Princess Chelsea and the Dream Warriors residency pop-up show at The Apartment, Auckland

Princess Chelsea performed the second of two pop-up shows at The Apartment in Auckland last night, giving the intimate audience a special preview of entirely new material, with support from The EE Machine.

April 29, 2026

Review by John Hastings

It’s a strong indicator of the affection and admiration by the fans of Princess Chelsea And the Dream Warriors that a low key, deeply under the parapet, Pop-up show has become the hottest ticket in town. Over the course of 2026 they have introduced emerging new material in a series of live pop up shows, building on from February’s initial show at T & M Alley, with March’s stunning show at The Whammy Bar and now two nights this week at The Apartment, creating four unique chances to catch their new music ‘Opus in fieri’ – as work in the making.

Opening the night was The EE Machine, with a focussed, alt noise pop set with a slightly off-kilter tone. The songs leaned into texture and tension, pairing mechanical rhythm with moments of melodic unease. It provided great insight into the current vehicle for Emily Edrosa and her direct and discordant musical vision, she was joined tonight by Matt McAuley adding a touch of depth on bass. Kicking into it with a touch of humour with Drinking before leading into songs that made you lean in and listen, highlights included Action and Corner. It was a pared down edgy set that primed the room for what followed.

Sliding into the microscopic stage space Princess Chelsea and the Dream Warriors were met with an approving cheer. Performing live with The Dream Warriors, Princess Chelsea delivers a nowfamiliar sonic architecture that steadily builds into a soundscape capable of stretching and reshaping the room itself. The Dream Warriors’ settled lineup—Joe, Joshua, Sim, Jasmine, Dave and Kate—are frankly mindblowing in their versatility, innovation and musicianship; you could listen to them jam for hours. The evening felt both like a continuation and a recalibration of the Princess Chelsea universe- darker around the edges, and delivered with increasing power, confidence and intent.

Opening with Big Power, the set launched at full force, a song that has grown into a massive, compelling beast of noise, emotion and affirmation—every bit as powerful as the finest live performances you’ll encounter. The groovedriven introduction of A Million Creatures followed, pulling the audience forward with momentum before unfolding into a dense, layered and soaring passage that seamlessly transitioned into the ethereal soundscape of It’s Been Awhile, rich with atmosphere and artistic detail. Chelsea’s relaxed and considered storytelling on In the Arcade allowed the lyrical narrative to settle, creating a space for heightened connection and relatability. The rhythmic dynamo Run Rabbit Run stood out as a clear set highlight, its energy cresting as it morphed into a satisfying Big Power Reprise, before the night closed on a supercharged It Will All Catch Up With You—a perfect, emphatic note to finish on. Not that the fans wanted it to finish !!!

Princess Chelsea and The Dream Warriors residency at The Apartment placed them front and centre in a tight, bohemian, rustic working space perched above the bustle of K’Rd. It proved an inspired choice, creating a genuinely barrierless band–audience experience, with Chelsea at times fully among the fans—reinforcing the sense that we were, in some small but meaningful way, part of the creative process. The result was walltowall fans being treated to an extraordinarily personal and intimate encounter. These songs, now workshopped, rehearsed and road tested, sound mature and fully formed. Looking forward to hearing them recorded.