Who runs the world?
by Metropol | March 4, 2026 8:33 am
Alexa, play Lemonade by Cassie Henderson.
Or Bic Runga’s Sway. Or any of the other musical masterpieces we’ve curated and compiled into one Metropol playlist filled with women who rock, available on Spotify. Because what’s better than electrifying, serenading music? When there’s a fierce, fearless female behind it.
That was our goal with this issue, to bring you the incredible women opening their hearts and telling the stories of their soul through song. We didn’t have to go far. Naturally, Canterbury is the foundation of many high-class singer-songwriters – cover star Cassie Henderson, the iconic Bic Runga – you know what we say about Canterbury and its knack in producing fabulously creative people.
I was introduced to Cassie Henderson on New Zealand’s first season of The X Factor in 2013. She placed fifth, a bit of a disservice in my opinion for someone who could hit every note in Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years at 14. But then, redemption. Cassie appeared on The Voice Australia in 2025 – the same year she was crowned Best Pop Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards. The Voice proved her singing, songwriting and guitar-playing ability undeniable. She made the show’s first ever all-female finale, narrowly missing out on the grand title.
Cassie won our hearts at home in Ōtautahi and nationwide, and I’ve had her discography on repeat for the last week. I’ll tell you more about the pop star’s story from page 8.
Another rocking woman adding to her already adored discography is singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and Cashmere High School alumni Bic Runga. She’s just released her sixth studio album, Red Sunset (three of her albums have debuted at number one on the New Zealand Top 40 chart). Deputy editor Tamara Pitelen finds out what inspired this anticipatingly overdue dose of all-new material after 15 years.
Now, need something to eat at your Red Sunset listening party? We turned to the vegetable of the season – the humble and highly versatile potato – and offered it four ways from page 34.
Our fashion section plucks perhaps the most timeless textile in music, and find the exhibitors and seminars you can’t miss at the 20-22 March Canterbury Home Show. Enjoy.
Source URL: https://metropol.co.nz/who-runs-the-world-2/