At just 18, Perry started the guitar pop project with the intention of making psychedelic pop with the energy of punk music. Recently, he shifted focus to incorporate elements of 21st-century pop music, and an interest in immediacy. However, Perry still retains a key influence base of psych artists including MGMT and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, alongside his wish to be the ''Justin Bieber of psychedelic music''.
Perry's debut album How Many Padmes Hum?, an album full of dreamy, distorted hooks, was initially released by Auckland independent label Muzai Records late last year before getting the attention of US label Crash Symbols.
With positive attention from tastemakers NME in the UK (''his songs are riff-laiden beats packed with asthmatic choruses'') and name-drops in overseas interviews from New Zealand's own Lorde, Perry is one of this country's fastest-rising talents.
Perry will be performing solo, playing new club remixes of songs from How Many Padmes Hum? as well as songs from his new EP, due for release before Christmas.
• The Amped Music Project will host its fourth gig of 2013 this afternoon at Queens.
Run by the Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust with the support of IMNZ, HPA, and Creative Communities NZ, the Amped Project is a Dunedin-based youth mentoring project which organises a series of all-age gigs and workshops covering a diverse range of industry subjects, such as DIY recording techniques, royalties and, of course, songwriting.
A wide range of musical styles is reflected by this year's participants, from large metal bands to alt-punk, singer-songwriters and even a hip-hop producer.
Today's show will feature special guest performances by A Distant City (who are alumni of the Chick's Project, which gave way to Amped) and Emily Edrosa (Street Chant), who will perform a solo set before her own show this evening.
From the project, Modest Mouse-influenced trio Agent Ewok, avant punk kids Not From Space, melodic maestros Winnderful, and metallers Drowning Priest will perform.
As with all these gigs, the event is alcohol-free, open to all ages and free.
• Next Sunday afternoon, Chick's Hotel is putting on a mini-festival to showcase the talented folks who exist within Dunedin's musical spectrum.
A Low Hum music festival founder Ian Jorgensen, aka Blink, will be in attendance to talent-scout, so head along if you want a preview of acts you may see at Camp A Low Hum 2014.
It starts early, finishes early, and is free. What else are you going to do with your Sunday?
See it, hear it
• Zen Mantra ''Maybe I'll See You In My Dreams Tour'' New Zealand tour, Saturday, September 28, at Taste Merchants, Lower Stuart St, with support from Trick Mammoth and Leon Neon, $10. Doors 9pm.
• Amped Music Project Gig 4, today, Queens Bar Venue (1 Queen's Garden), featuring Winnderful, Not From Space, Agent Ewok, Drowning Priest and special guests A Distant City and Emily Edrosa. Free entry from 2pm.
• Chickenstock, next Sunday, September 29 at Chick's Hotel, featuring Death and the Maiden, Trick Mammoth, The Shifting Sands, Neon Leon, The Prophet Hens and Birdation, 3pm-10pm. Free Entry.
