HILL

Tūī-winning indie folk artist Mel Parsons lands her first-ever Top 40 #1 album this week, with her seventh studio album, Castle Hill. Recorded in the powerfully picturesque South Island high country station of the same name (Castle Hill / Kura Tāwhiti), the LP was produced by Josh Logan and recorded live in a single room with longtime bandmates Aaron Stewart (bass) and Jed Parsons (drums), alongside guitarist Ben King (Goldenhorse, Grand Rapids).

Parsons becomes the second act from Aotearoa to land a Top 40 #1 in 2026, after Six60 achieved the feat in February with Right Here Right Now.

Castle Hill also leads the Top 20 Aotearoa Albums Chart – another first for the hard-grafting Parsons, who has previously peaked on the Chart at #2 with Sabotage (2024) and Slow Burn (2022). Also new to the Top 10 of the Aotearoa Albums Chart are releases from Hine (#4), Mountain Boy (#7), Sheep, Dog and Wolf (#9) and Takatapunani (#10).

Hori Shaw and Te Wehi bump Fat Papi from #1 on the Aotearoa Singles Top 20, returning to the peak position with ‘Ready To Ride’ after a three-week break.

Ella Langley holds at #1 on the Top 40 Singles Chart with ‘Choosin’ Texas’, while Olivia Dean claims three of the remaining top five positions following this week’s announcement the UK star will be the first to perform at the newly upgraded Western Springs Bowl in October.

Steve Lacy lands a second Hot Chart #1 with ‘Oh Yeah?’, having first topped the Chart back in 2022 with ‘Bad Habit’. Teeks returns to the top of the Aotearoa Hot 20 with ‘My Boy’, having originally led it with the track six weeks ago.

TAWAZ and friends spend another wiki atop the Tukutahi Tiketike 10 Te Reo Māori, with ‘Mānawa Maiea Matariki’.